[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57617-57618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28297]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-71; Notice 2]


Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.; Grant of Application for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Bridgetsone/Firestone, Inc. (Bridgestone/Firestone) of Nashville, 
Tennessee, has determined that some of its tires fail to comply with 
the labeling requirements of 49 CFR 571.119, Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, ``New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles 
Other Than Passenger Cars,'' and has filed an appropriate report 
pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.'' 
Bridgestone/Firestone has also applied to be exempted from the 
notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor 
Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential 
to motor vehicle safety.
    Notice of receipt of the application was published on August 21, 
1995 (60 FR 43491). This notice grants the application.
    In FMVSS No. 119, Paragraph S6.5(b) specifies that each tire shall 
be marked with ``[t]he tire identification number required by Part 574 
[Tire Identification and Recordkeeping] of this chapter.'' In Part 
574.5, Paragraphs (a) through (d) specify the information which must be 
placed on the tire. Paragraphs (a) through (c) specify information 
relating to the identification of the manufacturer and tire size. 
Paragraph (d) specifies information relating to the specification of a 
code for the date of manufacture. Paragraph (d) states that the date 
code ``shall immediately follow'' the information specified in 
Paragraphs (a) through (c).
    During the period of July 17, 1994 through April 24, 1995, 
Bridgestone/Firestone produced 19,563 tires which had incorrect serial 
numbers. The sizes of the subject tires are 8.25-20, 9.00-20, 10.00-20, 
and 11.00-20. In the incorrect serial numbers, the date code is at the 
beginning of the number rather than at the end, as required. The tires 
are labeled as ``384 V52JEFD'' instead of the required ``V52JEFD 384.'' 
The date code is ``384.''
    Bridgestone/Firestone supported its application for inconsequential 
noncompliance with the following:

    First, all tires manufactured in the affected size/type meet all 
requirements of Standard 119 except tire markings pertaining to 
[S6.5(b)].
    Second, if there would be a need for the consumer or 
manufacturer representative (BFS) to read the serial, sufficient 
information exists to define the manufacturing location as 
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Mexico City, Mexico. This situation has 
been reviewed with our Registration company and can be adequately 
handled.
    Thirdly, a principal need for tire serials is identification for 
recall purposes. In the event of any future recall of these tires, 
the recall letter would explain the transposed marking
    No comments were received on the application.

    The primary safety purpose of requiring serial information on tires 
is to enable identification of them for the purposes of notification 
and remedy in the event they are determined to be noncompliant or 
incorporate a safety-related defect. If it is necessary to recall the 
tires that are the subject of this application, enough information 
exists on them to trace the tires back to their plant of manufacture. 
Further, Bridgestone/Firestone would explain 

[[Page 57618]]
the transposed marking in the recall letter to the owners so that they 
can properly identify the subject tires. Because the noncompliance does 
not cause the tires to be unidentifiable, NHTSA does not believe it 
will adversely affect safety.
    In consideration of the forgoing, NHTSA finds that the applicant 
has met its burden of persuasion that the noncompliance herein 
described is inconsequential to safety. Accordingly, its application is 
granted, and the applicant is exempted from providing the notification 
of the noncompliance that is required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and from 
remedying the noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120.

(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 
501.8)

    Issued on November 9, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-28297 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M