Interpretation ID: nht75-6.6

DATE: 07/08/75

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Richard B. Dyson; NHTSA

TO: Athens Sport Cycles Inc.

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in response to your letter of May 18, 1975, in which you ask a number of questions relating to tire registration procedures, and in amplification of your telephone conversation with Mr. Schwartz of my office. We will answer your questions in the order raised.

1 and 2. There is a universal tire registration form (figure 3 in the enclosed Part 574) which manufacturers are required to furnish to you or you may reproduce pursuant to @ 574.7 of the regulation.

3. Since the regulation requires that the manufacturers or their agents maintain the records, the forms should either be sent to the manufacturer or his designated agent. A number of manufacturers utilize services such as the Tire Safety Registry in New Jersey to keep their records, but they merely act as the manufacturer's agent. There is to our knowledge no central place to send the forms for all manufacturers.

4. We have no idea what is meant by a retailer I.D. number. Our recommendation is that you contact the manufacturers to determine what they mean.

5. Our tire recordkeeping regulation only applies to tires for use on motor vehicles. Thus, tires for use on off-road vehicles would not fall within the regulation.

6. As required by @ 574.8 of the enclosed regulation, completed forms must be sent to manufacturers every 30 days. The only exception is where you sell less than 40 tires of all makes and manufacturers in the 30-day period, in which case you may wait until you sell 40 tires or for 6 months, whichever comes first.

7. Retailers are not required to keep any tire owner forms.

8. It is the responsibility of the dealer to mail the forms, although he may ask the customer to fill out the form at the time of purchase.

On behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, let me commend you for your desire to fully comply with the requirements of our tire recordkeeping regulations. It is through the efforts of dealers such as you that motorcyclists and their passengers are protected against tire defects which might lead to injury or death.