[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 230 (Friday, November 28, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72357-72358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28096]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA-2007-29083; Docket No. NHTSA-2007-28707]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: Tires; Correction, 
Occupant Crash Protection; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) No. 139, New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles, which 
specifies tire dimensions, test requirements, and labeling requirements 
and which defines tire load ratings for certain types of light vehicle 
tires. The corrections relate to a definition for snow tires and tire 
marking requirements, which were inadvertently removed. This document 
also corrects FMVSS No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, with respect to 
specifying a test tolerance for a procedure used to test air bag 
suppression systems and low risk deployment systems.

DATES: Effective December 29, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rebecca Yoon, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, by telephone at (202) 366-2992, by fax at (202) 366-3820, or 
by mail at the following address: National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

FMVSS No. 139

    FMVSS No. 139 specifies tire dimensions, test requirements, and 
labeling requirements, and defines tire load ratings for new pneumatic 
radial tires for use on certain motor vehicles that have a gross 
vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. The tire 
labeling requirements, S5.5(a) through (h) of the standard, were 
originally added to FMVSS No. 139 in November 2002 to maintain 
consistent labeling requirements for all tires for use on light 
vehicles.\1\
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    \1\ 67 FR 69600 (Nov. 18, 2002).
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    S5.5(i), concerning the ``Alpine Symbol'' for snow tires, was added 
to FMVSS No. 139 in January 2006 to allow manufacturers to certify snow 
tires to special requirements for snow tires, and to help consumers 
identify those tires.\2\ However, the January 2006 amendments adding 
S5.5(i) inadvertently did not reference this subparagraph (i) in the 
introductory paragraph of S5.5. To correct that oversight, the agency 
issued an August 2007 final rule intending to amend only the 
introductory paragraph of S5.5 to specify that the subparagraphs 
included (a) through (i).\3\ However, the rule inadvertently removed 
the nine subparagraphs (a) through (i) of S5.5. This document corrects 
the CFR by adding the inadvertently removed paragraphs of FMVSS No. 
139.
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    \2\ 71 FR 877 (Jan. 6, 2006).
    \3\ 72 FR 49207, 49209-10 (Aug. 28, 2007).
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    Additionally, in the August 2007 final rule, the agency added a 
definition for ``light truck (LT) tires'' but inadvertently removed the 
definition of ``snow tire'' from the list of definitions in S3. The 
``snow tire'' definition is needed in the standard to make clearer how 
the standard applies to snow tires. This document corrects the CFR by 
adding the inadvertently removed snow tire definition.
    We are also correcting FMVSS No. 139 to address another labeling 
requirement that had been inadvertently omitted from the standard when 
labeling requirements were moved from FMVSS No. 119 to FMVSS No. 139. 
This was the requirement that light truck tires load range C, D, and E 
be labeled with the tire load range designation on both sides of the 
tire. The agency did not intend to change (delete) the requirement then 
in FMVSS No. 119 that the tire load range designation be labeled on the 
tires.\4\ Today's document reinstates the labeling requirement.
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    \4\ Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), 66 FR 65536, December 
19, 2001. The only change to FMVSS No. 119 labeling requirements 
discussed in the preamble of the NPRM related to locating the type 
of ply, cord, and tube on one sidewall only, rather than both sides. 
66 FR at 65564. Current tires are labeled with the C, D, and E tire 
load range designation on both sides of the tire.
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FMVSS No. 208

    FMVSS No. 208 requires passenger vehicles to be equipped with seat 
belts and frontal air bags for the protection of vehicle occupants in 
crashes. On July 24, 2007, NHTSA issued a final rule that established 
test procedures for installing child restraint systems (CRSs) to a 
child restraint anchorage system in a front passenger seating position 
in vehicles certified to meet advanced air bag requirements through the 
use of a suppression system or low risk deployment system.\5\
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    \5\ 72 FR 40252.
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    As part of the procedure for installing child restraints with a 
rigid ratchet mechanism built into the CRS, the agency stated in the 
preamble that a force of 475 25 Newtons (N) will be applied 
to the CRS (72 FR at 40256, columns 1 and 2). However, S20.2.1.6.2(g) 
and S22.2.1.6.2(h) of the regulatory text inadvertently did not specify 
the tolerance of 25 N. The lack of a specified tolerance 
may prove to be misleading and needs to be clarified. This document 
corrects the CFR by adding the 25 N tolerance to those 
sections of the standard.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 571

    Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle safety; Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements; Tires.

