WASHINGTON—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has granted Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s petition for a finding of inconsequential noncompliance in the case of 83,343 Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ brand LT315/70R17 Load Range D tires.
Cooper manufactured the tires between Jan. 28, 2006 and Oct. 31, 2013, the tire maker told NHTSA. Through a molding error, the tires contained only five of the treadwear indicators required by federal safety standards, instead of the required six.
Cooper argued that the absence of one treadwear indicator is inconsequential to highway safety. NHTSA agreed, and granted Cooper's petition in an Aug. 19 Federal Register notice.