Interpretation ID: aiam2702
President
Rocky Mountain Bandag
12540 west Ceder Drive
Box 26224
Denver
Colorado 80226;
Dear Mr. Loughran: This responds to your October 19, 1977, letter asking whether th National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has regulations that prohibit the use of retreaded tires on steering axles. The NHTSA has performance regulations applicable to retreaded passenger car tires. The agency does not regulate the use of retreaded tires that meet those performance requirements. You should note that the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety has regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 393.75(d)) that prohibit the use of retreaded tires on the front wheels of buses under their jurisdiction. They do not prohibit the use of such retreaded tires on the steering axle of trucks, however.; Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel