[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51399-51400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18950]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 571 and 574

[Docket No. NHTSA-04-17917]
RIN 2127-AJ36


Tire Safety Information; Correction

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: On June 3, 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) published a final rule; response to the 
petitions for reconsideration of a final rule on tire safety 
information published on November 18, 2002. We inadvertently omitted 
regulatory text related to several issues raised by petitioners. This 
document corrects these omissions.

DATES: Effective September 1, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Feygin, Office of Chief 
Counsel (Telephone: 202-366-2992) (Fax: 202-366-3820), 400 7th, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a final rule on tire safety 
information published on November 18, 2002 (67 FR 69600), we received a 
request for an interpretation asking whether laser etching of the date 
code portion of the Tire Identification Number (TIN) is permitted.\1\ 
Specifically, S5.5 of FMVSS No. 139 requires that each new pneumatic 
tire for light vehicles must be ``marked'' with the TIN in accordance 
with 49 CFR 574.5. In responding to this request, the agency issued a 
letter of interpretation indicating that 49 CFR 574.5 permitted laser 
etching of the date code portion of the TIN, as ``long as it occurred 
in-line, i.e., as part of the manufacturing process of the tire.'' We 
also indicated in that letter that in responding to petitions for 
reconsideration of the November 2002 tire safety information final 
rule, we would amend 49 CFR 574.5 to codify the interpretation.\2\
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    \1\ See http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf86/245047_web.pdf.
    \2\ See http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/interps/files/firestonelaser-2.html.
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    We inadvertently omitted the codifying amendment from the response 
to the petitions for reconsideration published on June 3, 2004. In 
order to avoid ambiguities associated with defining ``in-line'' or 
``part of the manufacturing process,'' this correcting amendment 
includes a time limit within which the date code can be laser etched 
into the tire.
    In addition to omitting the codifying amendment, we inadvertently 
omitted making certain changes to the regulatory text discussed in the 
preamble on page 31315.
    Correcting the omission of the codifying amendment will not impose 
or relax any additional substantive requirements or burdens on 
manufacturers. Therefore, NHTSA finds for good cause that any notice 
and opportunity for comment on these correcting amendments are not 
necessary.

0
In FR Doc. 04-11963 published on June 3, 2004 (69 FR 31306), make the 
following corrections:

PART 571--[CORRECTED]

0
1. On page 31317, second column, amendatory instruction 2 is corrected 
as follows:
    ``2. Section 571.110 is amended by revising paragraph S4.2.2, S4.3, 
S4.3.4(c), adding paragraph S4.3.5, and revising Figures 1 and 2 at the 
end of Sec.  571.110, to read as follows:''

[[Page 51400]]

Sec.  571.110  [CORRECTED]

0
2. On page 31317, in the second column, add paragraph S4.2.2 to read as 
follows:
    ``S4.2.2 The vehicle normal load on the tire shall not be greater 
than the test load used in the high speed performance test specified in 
S5.5 of Sec.  571.109, or S7.4 of Sec.  571.119, as appropriate, for 
that tire.''
* * * * *

0
3. On page 31317, in the third column, paragraph (d) is corrected as 
follows:
    ``(d) Tire size designation, indicated by the headings ``size'' or 
``original tire size'' or ``original size,'' and ``spare tire'' or 
``spare,'' for the tires installed at the time of the first purchase 
for purposes other than resale;''

0
4. On page 31318, in the first column, following the first paragraph, 
add paragraph S4.3.4(c) to read as follows:
    ``S4.3.4 (c) The tire load rating specified in a submission by an 
individual manufacturer, pursuant to S4.1.1(a) of Sec.  571.139 or 
contained in one of the publications described in S4.1.1(b) of Sec.  
571.139, for the tire size at that inflation pressure is not less than 
the vehicle maximum load and the vehicle normal load on the tire for 
those vehicle loading conditions.''
* * * * *

PART 574--[CORRECTED]

0
5. On page 31320, third column, amendatory instruction 6 and the 
authority citation for part 574 are corrected as follows:
    ``6. The authority citation for Part 574 continues to read as 
follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166; 
delegation of authority at CFR 1.50.''


Sec.  574.5  [Corrected]

0
6. On page 31320, third column, amendatory instruction 7 and the 
amendments to Sec.  574.5 are revised to read as follows:
    ``7. Section 574.5 is amended by removing the first two sentences 
of the introductory text and adding four sentences in their place, and 
by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  574.5  Tire identification requirements.

    Each tire manufacturer shall conspicuously label on one sidewall of 
each tire it manufactures, except tires manufactured exclusively for 
mileage-contract purchasers, or non-pneumatic tires or non-pneumatic 
tire assemblies, by permanently molding into or onto the sidewall, in 
the manner and location specified in Figure 1, a tire identification 
number containing the information set forth in paragraphs (a) through 
(d) of this section. However, at the option of the manufacturer, the 
information contained in paragraph (d) of this section may, instead of 
being permanently molded, be laser etched into or onto the sidewall in 
the location specified in Figure 1, during the manufacturing process of 
the tire and not later than 24 hours after the tire is removed from the 
mold. Each tire retreader, except tire retreaders who retread tires 
solely for their own use, shall conspicuously label one sidewall of 
each tire it retreads by permanently molding or branding into or onto 
the sidewall, in the manner and location specified in Figure 2, a tire 
identification number containing the information set forth in 
paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. However, at the option of 
the retreader, the information set forth in paragraph (d) of this 
section may, instead of being permanently molded or branded, be laser 
etched into or onto the sidewall in the location specified in Figure 2, 
during the retreading of the tire and not later than 24 hours after the 
application of the new tread. * * *
* * * * *
    (d) Fourth grouping. The fourth grouping, consisting of four 
numerical symbols, must identify the week and year of manufacture. The 
first two symbols must identify the week of the year by using ``01'' 
for the first full calendar week in each year, ``02'' for the second 
full calendar week, and so on. The calendar week runs from Sunday 
through the following Saturday. The final week of each year may include 
not more than 6 days of the following year. The third and fourth 
symbols must identify the year. Example: 0101 means the 1st week of 
2001, or the week beginning Sunday, January 7, 2001, and ending 
Saturday, January 13, 2001. The symbols signifying the date of 
manufacture shall immediately follow the optional descriptive code 
(paragraph (c) of this section). If no optional descriptive code is 
used, the symbols signifying the date of manufacture must be placed in 
the area shown in Figures 1 and 2 of this section for the optional 
descriptive code.''
* * * * *

    Issued: August 13, 2004.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 04-18950 Filed 8-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P