[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32536-32538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13612]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION



National Highway Traffic Safety Administration



[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0063; Notice 1]




Foreign Tire Sales, Inc., Receipt of Petition for Decision of 

Inconsequential Noncompliance



    Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. (FTS) \1\, as importer of record for 

ProMeter brand medium truck radial replacement tires manufactured by 

Shandlong Linglong Rubber Company Limited has determined that certain 

replacement tires manufactured during the period between the 15th week 

of 2008 and 22nd week of 2009 do not fully comply with paragraph 

S6.5(d) of 49 CFR 571.119 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 

No. 119, New Pneumatic Tires for Motor Vehicles With a GVWR of More 

than 4,536 Kilograms (10,000 pounds) and Motorcycles. FTS has filed an 

appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and 

Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.

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    \1\ Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. is an importer of replacement motor 

vehicle equipment, incorporated under the laws of the State of New 

Jersey, with offices at 2204 Morris Avenue, Suite L-5, Union, New 

Jersey.

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    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h) (see implementing rule 

at 49 CFR part 556), FTS has petitioned for an exemption from the 

notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the 

basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle 

safety.

    This notice of receipt of FTS's petition is published under 49 

U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 

other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.

    Affected are approximately 2,659 size 285/75R-24.5 14 ply (steer 

and drive) and 295/75R-22.5 14 ply (steer and drive) ProMeter brand 

medium truck radial tires manufactured during the period between the 

15th week of 2008 and 22nd week of 2009 with DOT Numbers: 285/75R-

24.5--OU4CFTS1508-0U4CFT2209 and

    295/75R-22.5--OU34FTS1508-0U34FTS2209. FTS stated that it believed 

that 100% of the 2,659 tires involved contained the identified non-

compliance.

    FTS sold these tires to eleven customers who are distributors. 

Three of the eleven distributors have not sold any tires to their 

customers.

    In a supplemental letter dated April 14, 2010, FTS submitted 

corrections of typographical errors in its petition and stated that 

subsequent to submitting its petition it had decided to remedy all of 

the subject tires that it held in its possession as well as those that 

had not been sold by its customers (tire distributers). FTS also 

revised its estimate of the number of affected tires that had been sold 

and not retrieved for remedy as 2000. Therefore, it is only those 2000 

tires for which FTS is requesting exemption because it claims that the 

remaining 659 tires have been remedied.

    Paragraph S6.5(d) of 49 CFR 571.119 (FMVSS 119) requires in 

pertinent part:



    S6.5 Tire markings. Except as specified in this paragraph, each 

tire shall be marked on



[[Page 32537]]



each sidewall with the information specified in paragraphs (a) 

through (j) of this section. The markings shall be placed between 

the maximum section width (exclusive of sidewall decorations or curb 

ribs) and the bead on at least one sidewall, unless the maximum 

section width of the tire is located in an area which is not more 

than one-fourth of the distance from the bead to the shoulder of the 

tire. If the maximum section width falls within that area, the 

markings shall appear between the bead and a point one-half the 

distance from the bead to the shoulder of the tire, on at least one 

sidewall. The markings shall be in letters and numerals not less 

than 2 mm (0.078 inch) high and raised above or sunk below the tire 

surface not less than 0.4 mm (0.015 inch), except that the marking 

depth shall be not less than 0.25 mm (0.010 inch) in the case of 

motorcycle tires. The tire identification and the DOT symbol 

labeling shall comply with part 574 of this chapter. Markings may 

appear on only one sidewall and the entire sidewall area may be used 

in the case of motorcycle tires and recreational, boat, baggage, and 

special trailer tires * * *

    (d) The maximum load rating and corresponding inflation pressure 

of the tire, shown as follows:

    (Mark on tires rated for single and dual load): Max load single 

------kg (------lb) at ------kPa (------psi) cold. Max load dual --

----kg (------lb) at ------kPa (------psi) cold.

    (Mark on tires rated only for single load): Max load ------kg 

(------lb) at ------kPa (------psi) cold.