0
Accordingly, 49 CFR part 571 is corrected by making the following 
correcting amendments:

[[Page 72358]]

PART 571--[CORRECTED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 571 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


0
2. Section 571.139 is amended by adding to S3, in alphabetical order, a 
definition of ``Snow tire,'' and revising S5.5 to read as follows:


Sec.  571.139  Standard No. 139--New pneumatic radial tires for light 
vehicles.

* * * * *
    S3. Definitions.
* * * * *
    Snow tire means a tire that attains a traction index equal to or 
greater than 110, compared to the ASTM E-1136 Standard Reference Test 
Tire when using the snow traction test as described in ASTM F-1805-00, 
Standard Test Method for Single Wheel Driving Traction in a Straight 
Line on Snow- and Ice-Covered Surfaces, and which is marked with an 
Alpine Symbol specified in S5.5(i) on at least one sidewall.
* * * * *
    S5.5 Tire markings. Except as specified in paragraphs (a) through 
(i) of S5.5, each tire must be marked on each sidewall with the 
information specified in S5.5(a) through (d) and on one sidewall with 
the information specified in S5.5(e) through (i) according to the 
phase-in schedule specified in S7 of this standard. The markings must 
be placed between the maximum section width and the bead on at least 
one sidewall, unless the maximum section width of the tire is located 
in an area that is not more than one-fourth of the distance from the 
bead to the shoulder of the tire. If the maximum section width falls 
within that area, those markings must appear between the bead and a 
point one-half the distance from the bead to the shoulder of the tire, 
on at least one sidewall. The markings must be in letters and numerals 
not less than 0.078 inches high and raised above or sunk below the tire 
surface not less than 0.015 inches.
    (a) The symbol DOT, which constitutes a certification that the tire 
conforms to applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards;
    (b) The tire size designation as listed in the documents and 
publications specified in S4.1.1 of this standard;
    (c) The maximum permissible inflation pressure, subject to the 
limitations of S5.5.4 through S5.5.6 of this standard;
    (d) The maximum load rating and for LT tires, the letter 
designating the tire load range;
    (e) The generic name of each cord material used in the plies (both 
sidewall and tread area) of the tire;
    (f) The actual number of plies in the sidewall, and the actual 
number of plies in the tread area, if different;
    (g) The term ``tubeless'' or ``tube type,'' as applicable;
    (h) The word ``radial,'' if the tire is a radial ply tire; and
    (i) Alpine Symbol. A tire meeting the definition of a snow tire as 
defined in paragraph S3 may, at the option of the manufacturer, show 
the pictograph of a mountain with a snowflake as shown below. If the 
manufacturer chooses to mark the snow tire with the alpine symbol, the 
mountain profile must have a minimum base of 15 mm and a minimum height 
of 15 mm, and must contain three peaks with the middle peak being the 
tallest. Inside the mountain, there must be a six-sided snowflake 
having a minimum height of one-half the tallest peak.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR28NO08.009

* * * * *

0
3. Section 571.208 is amended by revising S20.2.1.6.2(g) and 
S22.2.1.6.2(h), to read as follows:


Sec.  571.208  Standard No. 208; Occupant crash protection.

* * * * *
    S20.2.1.6.2 * * *
* * * * *
    (g) If the child restraint uses a linear sliding or ratcheting 
mechanism that requires the application of force to securely install 
the child restraint, within 255 seconds, apply a 47525N force, that has no lateral component, aligned angularly 
10 degrees with a parallel plane located within 100 mm of the plane formed by the linear mechanism. Release the 
force.
* * * * *
    S22.2.1.6.2 * * *
* * * * *
    (h) If the child restraint uses a linear sliding or ratcheting 
mechanism that requires the application of force to securely install 
the child restraint, within 255 seconds, apply a 47525N force, that has no lateral component, aligned angularly 
10 degrees with a parallel plane located within 100 mm of the plane formed by the linear mechanism. Release the 
force.
* * * * *

    Issued: November 21, 2008.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E8-28096 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P