TIA Aids in Removing Retread Safety Standards From Bill

In the USA, the Tire Industry Association recently stepped forward when an attempt was made to mandate retread safety standards equivalent to the new tyre standards in a motorcoach safety bill, reports Tire Review. Senate bill S. 554, introduced by senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), contained the following paragraph:

“(2) COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE RETREADED TIRES – Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a performance standard for retreaded, regrooved, or otherwise remanufactured commercial motor vehicle tires that ensures that such tires achieve a level of safety performance that is at least equivalent to the safety performance of new commercial motor vehicle tires.”

Many believe this legislation originated with the fatal Texas bus accident in August 2008, despite the National Transportation Safety Board’s report exonerating the retreaded tyre, even though it was illegally placed on the steer axle of the bus. TIA representatives met with each senator’s staff and were told the following language, which removes any retread safety standards language and does not even refer to retreads, would be adopted:

“(2) TIRE PERFORMANCE STANDARD – The Secretary shall upgrade performance standards for tyres used on motorcoaches, including an enhanced endurance test and a new high-speed performance test.”