Interpretation ID: nht88-1.62

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 03/01/88

FROM: DAVE TAYLOR -- REGIONAL MANAGER/FIELD ENGINEERING BRIDGESTONE

TO: JOHN FORTH -- STANISLAUS COUNTY D.A. OFFICE MODESTO, CA

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 12/09/88 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO DONALD N. STAHL RE MCCOY TIRE SERVICE CENTER D.A. NO CF696 REDBOOK A33, STANDARD 119, PART 574; UNDATED LETTER FROM JOHN T. FORTH AND DONALD N. STAHL TO ERIKA Z. JONES NHTSA RE M CCOY TIRE SERVICE CENTER D.A. NO CF696, OCC 1749; LETTER DATED 07/13/87 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO JACK DENIJS EXHIBIT 2; LETTER DATED 05/19/87 FROM JACK DENIJS TO ERIKA Z. JONES, SUBJECT COVERED DOT NUMBERS ON REMANUFACTURED TRUCK CASINGS; DRAWING OF TIRE DATED 01/14/88, MODESTO CITY SCHOOLS TIRE INFORMATION, EXHIBIT 3

TEXT: Dear Mr. Forth,

Attached is the N.H.T.S.A. letter which I referred to.

The 'E12R22.5 V-Steel Express' is not sold in N. America, however we have confirmed that this tire was specifically designed for rubber tired subway trains in Japan and therefor is not suitable by any means for highway use.

We appreciate the diligence of your office and those people involved in discovering them and removing them from the school bus.

We would definitely like to know the source or importer of these casings, or any other information which would assist us in taking the necessary steps to prevent these casings from being sold & used in N. America.

For your information we do not consider these used tires to be 'grey market' tires. All new truck tires imported to the U.S. must meet the requirements of FMVSS 119 and therefor have D.O.T. markings molded into one sidewall of the tire.

Sincerely yours,