NHTSA grants Conti tires non-compliance petition

Washington — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted the petition of Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. for a finding of inconsequential non-compliance involving 814 Continental General Altimax RT43 replacement tires, size 195/65R15 91T and 91H.

The 91H tires were marked with a maximum permissible inflation pressure of 300 kpa (44 psi), and the 91T tires were marked with a maximum permissible pressure of 350 kpa (51 psi), according to the petition Conti sent NHTSA.

The actual maximum permissible pressures were exactly the opposite, Conti said.

Conti argued that both tires can safely accommodate the mistaken maximum pressures on their sidewalls, and that both are above the 250 kpa at which the tires’ maximum load capacities are defined by the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation.

NHTSA agreed that the mislabeling causes no safety problems, and granted Conti’s petition.

The agency’s granting of the petition means the tire maker will not have to conduct a formal recall of the tires.