Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Technical Corrections and Clarifications Related to Tires and Rims

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Technical Corrections and Clarifications Related to Tires and Rims

Topics: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Technical Corrections and Clarifications Related to Tires and Rims

Steven S. Cliff
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
31 August 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48539-48545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18633]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2019-0074]

RIN 2127-AL87

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Technical Corrections and
Clarifications Related to Tires and Rims

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
(FMVSS) No. 109, ``New pneumatic and certain specialty tires,'' in
response to a petition for rulemaking from the Tire and Rim
Association, to clarify the applicability of the FMVSSs to certain
types of tires intended for use on trailers. Based on a review of prior
amendments to FMVSS Nos. 109 and 119, ``New pneumatic tires for motor
vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 4,536
kilograms (10,000 pounds) and motorcycles.'' NHTSA concludes that it
inadvertently made these tires subject to both FMVSS Nos. 109 and 119,
when it was the Agency's intent to make them subject only to FMVSS No.
119. This document corrects that error, and also includes
nonsubstantive technical corrections to tire and rim regulations.

DATES: The effective date of this rule is September 30, 2021.
Petitions for reconsideration: Petitions for reconsideration of
this final rule must be received not later than October 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Petitions for reconsideration of this final rule must refer
to the docket and notice number set forth above and be submitted to the
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. For hand delivery or courier
delivery, delivery is only possible between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call
(202) 366-9332 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Jasinski, Office of the Chief
Counsel, by telephone at (202) 366-2992, and by fax at (202) 366-3820.
You may send mail to this official at the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of the NPRM

On August 21, 2019, NHTSA published in the Federal Register a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing amendments to FMVSS No.
109, in response to a petition from the Tire and Rim Association (TRA).
TRA sought to clarify the applicability of the FMVSSs to certain types
of tires intended for use on trailers (Special Trailer (ST) tires, Farm
Implement (FI) tires, and tires with a rim diameter code of 12 or below
(hereinafter, ``specialty tires'')), and sought other nonsubstantive
technical amendments.\1\ The NPRM proposed to clarify NHTSA's intent to
make specialty tires intended for use on trailers to be subject only to
FMVSS No. 119.
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\1\ 84 FR 43563.
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In the NPRM, NHTSA acknowledged that in a January 2006 final
rule,\2\ NHTSA stated its intent for specialty tires to be subject to
FMVSS No. 119, but in an August 2007 final rule had inadvertently made
specialty tires also subject to FMVSS No. 109.\3\ Further, NHTSA
acknowledged that FMVSS No. 109 does not specify test conditions for
specialty tires with maximum inflation pressures not specified in FMVSS
No. 109. Without specified test pressures, NHTSA cannot test specialty
tires for compliance with FMVSS No. 109. While this issue could be
remedied by adding new test pressures to FMVSS No. 109, NHTSA stated
its belief that making specialty tires subject to FMVSS No. 119 is
preferable because FMVSS No. 119 specifies test conditions based on
load range designations. Doing so would provide the tire industry
flexibility to change maximum tire inflation pressures for specialty
tires without first requesting regulatory changes from NHTSA.
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\2\ 71 FR 877.
\3\ 72 FR 49207.
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Based on the foregoing, NHTSA proposed an amendment to FMVSS No.
109 to remove references to specialty tires from the title and the
``Application'' section. Second, NHTSA proposed to add a reference to
specialty tires to the title of FMVSS No. 119. In addition, though not
suggested by TRA, NHTSA proposed an amendment to the ``Scope'' section
of FMVSS No. 119 to include a reference to specialty tires, to provide
added clarity regarding the applicability of FMVSS No. 119 to specialty
tires. Specialty tires are already listed in the ``Application''
section of FMVSS No. 119.

