[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 127 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             TIRE STANDARDS

  Mr. ASHCROFT. I would like to engage in a brief colloquy with Senator 
McCain the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. Yesterday, the 
Senate took an important step forward in improving our nation's motor 
vehicle safety laws. One of the most important aspects of that bill was 
a provision to require Department of Transportation to upgrade the 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for tires for the first time in 
nearly 30 years.
  Because it has been so long since the standards have been revised, 
they do not apply to tires used on sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In 
fact, SUVs weren't even around when these standards were last 
developed. Given the relationship of tires to the rollover propensity 
of SUVs, I would expect that the Department should first upgrade the 
standards for those tires used on SUVs. In addition, since the tire 
standard was put in place technology for the construction and design of 
tires has improved dramatically. For example, nylon ply caps can 
significantly improve the performance of tires. The types vehicles on 
the road has also changed as more and more people choose to drive sport 
utility vehicles. Chairman McCain would you agree that the Department 
should consider new technologies that would improve tire safety as they 
establish the new tire standard and that they should also consider the 
different mix of vehicles on the road as they set their priorities for 
implementing the new standard.
  Mr. McCAIN. I concur with the Senator from Missouri that a variety of 
new technologies are available to improve the design and construction 
of tires. The improved federal motor vehicle safety standard for tires 
should take into account all of these new technologies to ensure that 
consumers are provided with safe tires. Additionally, the Department 
should implement the rule in light of the changing mix of types of 
vehicles that consumers are driving.
  Mr. ASHCROFT. Well, I thank the Chairman for taking the time to 
answer my questions and the hard work he has done to get a bill passed 
this year.

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