Interpretation ID: nht74-1.21

DATE: 07/08/74

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; E. T. Driver; NHTSA

TO: Lackey, Alexander & Jackson

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: We are enclosing herewith a copy of new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 119, which becomes effective March 1, 1975, and a copy of a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding a new Federal standard (No. 120) which proposes requirements for tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars.

There are no Federal requirements regarding the tensile strength of tire bead.

We regret we cannot be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

ATTACH.

LAW OFFICE

LACKEY, ALEXANDER & JACKSON

June 15, 1974

United States Department of Transportation -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;

Atten: E. T. Driver,

Dear Mr. Driver:

In your letter addressed to the undersigned, you enclosed copies on Standard Regulation Nos. 109, 110, 117, and part of 574. You stated that you were in the process of developing proposed Standards Nos. 119 and 120. If these standards have been completed, I will appreciate your forwarding a copy of the same to me.

I do not intend to impose upon you, but if you have in your rules and regulations any test of the tensile strength of the steel wires forming the bead as defined in 22914, Section 571.109, Standard No. 109, Sub-Section S-3, I would appreciate your also forwarding a copy of same.

I am now prosecuting a case against a manufacturer and find that the bead wire is completely separated. When it was placed upon the rim to be mounted, air was put in the tire to cause it to expand to the rim; and the party mounting the tire lost an eye when the air escaped with great force at the break in the bead into his face.

The defense to this law suit appears to be that the party mounting the tire put too much air in the tire which caused the bead to separate. I have had the tire X-rayed and find a clean break in the steel wires in the bead; but there is no breaking of the fabric or the rubber.

I, therefore, need to know the tensile strength of the wires forming the bead in order to meet my opponents' effort to prove that the steel wires were broken because of excessive inflation of the tire. If you have any regulation as to the required tensile strength of the bead wires, I will appreciate your furnishing me a copy of such regulation or specification.

Your cooperation in this matter is very much appreciated.

Yours very truly,

Joseph L. Lackey