[[Page 48540]]

NHTSA also proposed amendments to Table III in FMVSS No. 119, the
endurance test schedule, which had been included in a prior NPRM
proposing upgrades to FMVSS No. 119.\4\ These included technical
corrections to Table III of FMVSS No. 119 to include items that have
been inadvertently omitted from the table through amendments to the
standard, including those pertinent to specialty tires. The NPRM
proposed correcting the omission of load range C, D, M, and N for
speed-restricted service tires, load range A through E and M from the
list of ``All other'' tires, and missing footnotes.
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\4\ 75 FR 60036 (Sep. 29, 2010). These proposals did not receive
adverse comments responding to that NPRM.
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The August 2019 NPRM also included several nonsubstantive technical
amendments:
A corresponding amendment to FMVSS No. 110 to remove a
reference to FMVSS No. 109 as a standard under which specialty tires
could be certified.
Clarification that tires manufactured for vehicles
manufactured in the year 1975 are subject to FMVSS No. 109.
The reinsertion of a footnote in Table II of FMVSS No. 119
that had inadvertently been omitted, stating that the minimum breaking
energy requirements for rayon cord tires is 60 percent of those listed
in the Table II.\5\
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\5\ This amendment had been proposed previously in a January 10,
2013 Supplemental NPRM and NHTSA received no adverse comment. See 78
FR 2236.
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Formatting changes and revised headings in Table II of
FMVSS No. 119 to make the table easier to read.\6\
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\6\ Id.
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Correction of the formula in S7.3(f)(1) of FMVSS No. 119
for computing breaking energy of a tire when using metric units.\7\
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\7\ Id.
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Correction of the values for total number of revolutions
of the test wheel during the endurance test in Table III of FMVSS No.
119.
Clarification that deep tread (18/32 inch or greater)
light truck tires are excluded from FMVSS No. 139. NHTSA had previously
determined that such tires should be subject to FMVSS No. 119.\8\
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\8\ Supra note 2.
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Clarification that FMVSS No. 139 excludes tires with rim
diameters of 12 inches and below, not 8 inches as it currently is
stated. Tires with rim diameters between 8 and 12 inches are considered
specialty tires that will be subject only to FMVSS No. 119.
The insertion of a missing heading referencing light truck
tires with a nominal cross section <= 295 mm (11.5 inches) in the
tables setting forth the test pressure for the high speed performance
test, the tire endurance test, and the low inflation pressure
performance test for light trucks in FMVSS No. 139.
Correction of NHTSA's current address in FMVSS No. 110 and
FMVSS No. 139.
Typographical errors in the application section of FMVSS
No. 110.

