[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 67739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30107]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA 2003-16464; Notice 1]


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

    The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) has determined that 
certain tires it manufactured from 1998 to 2003 do not comply with 
S6.5(f) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, ``New 
pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars.''
    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.
    Goodyear produced 37,980 LT265/75R16 Wrangler RT/s LR-E tires 
during the period from February 1, 1998, to May 31, 2003, which do not 
comply with FMVSS No. 119, S6.5(f). These tires were marked with 3 
plies in the sidewall while there were actually 2 plies in the 
sidewall.
    S6.5(f) of FMVSS No. 119 requires that each tire shall be marked on 
each sidewall with ``the actual number of plies.'' Goodyear states that 
this error occurred when these tires replaced the previous tire that 
had 3 plies in the sidewall. The new tire was changed to 2 plies but 
the mold drawing and specification were not revised to reflect this 
change.
    Goodyear believes that this noncompliance is inconsequential to 
motor vehicle safety because the tires meet or exceed all applicable 
FMVSS performance standards, and all markings related to tire service 
(load capacity, corresponding inflation pressure, load range, etc.) are 
correct. The mislabeling noted above creates no unsafe condition.
    Interested persons are invited to submit written views, arguments, 
and data on the application described above. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be 
submitted by any of the following methods: Mail: Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hand Delivery: 
Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, that 
two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on 
weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal holidays. Comments may 
be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management 
System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help'' to obtain 
instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be 
faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    The application, supporting materials, and all comments received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will 
be considered. All comments and supporting materials received after the 
closing date, will also be filed and considered to the extent possible. 
When the application is granted or denied, a notice of the decision 
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated below.
    Comment closing date: January 2, 2004.

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

Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30107 Filed 12-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P