[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60466-60467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29140]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6433]


International Regulatory Harmonization, Motor Vehicle Safety; 
Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of technical meeting.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA is hosting the second in a series of informal technical 
meetings relating to global tire harmonization issues before the 
Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear (GRRF). The GRRF is one of 
several subsidiary bodies, known as working parties, formed by the 
United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on the 
Construction of Motor Vehicles (WP.29) to address particular aspects of 
motor vehicle performance. The decision to initiate the series of 
informal technical meetings was made by the Chair of the GRRF. The 
meetings are focusing on two issues: (1) Globally harmonizing tire 
regulations, and (2) establishing minimum performance requirements for 
tire grip (traction).

DATES: The informal technical meeting will be held on Thursday and 
Friday, November 18-19, 1999, at the address given below, and will 
begin at 9 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. each day.
    In view of seating limitations, organizations and individuals 
wishing to attend the meeting are requested to contact Mr. George 
Soodoo by Monday, November 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: On November 18, 1999, the meeting will be in Room 4438 of 
the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh St, SW, Washington, DC 20590. On 
November 19, 1999, the meeting will be in Room 3328 of the Nassif 
Building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Soodoo, Group Leader, 
Vehicle Dynamics Division, Office of Safety Performance Standards, 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20590. Tel: (202)-366-2720, and Fax: (202)-366-4329, 
email: [email protected].

[[Page 60467]]

    Ms. Julie Abraham, Director, Office of International Policy and 
Harmonization, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590. Tel: (202)-366-2114, and Fax: 
(202)-366-2559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is to advise interested parties 
that, on November 18 and 19, 1999, NHTSA will host an informal 
technical meeting relating to global tire harmonization activities of 
the Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear (GRRF). The GRRF is one of 
several subsidiary bodies, known as working parties, formed by the 
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on the 
Construction of Vehicles to address particular aspects of motor vehicle 
performance.

I. Background

    At the 45th Session of the GRRF, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 
February 1999, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) 
submitted a proposal for a global technical regulation for passenger 
cars tires.1 (The GRRF is responsible for developing safety 
regulations not only on tires, but also on brakes, wheels and other 
chassis components of motor vehicles.) In response, the chair of the 
GRRF encouraged interested participating countries to host informal 
technical meetings to address the global harmonization of tire 
regulations. He also asked that these meetings address minimum 
performance requirements for tire grip (traction), which was originally 
proposed by the U.K. in February 1998, as an amendment to ECE 
Regulation 30, Pneumatic Tyres.
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    \1\ The proposed new global tire standard (also known as Global 
Tire Standard 2000 for New Pneumatic Passenger Car Tires (GTS-2000)) 
seeks to harmonize the tire standards of the United States, Europe 
and Japan. It was developed in the context of the TransAtlantic 
Business Dialogue with the cooperation and support of members from 
the international tire industry (specifically, the Rubber 
Manufacturers Association (RMA) from the United States, the Liaison 
Office of the Rubber Industry of the European Union (BLIC), and the 
Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA)). During the 
process, the RMA consulted with consumer groups. The tire industry 
developed the proposed new global tire standard with the intent of 
recommending its adoption by the United States, other interested 
governments, WP.29, and the International Standards Organization 
(ISO). Before developing the proposed new global tire standard, the 
tire industry reviewed and compared the tire standards of the United 
States, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, and Saudi 
Arabia. A copy of the proposed new global tire standard was 
submitted to NHTSA by BLIC and is available in NHTSA Docket 98-4367 
(See document #30).
    As described by RMA, the proposed new global tire standard 
``lists the following test criteria: (1) Physical dimensions for 
overall width and outer diameter; (2) strength test (plunger energy) 
for bias-ply and bias-belted tires; (3) bead unseating resistance 
tests for bias-ply and bias-belted tires; (4) low speed (not less 
than 50 mph) endurance tests for bias-ply and bias-belted tires plus 
all radial tires with a speed symbol of ``Q'' or below; and (5) high 
speed endurance test for all tires (bias-ply, bias-belted, and 
radial).'' In addition, it contains labeling requirements covering 
tire pressure, load rating, and tire construction.
    The proposed new global tire standard was announced at the 
November 1998 TABD Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    On January 25, 1999, the RMA, the Tire and Rim Association 
(TRA), the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC), JATMA, ETRTO, and 
BLIC petitioned NHTSA requesting that we revise and update Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109, New Pneumatic Tires, to 
conform to the proposed new global tire standard. On June 8, 1999, 
we granted the petition. In a September 3, 1999 letter to all of the 
petitioners, we solicited additional information regarding each of 
the petitioners' requests. A copy of the letter is available in the 
docket for this notice.
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    The United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Transport, and 
Regions (DETR) hosted the first informal technical meeting in London, 
England on July 1-2, 1999. Mr. Gordon Burford of the DETR chaired the 
meeting on behalf of Mr. Geoff Harvey, the Chair of the informal 
technical group, who was unable to participate in the meeting. The 
meeting was attended by sixteen representatives from the following 
governments and organizations: The United States, the United Kingdom, 
Germany, Japan, Hungary, the Netherlands, ETRTO, and RMA. The 
participants spent the first day discussing the technical aspects 
associated with developing a global tire standard, including tire 
dimensions, markings, and specific performance tests. They spent the 
second day discussing what requirements should be included in the tire 
grip test. The minutes from the first meeting are available in NHTSA 
Docket 98-3592 (See document #12).

II. Second Informal Technical Meeting on Global Tire Harmonization

    On November 18 and 19, 1999, the United States will host the second 
informal technical meeting on global tire harmonization of the GRRF at 
the U.S. Department of Transportation. The meeting will follow the 
informal discussion format of the first meeting. Mr. Geoff Harvey of 
the DETR will chair the meeting. The goal of the meeting is to address 
the specific research and development needs associated with global tire 
harmonization and minimum performance requirements for tire grip 
(traction). The first day of the meeting will focus on the technical 
issues associated with the global harmonization of tire standards. The 
group will begin the process of drafting a technical regulation that 
will eventually be submitted to the GRRF. The second day of the meeting 
will address issues related to tire grip. The group intends to address 
the form of testing that should be used to measure tire grip (e.g., 
surface selection, testing mode, etc.).
    The minutes of the meeting will be kept and placed in the public 
docket for this notice.
    All persons and organizations wishing to attend the meeting are 
asked to contact George Soodoo at the address or telephone number 
indicated above.
    Seating is limited. Therefore, we ask that organizations limit the 
number of their representatives to one or two persons in order to 
ensure that all individuals and organizations who wish to participate 
are able to do so.
    Following is the provisional agenda for the meeting:

UN ECE GRRF Ad-hoc Group--Global Harmonization of Tyre Regulations and 
Tyre Grip

    Provisional Agenda: 2nd meeting 18 and 19 November 1999, to be held 
in Washington DC, U.S.A.

Thursday 18 November--Global Harmonization of Tire Regulations

     Minutes of the first meeting.
     Draft document for global tire harmonization.
     Response of tire industry to U.S. request for information.

Friday 18 November--Tire Grip

     U.K. proposal on tire grip.
     Discussion on variety of issues including research needs, 
test surface, and selection of control tire.

    Issued on: November 2, 1999.
Martin Koubek,
Assistant to the Director Office of International Policy and 
Harmonization.
[FR Doc. 99-29140 Filed 11-3-99; 2:19 pm]
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