Denman: NHTSA tire testing rule will force it to close

LEAVITTSBURG, Ohio (Aug. 12)—The final tire testing rule issued in June by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will force Denman Tire Corp. to go out of business unless the agency exempts specialty radial tires from the standard, according to the Leavittsburg-based specialty tire maker. "By mandating new, more severe and expensive tire performance tests for limited production specialty radial tires, but not for bias tires, the agency is encouraging movement toward the manufacturing of bias specialty tires," Denman said in its petition for reconsideration of the rule. "Denman Tire Corp., however, will not survive on production of bias specialty tires alone." The Rubber Manufacturers Association and the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association have also petitioned NHTSA to rewrite the tire testing rule.