Earlier this year, the RMA said it would support efforts by a number of states to eliminate what it terms “unsafe used tires.” Last week came word that state lawmakers in Oklahoma, South Carolina and Florida – three states specifically targeted by the RMA – have proposed bills that would restrict the sale of used tires.
According to reports, Oklahoma state Sen. Frank Simpson (R-Springer) and state Rep. Pat Ownbey (R-Ardmore) are pushing legislation that would ban the sales of used tires with tread less than 2/32nds-inch.
South Carolina state Rep. Gary Simrill has also introduced a similar bill, according to the RMA.
In Florida, according to reports, a similar push has started in the statehouse.
The RMA is expected to feed similar efforts in Indiana, Georgia, New Jersey and Texas.
RMA said that it and some of its tiremaker members purchased “several examples of unsafe used tires to demonstrate the availability of these tires. Each tire exhibited one or more conditions that are clearly unsafe: worn out, visible damage to the tread or other portions of a tire or; improperly repaired,” the association said.
“Any used tire is a risky proposition since it’s impossible to know the service history of a tire used by someone else,” said Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president. “But when used tires are sold worn-out, damaged, improperly repaired or have other visibly unsafe conditions, states to need to take action to protect consumers.”
