WASHINGTON (May 14, 2013) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has granted a three-year-old Pirelli Tire L.L.C. petition for inconsequential noncompliance over 30,881 Pirelli tires that lacked complete or partial tire identification numbers on their inner sidewalls.
NHTSA's grant of Pirelli's March 2010 petition means the Rome, Ga.-based tire maker will not be forced to conduct a public recall of the tires.
The tires in question were Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S and Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico replacement tires manufactured between Sept. 2, 2008, and Dec. 12, 2009, Pirelli told NHTSA.
The tires have asymmetric tread patterns that can only be correctly installed with the outer sidewall facing the outside of the vehicle — making the lack of a TIN on the inner sidewall inconsequential, Pirelli said. Also, these asymmetrical-tread tires make up a very small percentage of the market, according to the tire maker.
NHTSA's notice granting Pirelli's petition appeared in the May 10 Federal Register.