Interpretation ID: 1982-2.22

DATE: 07/23/82

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; F. Berndt; NHTSA

TO: Regal Tire Corporation

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT:

July 23, 1983

Regal Tire Corporation 4309 County Line Road Chalfont, PA 18914

Dear Sir:

At the request of the office of the Honorable Peter Peyser, M.C., we are writing this letter to you to explain the significance of certain items of information molded on the sidewall of new tires.

Part 574, Tire identification and recordkeeping (49 CFR 574), requires that each new tire to be sold in the United States have a serial number molded on one of its sidewalls. That number identifies the tire's manufacturer, date of manufacture, and size. This information is designed to ensure the proper identification of all tires subject to a recall by the manufacturer for correction of a safety-related defect or of a failure to comply with a safety standard. The serial number is not a guarantee of quality or of compliance with any safety standard.

Each new tire is also required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Nos. 109, New pneumatic tires, and 119, New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars (49 CFR 571.109 and 571.119), to have the symbol "DOT" appear on one of its sidewalls. This symbol is a certification by the tire's manufacturer that the tire fully complies with all requirements of the applicable safety standard. The symbol does not guarantee the quality of a tire in areas of performance unregulated by the safety standards.

Neither the serial number nor the DOT symbol constitute a representation that a tire is free from any safety-related defect.

If you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact me.

Sincerely,

Frank Berndt Chief Counsel June 2, 1982

Ms. Carol Walls U. S. Dept. of Transportation Office of Congressional Relations 400 7th Street, SW Room 10408 Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Ms. Walls:

Attached is the request for certification about which we spoke today. Regal Tire is interested in receiving a letter or other appropriate document on DOT letterhead confirming the intent of the DOT serial number on the tires themselves.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Sincerely,

F. H. Brewer, III Administrative Assistant to the Congressman

FHB/lb

CERTIFICATE

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

WE CONFIRM THAT TIRES MANUFACTURED IN U.S.A. HAVING D.O.T. SERIAL NUMBERS BRANDED ON SIDEWALL MEANS FOLLOWING:

A. EACH TIRE MEETS OR EXCEEDS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAFETY STANDARDS.

B. EACH TIRE HAS BEEN TESTED AND GUARANTEED BY MANUFACTURER TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT IT IS FREE FROM ANY DEFECT AND OF FIRST QUALITY.