G/TBT/N/USA/916  
 
29 July 2014  
(14-4366)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible: National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration  (NHTSA), Department 
of Transportation (DOT) [933] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
Please submit comments to: 
USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point Email: ncsci@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable): Tires. New pneumatic 
tyres, of rubber. (HS 4011), Retreaded or used  pneumatic tyres of rubber; solid or cushion 
tyres, tyre treads and tyre flaps, of rubber. (HS 4012). Tyres (ICS 83.160) 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document: Tire Identification 
and Recordkeeping (8 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content: The tire identification number (TIN), which must appear on 
virtually all new and retreaded motor vehicle tires sold in the United States, plays an 
important role in identifying which tires are subject to recall and remedy campaigns for 
safety defects and noncompliances. This document proposes two amendments to the TIN. First, because NHTSA is running out of two-symbol codes to identify new tire plants, NHTSA is proposing to expand the first portion of the TIN, known as the manufacturer 
identifier, from two symbols to three for ma nufacturers of new tires. This amendment 
would substantially increase the number of unique combinations of characters that can be used to identify individual manufacturers of  new tires. Second, NHTSA is proposing to 
standardize the length of the tire identification number to eliminate confusion that could 
arise from the variable length of tire identification numbers. This NPRM would standardize the length of the TIN at 13 symbols for ne w tires and 7 symbols for retreaded tires, 
making it easier to identify a TI N from which a symbol is missing.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents:  79 Federal Register (FR) 42999, 24 July 2014; Title 49 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 574.  Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined   G/TBT/N/USA/916 
 
- 2 - 
 
  10. Final date for comments: 25 August 2014 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-07-24/html /2014-17413.htm  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-07-24/pd f/2014-17413.pdf