[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 5267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1758]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[DOCKET NO. NHTSA 2005-20046; Notice 1]


Bridgestone/Firestone North America Tire, LLC. Receipt of 
Application for Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Bridgestone/Firestone North America Tire, LLC has determined that 
approximately 757 size P175/65R14, Bridgestone WS50Z tires do not meet 
the labeling requirements mandated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) No. 109, ``New Pneumatic Tires.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Bridgestone/Firestone 
has petitioned for a determination that this noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and has filed an appropriate 
report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance 
Reports.'' FMVSS No. 109 (S4.3 (e)) requires that each tire shall have 
permanently molded into or onto both sidewalls the actual number of 
plies in the sidewall, and the actual number of plies in the tread area 
if different.
    The noncompliance with S4.3 (e) relates to the sidewall markings. 
Bridgestone/Firestone Nasu, Japan Plant produced approximately 937 
tires with incorrect markings during the DOT weeks of 2702, 1203, and 
1303. The noncompliant tires were marked: ``2 STEEL & 1 PLY.'' The 
correct marking required by FMVSS No. 109 is as follows: ``2 STEEL & 1 
PLY & 1 NYLON.''
    Bridgestone/Firestone stated that the noncompliant tires were 
actually constructed with more polyester sidewall plies than indicated 
on the sidewall marking. Therefore, Bridgestone/Firestone believes this 
noncompliance is particularly unlikely to have an adverse affect on 
motor vehicle safety and is clearly inconsequential in that regard. The 
noncompliant tires meet or exceed all performance requirements of FMVSS 
No. 109 and will have no impact on the operational performance or 
safety of vehicles on which these tires are mounted.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to 
the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. It is requested that two copies be 
submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment 
closing date: March 3, 2005.

(49 U.S.C. 301118, 301120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 
and 501.8)

    Issued on: January 25, 2005.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 05-1758 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P