NHTSA has proposed an extensive rewrite of truck tire testing and labeling requirements, including more stringent endurance and high-speed testing.
In its Sept. 29 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, NHTSA calls for amendments to FMVSS 119 to “adopt more stringent endurance test requirements and a new high speed test for several load range tires” for vehicles with a GVWR of 10,00 pounds or greater.
“Today’s NPRM would upgrade FMVSS No. 119 by proposing to adopt a more stringent endurance test, add a new high speed test, and include maximum speed rating labeling requirements for new radial tires used on heavy truck and bus applications, i.e., load range F, G, H, J, and L tires that are not for speed-restricted service, which the agency believes comprise about 98% of the truck tires sold in the U.S.,” NHTSA said.
The agency said it may also include load range M mixed use tires in the rules as “some of these tires are used in similar applications in which the load range L tires are used.”
The NPRM also calls for additional sidewall marking that would note a maximum speed rating for truck tires.
Interested parties may comment on the proposed rules by Nov. 29. Click here to download the entire NPRM.