Tire Industry Association

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	TIA Contact: Roy Littlefield
May 19, 2005	301-430-7280

TIA Expresses Disappointment with NHTSA Ruling

Bowie, MD – (May 19, 2005) The Tire Industry Association (TIA) today expressed disappointment with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over the Agency’s decision to deny the Rubber Manufacturer Association’s Petition for a Rulemaking to establish recommended cold inflation pressure using a tire pressure reserve. TIA had fully supported RMA’s petition.

“We are disappointed that NHTSA decided not to build in an additional safety measure and grant the petition for reserve inflation pressure,” said Roy Littlefield, Executive Vice President of TIA. "With this decision coming on the heels of the TPMS ruling, TIA is frustrated with NHTSA's apparent lack of interest in what the tire industry has to say."

RMA’s petition requested that NHTSA include a reserve tire pressure sufficient to allow tires to carry the maximum load of a vehicle at the threshold for the new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) regulation trigger point.

“The tire industry has been proactive in helping the motoring public get more education on tire safety and maintenance prior to and especially since the recall of 2000,” said Littlefield. "I know these efforts may be helping the public but I think it is a mistake for NHTSA to not consider adding additional safeguards."

NHTSA’s ruling on reserve pressure comes on the heels of the final rule on TPMS. TIA has expressed dissatisfaction with that rule as well saying the rule is fatally flawed and will not keep the motoring public safe.

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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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