Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Study: Vehicle buyers cling to familiarity amid pandemic
      Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      EU car registrations down 26 percent in November
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Bridgestone crafts virtual city to showcase sustainable-mobility initiatives
      Tire recycling faces challenges to increase markets
    • JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
      TRAC's Glenn Maidment caps 51-year rubber industry career
      LafargeHolcim looks to solidify U.S. presence with Firestone Building Products purchase
      Hankook Tire holding company adopts Hankook & Co. identity
    • First UTech Southeast Asia conference to be held in 2022
      New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      Rubber Heart launches new website
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
    • Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
      ASTM taps rubber executive as new board member
      CEAT hires former Michelin exec to head up U.S. sales company
      Axel Wersel named Vibracoustic COO
    • Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Lobbying group unveils policy agenda to speed transition to EVs
      NADA, bank group to assess political contributions after U.S. Capitol siege
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
      Rubber Division seeking abstracts for Spring Technical Meeting
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Study: Vehicle buyers cling to familiarity amid pandemic
      Kumho launches commercial LT, performance tire lines
      EU car registrations down 26 percent in November
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
      IRSG forecasts rubber demand to rebound by 7 percent in 2021
      Bridgestone unveils AI-based NR tree disease detection technology
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
April 22, 2011 02:00 AM

Fate of tire labeling, consumer info a toss up

Miles Moore
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.—The tire industry is still waiting for the labeling and consumer information portions of the tire fuel efficiency rule, and it's still a tossup as to whether it will be a boon or a burden to tire manufacturers and dealers.

    This was the message conveyed by speakers at the 27th annual Clemson University Tire Industry Conference, held April 6-8 at Hilton Head.

    The final rule on tire fuel efficiency—mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA)—was issued in March 2010, requiring consumer grades for rolling resistance, traction and treadwear. However, the document did not contain final provisions for either tire labeling or a consumer information program, citing the need for more research in both cases.

    It will be a while before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues final rules on those provisions, according to James D. MacIsaac Jr., project engineer at NHTSA's testing facility in East Liberty, Ohio.

    “There's a lot more research needed on consumer information, and also more tire testing,” MacIsaac said.

    NHTSA currently has rolling resistance results for 20 candidate tires in the fuel efficiency testing, as well as wet traction results for nine tires, according to MacIsaac. The agency also is running 7,200 miles per convoy for treadwear testing on nine production tire models, he said.

    MacIsaac said he wasn't at liberty to give detailed information on the progress of the final rules or their potential content. He said, however, that there was a congressional mandate for rolling resistance grades on tires long before EISA.

    In September 1994, Congress passed a law mandating that NHTSA issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on a rolling resistance consumer label by June 1, 1995, MacIsaac said. In July 1995, the agency proposed replacing the Uniform Tire Quality Grading temperature grade with a rolling resistance grade.

    However, Congress voted to deny funding for this effort in November 1995. “It had something to do, I believe, with the patents on low-rolling-resistance silica treads, which kept them locked up for 17 years,” he said.

    Tire labeling

    Tire labeling is a major issue for the global tire manufacturing industry, which is working very hard to establish best practices for labeling programs worldwide, according to Richard Scavuzzo, Goodyear director of global government compliance and product performance.

    “The effectiveness of any consumer tire information program depends on how the program is developed and how it is structured,” Scavuzzo said. “Multiple labeling programs are being developed around the globe. We believe that as a global tire industry we should get some unanimity on what best practices are.

    “Our feeling is that if we have a consensus from the industry, these programs can be rolled out quickly and efficiently in each country that develops them,” he said. “If every country comes out with its own tests, it's going to be a nightmare.”

    Europe and Japan already have their own tire consumer labeling programs, Scavuzzo said. Europe's grading system, which covers rolling resistance, wet grip and tire noise for passenger, light truck and truck tires, requires tires to be labeled by July 2012.

    Japan's program, administered by the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, is for passenger tires only—as is the U.S. program—and requires grades for rolling resistance and wet grip. JATMA allows tire manufacturers to place labels on tires voluntarily now, but will require the labels beginning January 2012, Scavuzzo said.

    Other countries are planning their own labeling requirements, according to Scavuzzo. South Korea, he said, is very close to announcing its own labeling program based on the Japanese and European models.

    ANIP, the Brazilian tire manufacturers association, and INMETRO, the Brazilian quality standards agency, held meetings recently to outline a Brazilian tire labeling program, Scavuzzo asked. Turkey is considering adoption of the European labeling system, and China is drafting minimum requirements for tire rolling resistance, he said.

    Program concerns

    Meanwhile, the Tire Industry Association continues to be concerned about the content of the consumer information program and who will be designated to oversee it, according to Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president.

    “Will it be a necessary consumer program, or a recipe for disaster?” Littlefield asked. “I believe it could go either way.”

    Since the consumer information program was first proposed, TIA has put itself forward as the logical third-party organization to manage the program for NHTSA.

    TIA is in a perfect position to expand on current tire industry safety programs and emphasize the need for consumers to care for their tires properly, according to Littlefield.

    Without strong industry input, a consumer information program on tire fuel efficiency could prove catastrophic to tire manufacturers and retailers alike, he said.

    “If this program is not administered properly, it could result in legislation and mandates more severe than the TREAD Act,” Littlefield said. “What if we saw government-sponsored ads about tire aging?”

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION