Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (Bridgestone/Firestone) has determined that certain tires it manufactured do not comply with S6.5 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, “New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars.” Bridgestone/Firestone has filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, “Defect and Noncompliance Reports.”
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) and 30120(h), Bridgestone/Firestone has petitioned for an exemption from the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 on the basis that this noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
This notice of receipt of Bridgestone/Firestone's petition is published under 49 U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the petition.
A total of approximately 1,083 sizes 2.75-10 and 80/90-10 Bridgestone HOOP tires are affected. S6.5 of FMVSS No. 119 requires that the maximum load rating and corresponding inflation pressure of the tires be marked on the tire in both English and metric units. The noncompliant tires do not have the metric markings. The actual stamping is “MAX. LOAD 355 LBS AT 36 PSI COLD.” The correct stamping should be “MAX. LOAD 160kg (353 LBS) AT 50 kPa (36 PSI) COLD.”
Bridgestone/Firestone believes that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety and that no corrective action is warranted. Bridgestone/Firestone states that the actual performance of the tires will not be affected by the mismarking, and that the tires meet or exceed all performance requirements of FMVSS No. 119. Further, Bridgestone/Firestone states that the mismarking will have no impact on the operational performance or safety of vehicles on which the tires are mounted, and that the problem has been corrected.
Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments on the petition described above. Comments must refer to the docket and notice number cited at the beginning of this notice and be submitted by any of the following methods. Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 20590-0001. Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. It is requested, but not required, that two copies of the comments be provided. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Federal Holidays. Comments may be submitted electronically by logging onto the Docket Management System Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on “Help” to obtain instructions for filing the document electronically. Comments may be faxed to 1-202-493-2251, or may be submitted to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
The petition, supporting materials, and all comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated below will be filed and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials received after the closing date will also be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
Comment closing date: November 26, 2004.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120: delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: October 19, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-23878 Filed 10-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P