[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11913-11915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5238]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 571, 575

[Docket No. 93-81, Notice 03]
RIN 2127-AE70


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, New Pneumatic Tires; 
Consumer Information Regulations Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects test inflation pressures associated 
with the 350 kilopascal (kPa) (51 pounds per square inch (psi)) maximum 
inflation pressure for certain passenger car tires specified in the 
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards and the safety standard on new 
pneumatic tires. NHTSA makes this correction in response to a 
submission from the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

DATES: Effective date: The amendments in this correction document are 
effective March 3, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Terri Droneburg, Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Room 
5307, Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Droneburg's number is: (202) 366-4803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 
109, New Pneumatic Tires, specifies requirements for passenger car 
tires for strength, endurance, high speed performance, and bead 
unseating resistance. In addition, the standard defines tire load 
ratings and specifies dimensions, maximum inflation pressures, and 
labeling requirements.
    Paragraph S4.2.1(b) of the standard specifies separate maximum 
permissible inflation pressures for CT tires (pneumatic tires with an 
inverted flange tire and rim system in which the rim is designed with 
rim flanges pointed radially inward and the tire is designed to fit on 
the underside of the rim in a manner that encloses the rim flanges 
inside the air cavity of the tire), and for tires other than CT tires 
(non-CT tires). In effect, S4.2.1(b) proscribes maximum permissible 
inflation pressures other than the ones listed.
    A manufacturer's selection of a maximum permissible inflation 
pressure for a given tire has the effect under the Standard of 
determining the pressure at which that tire will be tested for 
compliance. For each maximum permissible inflation pressure, Table II 
of Appendix A of Standard No. 109 specifies pressures at which 
compliance tests will be conducted. Table II specifies one pressure for 
tests of physical dimensions, bead unseating, tire strength, and tire 
endurances, and specifies another pressure for the high speed 
performance test.
    A manufacturer's selection of a maximum permissible inflation 
pressure for a given tire also has the effect under the Standard of 
determining the pressure at which that tire will be tested under the 
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQGS) (49 CFR 575.104). The 
UTQGS specify that passenger car tires be labeled with information 
about the relative performance of the tires in the areas of treadwear, 
traction, and temperature resistance. Table 1 of the UTQGS specifies, 
for each maximum permissible inflation pressure, pressures at which 
compliance tests for treadwear and temperature resistance will be 
conducted.
    On August 1, 1994, NHTSA published a final rule (59 FR 38938) 
amending Standard No. 109 and the UTQGS by making changes permitting 
the manufacture and sale of CT and non-CT [[Page 11914]] passenger car 
tires that have a maximum tire inflation pressure of 350 kiloPascals 
(kPa) (51 pounds per square inch (psi)). The final rule took effect on 
August 31,1994. Previously, only CT tires were permitted a maximum tire 
inflation pressure of 350 kPa.
    In a submission that it characterized as a ``petition for 
reconsideration,'' the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) noted 
typographical errors in the August 1994 final rule. The RMA noted both 
Table II Test Inflation Pressures of Appendix A of Standard No. 109, 
and Table 1 Test Inflation Pressures in paragraph (g) of the UTQGS, 
specified incorrect pressures at which compliance tests would be 
conducted for 350 kPa tires other than CT tires. The RMA stated that 
for testing of 350 kPa non-CT tires, in Table II of Appendix A of 
Standard No. 109, the test pressure for the tests of physical 
dimensions, bead unseating, tire strength, and tire endurance should be 
180 kPa, and the test pressure for the high speed performance test 
should be 220 kPa. The RMA also stated that for 350 kPa non-CT tires, 
in Table 1 in paragraph (g) of the UTQGS, the test pressure for the 
treadwear test should be 180 kPa and the test pressure for the 
temperature resistant test should be 220 kPa.
    NHTSA agrees that RMA's recommended changes are correct. The final 
rule erroneously specified identical test pressures for testing of both 
350 kPa CT tires and 350 kPA non-CT tires. The test pressures specified 
in the final rule for 350 kPa CT tires were correct, but the test 
pressures for 350 kPA non-CT tires were not. Accordingly, in this 
document, NHTSA corrects Table II of Standard No. 109 and Table I of 
the UTQGS to specify the correct test pressures for 350 kPa non-CT 
tires.
    The changes in this document impose no duties or responsibilities 
on any party, nor do they make any substantive changes to Standard No. 
109 or the UTQGS. The changes simply ensure that Standard No. 109 and 
the UTQGS read as the agency intended.
    Since the changes are technical in nature and have no substantive 
impact, it is found that notice and public comment are unnecessary. 
Further, because the amendments are technical in nature, it is found 
for good cause shown that an effective date earlier than 180 days after 
issuance of the rule is in the public interest, and the amendments are 
effective upon publication in the Federal Register.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, Rubber and rubber 
products, Tires.

49 CFR Part 575

    Consumer protection, Labeling, Motor vehicle safety, Motor 
vehicles, Rubber and rubber products, Tires.

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR parts 571 and 575 are 
corrected by making the following correcting amendments:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for Part 571 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. Section 571.109 is amended by revising Table II of Appendix A to 
read as follows:


Sec. 571.109  Standard 109, New Pneumatic Tires.

* * * * *

                                       Table II.--Test Inflation Pressures                                      
                   [Maximum permissible inflation pressure to be used for the following test]                   
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                                         Tires other than CT tires                             CT tires         
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Test type                    psi                            kPa                             kPa           
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         32     36     40     60    240    280    300    340    350    290    300    350    390 
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Physical dimensions,                                                                                            
 bead unseating, tire                                                                                           
 strength, and tire                                                                                             
 endurance...........     24     28     32     52    180    220    180    220    180    230    270    230    270
High speed                                                                                                      
 performance.........     30     34     38     58    220    260    220    260    220    270    310    270    310
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PART 575--CONSUMER INFORMATION REGULATIONS
    1. The authority citation for part 575 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, and 30123; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


Sec. 575.104  [Amended]

    2. Section 575.104(g) is amended by revising Table 1 as follows:
* * * * *
    (g) * * *

                                       Table I.--Test Inflation Pressures                                       
                         [Maximum permissible inflation pressure for the following test]                        
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                                         Tires other than CT tires                             CT tires         
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Test type                    psi                            kPa                             kPa           
                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         32     36     40     60    240    280    300    340    350    290    330    350    390 
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Treadwear test.......     24     28     32     52    180    220    180    220    180    230    270    230    270
Temperature resistant                                                                                           
 test................     30     34     38     58    220    260    220    260    220    270    310    270    310
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[[Page 11915]]


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    Issued on: February 24, 1995.
Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-5238 Filed 3-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M