Rejection of TPMS Challenge Has Implications

(Akron/Tire Review) It was a challenge that had to be made, but at least for now, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in mid-June regarding NHTSA’s rule on tire pressure monitoring systems will stand as originally written. The court ruled the petitioning parties – four tire companies, TIA and consumer watchdog Public Citizen – failed to establish their standing in the dispute.

The court, however, made no comment relative to the merits of their argument. The reaction from the tire industry and the companies that challenged NHTSA’s “final rule” on TREAD Act-mandated TPMS is predictable. “We are still studying the decision,” says a Goodyear spokesman. Goodyear, Bridgestone/Firestone, Cooper, Pirelli North America, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) and consumer group Public Citizen all challenged the NHTSA standard requiring factory-installed TPMS to notify drivers if tire pressure drops 25% below carmaker-set tire inflation pressures.

Goodyear’s comments are typical of the reactions from the other plaintiffs. A spokesperson for Cooper says that they are evaluating their options, and added, “We still believe that consumer safety would be enhanced if this rule was changed.” The other members of the challenge either didn’t issue a statement or were waiting for the next step in the process.