§ 30123. Tires

(a)Regrooved Tire Limitations.—

(1) In this subsection, “regrooved tire” means a tire with a new tread produced by cutting into the tread of a worn tire.

(2) The Secretary may authorize the sale, offer for sale, introduction for sale, or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce, of a regrooved tire or a motor vehicle equipped with regrooved tires if the Secretary decides the tires are designed and made in a way consistent with section 30101 of this title. A person may not sell, offer for sale, introduce for sale, or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, a regrooved tire or a vehicle equipped with regrooved tires unless authorized by the Secretary.

(b)Uniform Quality Grading System, Nomenclature, and Marketing Practices.— The Secretary shall prescribe through standards a uniform quality grading system for motor vehicle tires to help consumers make an informed choice when purchasing tires. The Secretary also shall cooperate with industry and the Federal Trade Commission to the greatest extent practicable to eliminate deceptive and confusing tire nomenclature and marketing practices. A tire standard or regulation prescribed under this chapter supersedes an order or administrative interpretation of the Commission.

(c)Maximum Load Standards.— The Secretary shall require a motor vehicle to be equipped with tires that meet maximum load standards when the vehicle is loaded with a reasonable amount of luggage and the total number of passengers the vehicle is designed to carry. The vehicle shall be equipped with those tires by the manufacturer or by the first purchaser when the vehicle is first bought in good faith other than for resale.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 956; Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, § 7106(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 467.)

Historical And Revision

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
30123(a)	15:1421 (1st sentence).	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, §§ 201–203, 204(c), 205, 80 Stat. 728, 729.
30123(b)	15:1421 (2d sentence).
30123(c)	15:1421 (last sentence).
30123(d)	15:1424(a).	Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 204(a), 80 Stat. 729; restated Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 110(c), 88 Stat. 1484.
	15:1424(c).
30123(e)	15:1423.
	15:1425.
30123(f)	15:1422.

In subsections (a) and (d)(2), the words “section 30101 of this title” are substituted for “the purposes of this chapter” as being more precise.

In subsection (a), the words “to a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter” are substituted for “In all standards for . . . established under subchapter I of this chapter . . . thereto” for consistency and because of the restatement.

In subsection (b)(1)(A) and (B), the word “suitable” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(1)(C), the words “for a tire containing” are substituted for “unless the tire contains . . . in which case it shall also contain” to eliminate unnecessary words. The word “allowing” is substituted for “which would permit” for consistency.

In subsection (b)(3), the word “actual” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(5)(A), the word “statement” is substituted for “recital” for clarity. The words “complies with” are substituted for “conforms to”, the words “prescribed under this chapter” are substituted for “Federal”, and the word “or” is substituted for “except that in lieu of such recital”, for consistency.

In subsection (b)(5)(B), the word “appropriate” is omitted as surplus.

In subsection (d)(2), the words “by order” are omitted as surplus. The words “a regrooved tire or a motor vehicle equipped with regrooved tires” are substituted for “any tire or motor vehicle equipped with any tire which has been regrooved” for consistency. The words “A person may not . . . unless authorized by the Secretary” are substituted for “No person shall” for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The word “introduce” is substituted for “introduction” after “or” to correct a mistake.

In subsection (e), the words “The Secretary shall prescribe through standards” are substituted for “within two years after September 9, 1966, the Secretary shall, through standards established under subchapter I of this chapter, prescribe by order, and publish in the Federal Register” in 15:1423 to eliminate unnecessary and executed words. The text of 15:1423 (2d sentence) is omitted as executed. The last sentence is substituted for 15:1425 to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (f), the words “In standards established under subchapter I of this chapter” and “fully” are omitted as surplus. The words “The vehicle shall be equipped” are added for clarity.

Amendments

Amendments

1998—Pub. L. 105–178 redesignated subsecs. (d) to (f) as (a) to (c), respectively, and struck out former subsecs. (a) to (c), which related to labeling requirements, contents of label, and additional information that may be required, respectively.

Miscellaneous

Improved Tire Information

Pub. L. 106–414, § 11, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1806, provided that:

“(a)Tire Labeling.—Within 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 2000], the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to improve the labeling of tires required by section 30123 of title 49, United States Code[,] to assist consumers in identifying tires that may be the subject of a decision under section 30118(b) [of title 49] or a notice required under section 30118(c). The Secretary shall complete the rulemaking not later than June 1, 2002.

“(b)Inflation Levels and Load Limits.—In the rulemaking initiated under subsection (a), the Secretary may take whatever additional action is appropriate to ensure that the public is aware of the importance of observing motor vehicle tire load limits and maintaining proper tire inflation levels for the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Such additional action may include a requirement that the manufacturer of motor vehicles provide the purchasers of the motor vehicles information on appropriate tire inflation levels and load limits if the Secretary determines that requiring such manufacturers to provide such information is the most appropriate way such information can be provided.”

Tire Pressure Warning

Pub. L. 106–414, § 13, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1806, provided that: “Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 1, 2000], the Secretary of Transportation shall complete a rulemaking for a regulation to require a warning system in new motor vehicles to indicate to the operator when a tire is significantly under inflated. Such requirement shall become effective not later than 2 years after the date of the completion of such rulemaking.”