WASHINGTON-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to charge tire makers fees for use of its traction skid pads and raise prices of the course monitoring tires employed in Uniform Tire Quality Grading tests. A recent audit of UTQG testing at San Angelo, Texas, by the Transportation Department Office of the Inspector General showed NHTSA isn't recovering the full cost of course monitoring tires it sells at San Angelo.
In a proposed rule published in the March 24 Federal Register, NHTSA proposed raising the price of course monitoring tires from $304.50 to $379 apiece, and charging a fee of $288 per day for use of the skid traction pads.
Interested parties have until May 23 to comment.
Arnco hikes polymer capacity
SOUTH GATE, Calif.-ARNCO is expanding capacity for tire flatproofing polymers by 50 percent at its Cleveland facility due to increased demand.
The company cited several factors for the increased market demand: market growth by new and existing processors, strong demand in the construction equipment markets and new end users previously unaware of the benefits and value of tire flatproofing.
Falken offers new sign program new sign program
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif.-Falken Tire Corp. has developed a new dealer outdoor sign program.
The outdoor sign, which includes space for dealer name imprints, are available in two basic sizes; 3 feet by 12 feet and 4 feet by 18 feet, 2 inches.
Larger signs with dealer name panel also are available. Signs are available in wall or pole mount.
ARA issues two tech training tapes
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The American Retreaders Association has released the second and third tapes in a series of 15 proposed training videos planned as part of a technician certification Program.
Module 2-Tire Inspection Techniques covers the eight points of a tire inspection including how to inspect, mark and label tires for processing; finding sidewall problems; and evaluating tires for retreading, repair and disposal.
Module 3-Tire Inspection Techniques describes actual tire conditions and how to evaluate them, including conditions commonly found in casings under consideration for repair or retreading.
The first video covered basic tire construction.
The video series and certification program will allow tire repairers and retreaders to conduct training at a place of their own choosing, the ARA said.
Goodyear cut 684 jobs in '94
AKRON-Goodyear trimmed its payroll by 684 positions in 1994, the ninth consecutive year employment at the firm has declined.
The corporation's employment fell by less than 1 percent to 89,700 in 1994, a Goodyear spokeswoman said. ``It's part of our strategic management of attrition as it occurs,'' she noted.
Goodyear last increased its work force from year-earlier figures in 1985. At its peak in 1979, it employed more than 154,000.