WASHINGTON (Sept. 28) — The Rubber Manufacturers Association is urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to deny the petition of a tire importer for inconsequential noncompliance concerning the mislabeling of Chinese intermodal truck tires.
Foreign Tire Sales Inc., of Union, N.J., petitioned for the inconsequential ruling for 18,900 tires made by Wendeng Sanfeng Tyre Co. Ltd. The tires´ lack of a federally mandated single load carrying designation, FTS said, is not a major safety problem because the tires are clearly marked, "FOR DUAL USE ONLY."
An intermodal container chassis company backed FTS, but the RMA said there was no evidence presented to NHTSA that showed the tires met basic standards for safety and durability. An RMA spokesman said he expected the agency to rule quickly on the issue.