Tire Industry Association

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	TIA Contact: Roy Littlefield
May 18, 2005	301-430-7280

TIA Opposes Massachusetts Tire Bill

Bowie, MD – (May 18, 2005) The Tire Industry Association (TIA) today announced their opposition to a bill that has been introduced in the Massachusetts State Legislature that would require the development of a statewide program to mandate that replacement tires for passenger cars and light trucks are as energy efficient as tires sold as original equipment on these vehicles.

In a joint letter with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), TIA stated, “SEMA and TIA recommend that the bill be rejected since the replacement tire efficiency program conflicts with federal law, is anti-consumer and anti-small business, and would require a substantial appropriation.”

TIA opposes the bill for several reasons:

Fuel Economy: The proposed program would regulate vehicle fuel economy, an authority reserved to the federal government.
Tire Resistance: The proposed program is based on reducing rolling resistance. Section 10 of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000 [P.L. No. 106-414] requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct a rulemaking, which it has done, to review and update its tire standards to address endurance and resistance issues.
Tire Labeling: The proposed program would mandate consumer information requirements. Section 11 of the TREAD Act [P.L. No. 106-414] required NHTSA to conduct a rulemaking to improve the information readily available to consumers about tires. This federal regulation may in fact preempt Massachusetts’ intent to impose additional consumer information rules.
Violation of Interstate Commerce and Due Process Clauses: The proposed program would effectively create a 50-state standard since it would be exceedingly difficult and expensive to expect tire manufacturers to identify which tires are only to be sold in Massachusetts. This would be an unreasonable burden in violation of the Constitution’s commerce clause and Fourteenth Amendment due process clause.

“TIA is convinced that this is an inappropriate time to go forward with an expensive program that looks to appropriate federal prerogatives, adversely affects small tire-related businesses and will ultimately saddle consumers with higher costs, “ stated Becky MacDicken, TIA’s Director of Government Affairs.

For more information, contact Becky MacDicken at bmacdicken@tireindustry.org or by calling 800-876-8372 x 112. The entire letter can be found on TIA’s website (click here to download PDF).

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TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, including those that manufacture, repair, recycle, sell, service or use new or retreaded tires, and also those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has a history that spans more than 80 years and includes several name changes. Originally known as the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA), the organization gave birth over the years to the American Retreaders Association (ARA) and the Tire Association of North America (TANA). ARA changed its name to the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) and merged with TANA in 2002 to form the current Tire Industry Association (TIA), which now represents every interest in the tire industry.

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