NHTSA changes testing standards for snow, specialty radial tyres

Washington DC--The US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is relaxing its testing standards for snow tyres and specialty light truck radials with a tread depth of 18/32 inches or greater, according to a final rule issued in the Federal Register.

To answer various industry petitions submitted after NHTSA issued its major revision of its tyre safety and performance standards in June 2003, the agency has reduced the low-pressure and endurance testing speeds for snow tyres from 120 to 110 kilometres per hour. It also ruled that heavy-tread specialty light truck radials will be tested under the less stringent requirements of the standard previously in effect for light truck tyres. The new safety requirements go into effect 1 Sept, 2007, a three-month extension to the original effective date.

"We're ecstatic," said Scott Tackett, vice president of human resources and administration for Denman Tire Corp., which petitioned NHTSA for the specialty radial exemption. "As we told anyone and everyone, our business hinged on getting that exemption."

Tackett acknowledged the many individuals and groups that supported Denman's position at NHTSA, including the US Small Business Administration, the Tire Industry Association, the United Steelworkers, the National Association of Manufacturers and several members of Congress including Ohio's key spokesmen in the US government, Senator George Voinovich, (Republican) and Representative Tim Ryan, (Democrat).

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Website of NHTSA