II. Summary of the Comments Received and NHTSA's Response

NHTSA received three comments in response to the August 2019 NPRM,
one from the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA)
and two separate comments from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
(USTMA), both of which are trade associations representing tire
manufacturers.
JATMA's comment supported the proposal. However, JATMA also sought
an amendment to S5.5.1 of FMVSS No. 139 ``to reflect new Tire
Identification Number [TIN] stipulated in 49 CFR part 574.5.'' \9\
Although JATMA does not specify precisely what in S5.5.1 of FMVSS No.
139 it wants amended, NHTSA believes that JATMA is likely referring to
the reference to an ``optional code.''
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\9\ JATMA comments, Docket No. NHTSA-2019-0074-0002, at 1.
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NHTSA is not accepting this suggested amendment from JATMA in the
final rule. In an April 13, 2015 final rule, NHTSA updated the TIN
requirements to standardize the length of the TIN to 13 symbols for new
tires, making no part of the TIN optional.\10\ However, compliance with
these new requirements is optional until April 13, 2025 for most new
tire manufacturers. Until that date, some tire manufacturers may be
following the older TIN content requirements, which include an optional
code. Therefore, NHTSA will not consider removing the references to an
optional code in FMVSS No. 139, as suggested by JATMA, until after
April 13, 2025.
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\10\ 80 FR 19553.
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USTMA's first comment was supportive of the proposal. However, it
noted that the heading of section III.A in the NPRM referred to the
``Date of Manufacture of Tires Subject to FMVSS No. 109.'' USTMA noted
that the applicability of FMVSS No. 109 hinges on the date of
manufacture of the vehicle rather than the date of manufacture of the
tire. USTMA is correct. However, as they noted in their comment, the
text following the heading referred to the applicability of FMVSS No.
109 correctly.
USTMA submitted a second comment identifying a typographical error
in FMVSS No. 119 not discussed in the NPRM. FMVSS No. 119, S6.3 sets
forth requirements for the high speed performance test and refers to
test procedures specified in S7.3. However, USTMA observed that the
test procedures for the high speed performance test in FMVSS No. 119
are actually located in S7.4. USTMA requested that NHTSA correct this
typographical error. NHTSA agrees that this is a typographical error
and is correcting the error in this final rule.\11\
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\11\ NHTSA finds that there is good cause to exempt this
amendment from the notice-and-comment procedure usually undertaken
prior to adopting amendments. Advance notice of this amendment is
unnecessary because this is merely a correction of an obvious
typographical error.
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Finally, NHTSA has reviewed the updates and clarifications in the
proposal and has found that one additional change to the presentation
of Table II of FMVSS No. 119 would be helpful. Specifically, NHTSA is
separating the column containing light truck tires and tubeless tires
with rim diameter code 17.5 or smaller into two separate columns.
Although these tires use the same plunger size and have the same
performance requirements for any given load range, including them in
the same column made the column heading either ambiguous or too long.
This nonsubstantive change should ease reader understanding.

III. Final Rule

For the reasons stated in the August 2019 NPRM, NHTSA is adopting
all of the amendments proposed in the August 2019 NPRM except for the
modification to Table II of FMVSS No. 119 discussed in the prior
paragraph. The Agency is also amending S6.3 of FMVSS No. 119 to correct
a typographical error, as discussed in the response to the comment from
USTMA.

IV. Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

A. Executive Order 12866, Executive Order 13563, and DOT Rulemaking
Procedures

NHTSA has considered the impact of this rulemaking action under
Executive Order 12866, Executive Order 13563, and the Department of
Transportation's administrative rulemaking procedures. This rulemaking
is not considered significant and was not reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget under E.O. 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and
Review.''
This rule clarifies the applicability of the FMVSSs to tires
intended for use on

[[Page 48541]]

trailers and makes other technical amendments. It will not result in
any costs nor will it have any impact on safety.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.,
as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency is required to publish a notice
of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that
describes the effect of the rule on small entities (i.e., small
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions).
The Small Business Administration's regulations at 13 CFR part 121
define a small business, in part, as a business entity ``which operates
primarily within the United States.'' (13 CFR 121.105(a)). No
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of an agency
certifies the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the Regulatory
Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide a statement of
the factual basis for certifying that a rule would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
NHTSA has considered the effects of this final rule under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I certify that this rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This rule will directly impact manufacturers of tires. Although we
believe some manufacturers affected by this rule are considered small
businesses, we do not believe this rule will have a significant
economic impact on those manufacturers. This final rule makes only
minor technical changes to the FMVSSs, and does not affect the
substantive requirements of the FMVSSs. This rule will not impose any
costs upon manufacturers and instead, will relieve any confusion that
may exist regarding the applicability of FMVSS No. 109 to specialty
tires.

C. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

NHTSA has examined this rule pursuant to Executive Order 13132 (64
FR 43255, August 10, 1999) and concluded that no additional
consultation with States, local governments or their representatives is
mandated beyond the rulemaking process. The Agency has concluded that
the rulemaking would not have sufficient federalism implications to
warrant consultation with State and local officials or the preparation
of a federalism summary impact statement. The final rule would not have
``substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
NHTSA rules can preempt in two ways. First, the National Traffic
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act contains an express preemption provision:
When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a
State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue
in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of a
motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is
identical to the standard prescribed under this chapter. 49 U.S.C.
30103(b)(1). It is this statutory command by Congress that preempts any
non-identical State legislative and administrative law addressing the
same aspect of performance.
The express preemption provision described above is subject to a
savings clause under which ``[c]ompliance with a motor vehicle safety
standard prescribed under this chapter does not exempt a person from
liability at common law.'' 49 U.S.C. 30103(e). Pursuant to this
provision, State common law tort causes of action against motor vehicle
manufacturers that might otherwise be preempted by the express
preemption provision are generally preserved. However, the Supreme
Court has recognized the possibility, in some instances, of implied
preemption of such State common law tort causes of action by virtue of
NHTSA's rules, even if not expressly preempted. This second way that
NHTSA rules can preempt is dependent upon there being an actual
conflict between an FMVSS and the higher standard that would
effectively be imposed on motor vehicle manufacturers if someone
obtained a State common law tort judgment against the manufacturer,
notwithstanding the manufacturer's compliance with the NHTSA standard.
Because most NHTSA standards established by an FMVSS are minimum
standards, a State common law tort cause of action that seeks to impose
a higher standard on motor vehicle manufacturers will generally not be
preempted. However, if and when such a conflict does exist--for
example, when the standard at issue is both a minimum and a maximum
standard--the State common law tort cause of action is impliedly
preempted. See Geier v. American Honda Motor Co., 529 U.S. 861 (2000).
Pursuant to Executive Order 13132 and 12988, NHTSA has considered
whether this rule could or should preempt State common law causes of
action. The Agency's ability to announce its conclusion regarding the
preemptive effect of one of its rules reduces the likelihood that
preemption will be an issue in any subsequent tort litigation.
To this end, the Agency has examined the nature (e.g., the language
and structure of the regulatory text) and objectives of this rule and
finds that this rule, like many NHTSA rules, prescribes only a minimum
safety standard. As such, NHTSA does not intend that this rule preempt
State tort law that effectively would impose a higher standard on motor
vehicle manufacturers than that established by today's rule.
Establishment of a higher standard by means of State tort law would not
conflict with the minimum standard announced here. Without any
conflict, there could not be any implied preemption of a State common
law tort cause of action.

D. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

With respect to the review of the promulgation of a new regulation,
section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil Justice Reform'' (61 FR
4729; Feb. 7, 1996), requires that Executive agencies make every
reasonable effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies
the preemptive effect; (2) clearly specifies the effect on existing
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for
affected conduct, while promoting simplification and burden reduction;
(4) clearly specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) specifies
whether administrative proceedings are to be required before parties
file suit in court; (6) adequately defines key terms; and (7) addresses
other important issues affecting clarity and general draftsmanship
under any guidelines issued by the Attorney General. This document is
consistent with that requirement.
Pursuant to this Order, NHTSA notes as follows. The issue of
preemption is discussed above. NHTSA notes further that there is no
requirement that individuals submit a petition for reconsideration or
pursue other administrative proceedings before they may file suit in
court.

E. Protection of Children From Environmental Health and Safety Risks

Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19855, April 23, 1997), applies to any
rule that: (1)

[[Page 48542]]

Is determined to be ``economically significant'' as defined under
Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an environmental, health, or
safety risk that the agency has reason to believe may have a
disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action meets
both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental health or
safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain why the
planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective and
reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
This rule is not economically significant as defined under
Executive Order 12866. Further, this rulemaking is not expected to have
a disproportionate health or safety impact on children. Consequently,
no further analysis is required under Executive Order 13045.

F. Paperwork Reduction Act

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), a person is not
required to respond to a collection of information by a Federal agency
unless the collection displays a valid OMB control number. There is no
information collection requirement associated with this rule.

G. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act (NTTAA) requires NHTSA to evaluate and use existing voluntary
consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless doing so would
be inconsistent with applicable law (e.g., the statutory provisions
regarding NHTSA's vehicle safety authority) or otherwise impractical.
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards developed or
adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. Technical standards
are defined by the NTTAA as ``performance-based or design-specific
technical specification and related management systems practices.''
They pertain to ``products and processes, such as size, strength, or
technical performance of a product, process or material.''
Examples of organizations generally regarded as voluntary consensus
standards bodies include ASTM International, the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
If NHTSA does not use available and potentially applicable voluntary
consensus standards, we are required by the Act to provide Congress,
through OMB, an explanation of the reasons for not using such
standards.
There are no voluntary consensus standards developed by voluntary
consensus standards bodies pertaining to this rule.

H. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA)
requires Federal agencies to prepare a written assessment of the costs,
benefits, and other effects of proposed or final rules that include a
Federal mandate likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, or
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of more
than $100 million annually (adjusted for inflation with base year of
1995). Before promulgating a NHTSA rule for which a written statement
is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires the Agency to
identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives
and adopt the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of
section 205 do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable
law. Moreover, section 205 allows the Agency to adopt an alternative
other than the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome
alternative if the Agency publishes with the final rule an explanation
of why that alternative was not adopted.
This final rule would not result in any expenditure by State,
local, or tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100
million, adjusted for inflation.

I. National Environmental Policy Act

NHTSA has analyzed this rulemaking action for the purposes of the
National Environmental Policy Act. The Agency has determined that
implementation of this action would not have any significant impact on
the quality of the human environment.

J. Congressional Review Act

Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.),
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule
as not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

K. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN)

The Department of Transportation assigns a regulation identifier
number (RIN) to each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of
Federal Regulations. The Regulatory Information Service Center
publishes the Unified Agenda in April and October of each year. You may
use the RIN contained in the heading at the beginning of this document
to find this action in the Unified Agenda.

L. Privacy Act

Please note that anyone can search the electronic form of all
documents received into any of our dockets by the name of the
individual submitting the document (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or online at
https://www.transportation.gov/privacy/.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Tires.

In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA amends 49 CFR part 571 as
follows:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

0
1. The authority citation for part 571 of Title 49 continues to read as
follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95.

0
2. Amend Sec. 571.109 by revising the section heading and paragraph S2
to read as follows:

Sec. 571.109 Standard No. 109; New pneumatic tires for vehicles
manufactured from 1949 to 1975, bias ply tires, and T-type spare tires.

* * * * *
S2. Application. This standard applies to new pneumatic radial
tires for use on passenger cars manufactured from 1949 through 1975,
new pneumatic bias ply tires, and T-type spare tires. However, it does
not apply to any tire that has been so altered so as to render
impossible its use, or its repair for use, as motor vehicle equipment.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec. 571.110 by revising paragraphs S2, S4.1(b)(2), and
S4.4.2(e)(1) to read as follows:

Sec. 571.110 Tire selection and rims and motor home/recreation
vehicle trailer load carrying capacity information for motor vehicles
with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less.

* * * * *
S2. Application. This standard applies to motor vehicles with a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds)
or less, except for motorcycles, and to non-pneumatic spare tire
assemblies for those vehicles.
* * * * *
S4.1 * * *

[[Page 48543]]

(b) * * *
(2) Trailers may be equipped with ST tires, FI tires, or tires with
a rim diameter code of 12 or below that meet the requirements of Sec.
571.119.
* * * * *
S4.4.2 * * *
(e) * * *
(1) Any manufacturer that elects to express the date of manufacture
by means of a symbol shall notify NHTSA in writing of the full names
and addresses of all manufacturers and brand name owners utilizing that
symbol and the name and address of the trademark owner of that symbol,
if any. The notification shall describe in narrative form and in detail
how the month, day, and year or the month and year are depicted by the
symbol. Such description shall include an actual size graphic depiction
of the symbol, showing and/or explaining the interrelationship of the
component parts of the symbol as they will appear on the rim or single
piece wheel disc, including dimensional specifications, and where the
symbol will be located on the rim or single piece wheel disc. The
notification shall be received by NHTSA not less than 60 calendar days
before the first use of the symbol. The notification shall be mailed to
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, West Building, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590. All information provided to NHTSA
under this paragraph will be placed in the public docket.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend Sec. 571.119 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading.
0
b. Revising paragraph S1.
0
c. Revising paragraph S6.3.
0
d. Revising paragraph S7.3(f)(1) and (2).
0
e. Revising Table II--Minimum Static Breaking Energy.
0
f. Revising Table III--Endurance Test Schedule.
The revisions read as follows:

