Interpretation ID: nht76-5.57

DATE: 03/08/76

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Richard B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: United Rubber; Cork; Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: Your letter of December 1, 1975, to the Federal Trade Commission, concerning the dates molded into tires manufactured by the Dayton Tire and Rubber Company, has been forwarded to this agency for further reply.

Motor Vehicle tires are required by @ 574.5 of 49 CFR Part 574, Tire Identification and Recordkeeping, to be labeled with an identification number containing certain information. A copy of this regulation is enclosed for your convenience. The last three digits of this number indicate the week and year of manufacture of the tire, as follows: the final digit is the last digit of the year, and the preceding two digits represent the week within that year. The numbering of the weeks begins with "01" for the first full calendar week in each year. For example, "016" indicates that a tire was manufactured during the week beginning Sunday, January 4, 1976, and ending Saturday, January 10. While the precise labeling on the tires that you have described is not clear from your letter, it appears that some of the tires do not comply with this labeling requirement, because November 24 and December 1 were not in the same calendar week of 1975.

I have forwarded a copy of your letter to our Office of Standards Enforcement for such further action as may be appropriate.

YOURS TRULY,

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Corres. No. 12022

Robert C. Yates President, Local 178 United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America

Thank you for your letter of December 1, 1975 requesting information regarding tire regulations. In 1966, the Commission issued the "Tire Labelling and Advertising Guides" which set standards for advertising and promotion of tires to the public. However, there are no provisions within the Guides regarding the stamping of curing dates. For your information, I have enclosed a copy of the Guides.

Since it is possible that the Department of Transportation has regulations on this issue, I have referred your letter to them for any additional information they can offer.

D. McCarty Thornton Attorney Division of Marketing Practices

United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America December 1, 1975

Federal Trade Commission

I am writing to request information concerning acts by the Company I work for, The Dayton Tire and Rubber Company, Dayton, Ohio.

It has been brought to my attention that the Company is back dating tires from their actual curing dates. For example. mold set and dated on November 24, 1975, the tires are then cured on December 1, 1975, bearing the date of November 24, 1975.

I would like to know if there are any regulations covering this type of production on passenger and truck tires. Any information concerning this matter would be appricated.

Robert C. Yates President of Local # 178 URW, AFL, CIO, CLC