[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 56873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22632]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2002-13242; Notice 1]


Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Receipt of Application for 
Decision of Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) has determined that 
approximately 2,400 of the 66,697 P275/55R20 Eagle LS and P245/70R16 
Wrangler SRA tires manufactured and shipped during the period May 25, 
2002 to June 16, 2002, do not meet the labeling requirements mandated 
by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 109, ``New 
pneumatic tires.''
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Goodyear has 
petitioned for a determination that this noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and has filed an appropriate 
report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance 
Reports.''
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    FMVSS No. 109 (S4.3(d)) requires that each tire shall have 
permanently molded into or onto both sidewalls the generic name of each 
cord material used in the plies (both sidewall and tread area) of the 
tire. The tires were marked with the material identified as polyester 
when it was actually nylon. The error occurred as a result of a roll of 
nylon being incorrectly identified as polyester.
    Goodyear believes that the noncompliance is inconsequential to 
motor vehicles safety because the nylon fabric involved is much 
stronger than polyester fabric normally used in these tires, the end 
result being tires with increased endurance. These tires have been 
tested and the results indicate that all the performance requirements 
of FMVSS No. 109 were met or exceeded. The error is considered as an 
isolated instance. Goodyear states that additional steps have now been 
put in place to insure the usage of only the correct fabric in the 
future.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application described above. Comments should refer to 
the docket number and be submitted to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590. It is requested that two copies be 
submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date, will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment 
closing date: October 7, 2002.

(49 U.S.C. 301118, 301120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 
and 501.8)


    Issued on: August 30, 2002.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 02-22632 Filed 9-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P