WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/USA/18
19 March 2002
(02-1432)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (18)          
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Tires (ICS 83) (HS
Chapter 8703)
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards; Tires  (36 pages, English)          
6. Description of content:   This document proposes to establish new and more stringent tire
performance requirements in a new Federal motor vehicle safety standard that would apply
to all new tires for use on vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or
less. The Administration recently proposed to establish a new tire standard, StandardNo. 139, in a December 2001 NPRM on tire safety information.  Today’s document
proposes to include the new tire performance requirements in that standard.  This document
seeks comments on the proposed new standard, including its applicability and test
procedures, modifications to related existing standards, and lead time provided for
manufacturers to achieve compliance.  It also seeks comments on the possible future
specification of shearography analysis, a technique which evaluates the condition of a tire
using laser technology.  Finally, it seeks comments on the Administration’s research plans.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To revise and update the safety performance requirements for tires.          
8. Relevant documents:   67 Federal Register (FR) 10050, 5 March 2002.  Will appear in the
Federal Register when adopted.          
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }To be determined.
10. Final date for comments:   6 May 2002
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html