Sec. 571.119 Standard No. 119; New pneumatic tires for motor
vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds),
specialty tires, and tires for motorcycles.

* * * * *
S1. Scope. This standard establishes performance and marking
requirements for tires for use on motor vehicles with a GVWR of more
than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds), specialty tires, and tires for
motorcycles.
* * * * *
S6.3 High speed performance. When tested in accordance with the
procedures of S7.4, a tire shall meet the requirements set forth in
S6.1.1 and S6.1.2(a) and (b). However, this requirement applies only to
motorcycle tires and to non-speed-restricted tires of nominal rim
diameter code 14.5 or less marked load range A, B, C, or D.
* * * * *
S7.3 * * *
(f) * * *
(1) W = [(F x P)/2] x 10-3

Where:

W = Breaking energy in joules (J),
F = Force in newtons (N), and
P = Penetration in millimeters (mm),

or;

(2) W = (F x P)/2

Where:

W = Breaking energy in inch-pounds (in-lb),
F = Force in pounds (lb), and
P = Penetration in inches (in).
* * * * *

[[Page 48544]]

Table II--Minimum Static Breaking Energy
[Joules (J) and Inch-Pounds (in-lb)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tires other than light truck, motorcycle, 12 rim diameter code or smaller
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tire characteristic Motorcycle
All 12 rim diameter
code or smaller
except motorcycle
Light Truck greater
than 12 rim diameter
code
Tube type greater than 12 rim diameter
code
Tubeless 17.5 rim
diameter code or
smaller
Tubeless greater than 17.5 rim diameter
code
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plunger diameter 7.94 mm \5/16\'' 19.05 mm \3/4\'' 19.05 mm \3/4\'' 31.75 mm 1 \1/4\'' 38.10 mm 1 \1/2\'' 19.05 mm \3/4\'' 31.75 mm 1 \1/4\'' 38.10 mm 1 \1/2\''
(mm and inches)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breaking Energy J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb J in-lb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Load Range:
A................................................... 16 150 67 600 225 2,000 ......... ......... ......... ......... 225 2,000 ......... ......... ......... .........
B................................................... 33 300 135 1,200 293 2,600 ......... ......... ......... ......... 293 2,600 ......... ......... ......... .........
C................................................... 45 400 203 1,800 361 3,200 768 6,800 ......... ......... 361 3,200 576 5,100 ......... .........
D................................................... ......... ......... 271 2,400 514 4,550 892 7,900 ......... ......... 514 4,550 734 6,500 ......... .........
E................................................... ......... ......... 338 3,000 576 5,100 1,412 12,500 ......... ......... 576 5,100 971 8,600 ......... .........
F................................................... ......... ......... 406 3,600 644 5,700 1,785 15,800 ......... ......... 644 5,700 1,412 12,500 ......... .........
G................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 711 6,300 ......... ......... 2,282 20,200 711 6,300 ......... ......... 1,694 15,000
H................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 768 6,800 ......... ......... 2,598 23,000 768 6,800 ......... ......... 2,090 18,500
J................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 2,824 25,000 ......... ......... ......... ......... 2,203 19,500
L................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 3,050 27,000 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
M................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 3,220 28,500 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
N................................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... 3,389 30,000 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: For rayon cord tires, applicable energy values are 60 percent of those in table.

