NHTSA leads off TREAD Act implementation with tire rule

WASHINGTON (Dec. 1)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is starting off its implementation of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act with a proposed rule to enhance tire safety. The advance notice, to be published in the Dec. 1 "Federal Register," is based on a TREAD Act requirement that NHTSA create a rule to improve the labeling of tires to help consumers identify recalled tires, and also take whatever additional action is needed to educate the public about tire load limits and proper tire inflation. In the advance notice, the agency seeks public responses to a broad array of questions concerning tire safety issues, including tire identification numbers, load and speed ratings, tire pressure labeling, treadwear indicators and the efficacy of Uniform Tire Quality Grading information. "Safety is President Clinton and Vice President Gore´s highest transportation priority, and making tire information more accessible and clear to owners will certainly enhance safety," said Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater in a news release.