[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57617-57618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28297]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-71; Notice 2]
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.; Grant of Application for Decision of
Inconsequential Noncompliance
Bridgetsone/Firestone, Inc. (Bridgestone/Firestone) of Nashville,
Tennessee, has determined that some of its tires fail to comply with
the labeling requirements of 49 CFR 571.119, Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 119, ``New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles
Other Than Passenger Cars,'' and has filed an appropriate report
pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and Noncompliance Reports.''
Bridgestone/Firestone has also applied to be exempted from the
notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--``Motor
Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the noncompliance is inconsequential
to motor vehicle safety.
Notice of receipt of the application was published on August 21,
1995 (60 FR 43491). This notice grants the application.
In FMVSS No. 119, Paragraph S6.5(b) specifies that each tire shall
be marked with ``[t]he tire identification number required by Part 574
[Tire Identification and Recordkeeping] of this chapter.'' In Part
574.5, Paragraphs (a) through (d) specify the information which must be
placed on the tire. Paragraphs (a) through (c) specify information
relating to the identification of the manufacturer and tire size.
Paragraph (d) specifies information relating to the specification of a
code for the date of manufacture. Paragraph (d) states that the date
code ``shall immediately follow'' the information specified in
Paragraphs (a) through (c).
During the period of July 17, 1994 through April 24, 1995,
Bridgestone/Firestone produced 19,563 tires which had incorrect serial
numbers. The sizes of the subject tires are 8.25-20, 9.00-20, 10.00-20,
and 11.00-20. In the incorrect serial numbers, the date code is at the
beginning of the number rather than at the end, as required. The tires
are labeled as ``384 V52JEFD'' instead of the required ``V52JEFD 384.''
The date code is ``384.''
Bridgestone/Firestone supported its application for inconsequential
noncompliance with the following:
First, all tires manufactured in the affected size/type meet all
requirements of Standard 119 except tire markings pertaining to
[S6.5(b)].
Second, if there would be a need for the consumer or
manufacturer representative (BFS) to read the serial, sufficient
information exists to define the manufacturing location as
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Mexico City, Mexico. This situation has
been reviewed with our Registration company and can be adequately
handled.
Thirdly, a principal need for tire serials is identification for
recall purposes. In the event of any future recall of these tires,
the recall letter would explain the transposed marking
No comments were received on the application.
The primary safety purpose of requiring serial information on tires
is to enable identification of them for the purposes of notification
and remedy in the event they are determined to be noncompliant or
incorporate a safety-related defect. If it is necessary to recall the
tires that are the subject of this application, enough information
exists on them to trace the tires back to their plant of manufacture.
Further, Bridgestone/Firestone would explain
[[Page 57618]]
the transposed marking in the recall letter to the owners so that they
can properly identify the subject tires. Because the noncompliance does
not cause the tires to be unidentifiable, NHTSA does not believe it
will adversely affect safety.
In consideration of the forgoing, NHTSA finds that the applicant
has met its burden of persuasion that the noncompliance herein
described is inconsequential to safety. Accordingly, its application is
granted, and the applicant is exempted from providing the notification
of the noncompliance that is required by 49 U.S.C. 30118, and from
remedying the noncompliance, as required by 49 U.S.C. 30120.
(49 U.S.C. 30118, 30120; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and
501.8)
Issued on November 9, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-28297 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