[[Page 48545]]

Table III--Endurance Test Schedule
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test wheel speed Test load: Percent of maximum load
-------------------------- rating Total test
Description Load range --------------------------------------- revolution
km/h r/m Step I (7 Step II (16 Step III (thousands)
hours) hours) (24 hours)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed-restricted service:
90 km/h (55 mph)..................... All......................... 40 125 66 84 101 352.5
80 km/h (50 mph)..................... C, D........................ 48 150 75 97 114 423.0
E, F, G, H, J, L, M, N...... 32 100 66 84 101 282.0
56 km/h (35 mph)..................... All......................... 24 75 66 84 101 211.5
Motorcycle............................... All......................... 80 250 \a\100 \b\108 117 510.0
All other................................ A, B, C, D.................. 80 250 \a\75 \b\97 114 510.0
E........................... 64 200 70 88 106 564.0
F........................... 64 200 66 84 101 564.0
G........................... 56 175 66 84 101 493.5
H, J, L, M, N............... 48 150 66 84 101 423.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ 4 hours for tire sizes subject to high speed requirements S6.3.
\b\ 6 hours for tire sizes subject to high speed requirements S6.3.

* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec. 571.139 by:
0
a. Revising paragraph S2;
0
b. Revising paragraph S4.1.1(a);
0
c. Revising paragraph S6.2.1.1.1;
0
d. Revising paragraph S6.3.1.1.1; and
0
e. Revising paragraph S6.4.1.1.1.
The revisions read as follows:

Sec. 571.139 Standard No. 139; New pneumatic radial tires for light
vehicles.

* * * * *
S2 Application. This standard applies to new pneumatic radial tires
for use on motor vehicles (other than motorcycles and low speed
vehicles) that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less and that were manufactured after 1975. This standard
does not apply to special tires (ST) for trailers in highway service,
tires for use on farm implements (FI) in agricultural service with
intermittent highway use, tires with rim diameters of 12 inches and
below, T-type temporary use spare tires with radial construction, and
light truck tires with a tread depth of 18/32 inch or greater.
* * * * *
S4.1.1 * * *
(a) Listed by manufacturer name or brand name in a document
furnished to dealers of the manufacturer's tires, to any person upon
request, and in duplicate to the Docket Section (No. NHTSA-2009-0117),
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, West Building, 1200 New
Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; or
* * * * *
S6.2.1.1.1 Mount the tire on a test rim and inflate it to the
pressure specified for the tire in the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test
Tire application pressure
(kPa)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger car tires:
Standard load.......................................... 220
Extra load............................................. 260
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section <=295 mm
(11.5 inches):
Load Range C........................................... 320
Load Range D........................................... 410
Load Range E........................................... 500
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section >295 mm
(11.5 inches)
Load Range C........................................... 230
Load Range D........................................... 320
Load Range E........................................... 410
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
S6.3.1.1.1 Mount the tire on a test rim and inflate it to the
pressure specified for the tire in the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test
Tire application pressure
(kPa)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger car tires:
Standard load.......................................... 180
Extra load............................................. 220
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section <=295 mm
(11.5 inches)
Load Range C........................................... 260
Load Range D........................................... 340
Load Range E........................................... 410
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section >295 mm
(11.5 inches)
Load Range C........................................... 190
Load Range D........................................... 260
Load Range E........................................... 340
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
S6.4.1.1.1 This test is conducted following completion of the tire
endurance test using the same tire and rim assembly tested in
accordance with S6.3 with the tire deflated to the following
appropriate pressure:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test
Tire application pressure
(kPa)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger car tires....................................
Standard load.......................................... 140
Extra load............................................. 160
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section <=295 mm
(11.5 inches)
Load Range C........................................... 200
Load Range D........................................... 260
Load Range E........................................... 320
Light truck tires with a nominal cross section >295 mm
(11.5 inches)
Load Range C........................................... 150
Load Range D........................................... 200
Load Range E........................................... 260
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR
1.95 and 501.5.
Steven S. Cliff,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-18633 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P