Tires
Regrooved Tire Limitations.—
In this subsection, “regrooved tire” means a tire with a new tread produced by cutting into the tread of a worn tire.
The Secretary may authorize the sale, offer for sale, introduction for sale, or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce, of a regrooved tire or a motor vehicle equipped with regrooved tires if the Secretary decides the tires are designed and made in a way consistent with section 30101 of this title. A person may not sell, offer for sale, introduce for sale, or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, a regrooved tire or a vehicle equipped with regrooved tires unless authorized by the Secretary.
Uniform Quality Grading System, Nomenclature, and Marketing Practices.—
The Secretary shall prescribe through standards a uniform quality grading system for motor vehicle tires to help consumers make an informed choice when purchasing tires. The Secretary also shall cooperate with industry and the Federal Trade Commission to the greatest extent practicable to eliminate deceptive and confusing tire nomenclature and marketing practices. A tire standard or regulation prescribed under this chapter supersedes an order or administrative interpretation of the Commission.
Maximum Load Standards.—
The Secretary shall require a motor vehicle to be equipped with tires that meet maximum load standards when the vehicle is loaded with a reasonable amount of luggage and the total number of passengers the vehicle is designed to carry. The vehicle shall be equipped with those tires by the manufacturer or by the first purchaser when the vehicle is first bought in good faith other than for resale.
Source
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e),Notes
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Historical and Revision Notes |
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Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
30123(a) | 15:1421 (1st sentence). | Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, §§ 201–203, 204(c), 205, 80 Stat. 728, 729. |
30123(b) | 15:1421 (2d sentence). | |
30123(c) | 15:1421 (last sentence). | |
30123(d) | 15:1424(a). | Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 204(a), 80 Stat. 729; restated Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 110(c), 88 Stat. 1484. |
15:1424(c). | ||
30123(e) | 15:1423. | |
15:1425. | ||
30123(f) | 15:1422. |
Amendments
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Proposed Rule.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [
updates the standards pertaining to tire pressure monitoring systems to ensure that a tire pressure monitoring system that is installed in a new motor vehicle after the effective date of such updated standards cannot be overridden, reset, or recalibrated in such a way that the system will no longer detect when the inflation pressure in one or more of the vehicle’s tires has fallen to or below a significantly underinflated pressure level; and
does not contain any provision that has the effect of prohibiting the availability of direct or indirect tire pressure monitoring systems that meet the requirements of the standards updated pursuant to paragraph (1).
Final Rule.—
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, after providing the public with sufficient opportunity for notice and comment on the proposed rule published pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue a final rule based on the proposed rule described in subsection (a) that—
allows a manufacturer to install a tire pressure monitoring system that can be reset or recalibrated to accommodate—
the repositioning of tire sensor locations on vehicles with split inflation pressure recommendations;
tire rotation; or
replacement tires or wheels of a different size than the original equipment tires or wheels; and
to address the accommodations described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), ensures that a tire pressure monitoring system that is reset or recalibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions would illuminate the low tire pressure warning telltale when a tire is significantly underinflated until the tire is no longer significantly underinflated.
Significantly Underinflated Pressure Level Defined.—
In this section, the term ‘significantly underinflated pressure level’ means a pressure level that is—
below the level at which the low tire pressure warning telltale must illuminate, consistent with the TPMS detection requirements contained in S4.2(a) of section 571.138 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any corresponding similar or successor regulation or ruling (as determined by the Secretary); and
in the case of a replacement wheel or tire, below the recommended cold inflation pressure of the wheel or tire manufacturer.”
Improved Tire Information
Tire Labeling.—
Within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [
Inflation Levels and Load Limits.—
In the rulemaking initiated under subsection (a), the Secretary may take whatever additional action is appropriate to ensure that the public is aware of the importance of observing motor vehicle tire load limits and maintaining proper tire inflation levels for the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Such additional action may include a requirement that the manufacturer of motor vehicles provide the purchasers of the motor vehicles information on appropriate tire inflation levels and load limits if the Secretary determines that requiring such manufacturers to provide such information is the most appropriate way such information can be provided.”