    FTS describes the noncompliance as its failure to provide accurate 

load and inflation information as required by FMVSS No. 119. The 

maximum load rating and corresponding inflation pressure that are 

erroneously marked on the FTS tires and the correct information for the 

non-conforming tires are as follows:

    295/75R22.5/14 is marked:



Max. Load Single 2800 kg (6175 lbs) at 720 kPa (105 psi) cold.

Max. Load Dual 2650 kg (5840 lbs) at 720 kPa (105 psi) cold.



    295/75R22.5/14 should be marked:



Max. Load Single 2800 kg (6175 lbs) at 760 kPa (110 psi) cold.

Max. Load Dual 2575 kg (5675 lbs) at 760 kPa (110 psi) cold.



    285/75R24.5/14 is marked:



Max. Load Single 3000 kg (6610 lbs) at 720 kPa (105 psi) cold.

Max. Load Dual 2725 kg (6005 lbs) at 720 kPa (105 psi) cold.



    285/75R24.5/14 should be marked:



Max. Load Single 2800 kg (6175 lbs) at 760 kPa (110 psi) cold.

Max. Load Dual 2575 kg (5675 lbs) at 760 kPa (110 psi) cold.



    FTS states that the non-compliance of their tires was brought to 

their attention on June 9, 2009, ``when new molds were ordered and the 

old molds were compared to the new molds.''

    FTS also states that it has advised the manufacturer to hold any 

additional non-conforming tires and to change the inaccurate 

information before exporting them to the United States.

    FTS argues that the inaccurate markings on the tires are 

inconsequential because the difference between the proper load ranges 

and inflation pressures are minimal. FTS bases their conclusion on 

their testing of the subject tires using the inaccurate information 

noted on their tires, and FTS asserts that the tires ``greatly exceed 

all FMVSS testing result requirements.'' Specifically, FTS points out 

that they subjected the tested tires to a modified FMVSS No. 119 

endurance test which they state ``is far more demanding than the 

requirements of FMVSS 119.''

    FTS submitted with their application for exemption from 

notification and recall a copy of the original Chinese and English 

translation of the eight endurance test reports. FTS states that 

``These tests performed using the load inflation information which 

appears on the subject tires clearly indicates that even at the wrong 

inflation pressure, these tires greatly exceed FMVSS 119 and are 

safe.'' FTS additionally states that ``the mislabeling of the tires 

poses absolutely no safety issue since even if a user of the tires 

inflates the tire to the load inflation pressure contained on the side 

wall of the subject tire, we know that the tire greatly exceeds all 

requirements (i.e. the tires ran almost three times longer than 

required by FMVSS 119 at loads increased by 10% every ten hours (nine 

times over 130 hours)).''

    Based on the foregoing, FTS requests that NHTSA deem this issue as 

``incidental mislabeling'' and that it has no bearing on the safety of 

the tires, and that FTS be exempted from providing notification as 

required by 49 U.S.C. 30118 and remedy as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120.

    NHTSA notes that the statutory provisions (49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 

30120(h)) that permit manufacturers to file petitions for a 

determination of inconsequentiality allow NHTSA to exempt manufacturers 

only from the duties found in sections 30118 and 30120, respectively, 

to notify owners, purchasers, and dealers of a defect or noncompliance 

and to remedy the defect or noncompliance.

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 

arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the docket and 

notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted by 

any of the following methods:

    a. By mail addressed to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

    b. By hand delivery to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Section is open on 

weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm except Federal Holidays.

    c. Electronically: by logging onto the Federal Docket Management 

System (FDMS) Web site at http://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting comments. Comments may also be faxed 

to 1-202-493-2251.

    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater 

than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of 

necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in 

hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish 

to receive confirmation that your comments were received, please 

enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the comments. Note that 

all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.

    Documents submitted to a docket may be viewed by anyone at the 

address and times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by following the online 

instructions for accessing the dockets. DOT's complete Privacy Act 

Statement is available for review in the Federal Register published on 

April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

    The petition, supporting materials, and all comments received 

before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 

be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 

received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 

considered to the extent possible. When the petition is granted or 

denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal 

Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.

    Comment closing date: July 8, 2010.



    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at 

CFR 1.50 and 501.8.





[[Page 32538]]





    Issued on: June 2, 2010.

Claude H. Harris,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 2010-13612 Filed 6-7-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P