Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • News
    • OPINION
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • Humanitarian Award
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • Best Places to Work
    • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
  • Aligning with ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
August 23, 2009 02:00 AM

TIA offers to run tire fuel-efficiency info program

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BOWIE, Md. (Aug. 23, 2009) — The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is lobbying the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to become the entity to administer NHTSA's tire fuel-efficiency consumer information program, claiming it is best qualified to do so.

    “TIA has the history, resources and expertise to make this important consumer education effort a success,” said Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, in the association's comments on NHTSA's proposed tire fuel efficiency rule. “We also have a history of working together with many different aftermarket organizations — not to mention the tire manufacturers — to formulate a successful consumer education effort.”

    TIA offered to work under NHTSA's supervision and advice to create and implement a person-to-person education program between tire buyers and tire sellers, using a trained sales force. That training, the association said, would be based on the training models it uses to educate tire technicians on a wide variety of maintenance and diagnostic techniques.

    NHTSA's proposed rule concentrates on posters and pamphlets to educate consumers about tire fuel-efficiency ratings, but does not consider the importance of the dialogue between consumers and sales personnel, TIA said. The association offered to establish a comprehensive training course for tire sellers, in addition to a nationwide public outreach campaign to keep tire maintenance in consumers' minds.

    Most of the proposed rule's focus is on developing a fuel-efficiency rating system for tires, TIA said in its comments. However, affixing a rating system label to the tread surfaces of new tires would not be the best way to disseminate the ratings among tire buyers, the association said.

    Most tire retailers offer hundreds of different tires, and their showrooms aren't large enough to display them all, Littlefield noted.

    “Those tires that are displayed may or may not have a paper tread label,” he said. “Since the current paper tread label is removed by the retailer when the tires are installed, consumers are unlikely to see the actual label.”

    Aug. 21 was NHTSA's deadline for comments on the proposed rule. Many organizations — such as the Rubber Manufacturers Association, which lobbied Congress for a tire fuel-efficiency system — worked long hours in the days preceding the deadline to finish their comments, which dealt with many intricate technical questions posed by NHTSA.

    Because of the complexity of the information requested, the RMA asked NHTSA for a 30-day deadline extension, but the agency refused.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Hankook opens largest tire testing facility in Asia
    2
    Heintschel converts to Marangoni Ringtread process
    3
    Value tire maker Sailun gets aggressive in U.S. market
    4
    4 Wheel Parts opens first retail location in N.J.
    5
    JK Tyre: fiscal '22 earnings drop despite higher sales
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • Humanitarian Award
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • Best Places to Work
      • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
    • Aligning with ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION