Representatives from the Tire Industry Association (TIA) testified Feb. 25 before a packed hearing room at the U.S. Department of Transportation on the yet to be launched National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consumer education program on tire maintenance and safety.
Kevin Rohlwing, TIA senior vice president of training, and Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, discussed why TIA was the best fit to administer the program. They cited TIA’s extensive training program; its relationship with the industry and with the tire manufacturers; and the association’s growing membership.
Littlefield’s testimony speculated that if TIA was not selected to administer the program, the results could be a repeat of the UTQGS program, which was a great expense to tire manufacturers and had low consumer buy-in.
Former Congressman Al Wynn (D-MD) represented TIA and spoke on the history of the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 when he served the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and was a sponsor of the bill.
When discussing language in the bill to promote rules establishing the National Tire Fuel Efficiency Consumer Education Program, Wynn said the program was to include two components: 1) A labeling system for rating rolling resistance of replacement tire models and 2) A national tire maintenance consumer education program, including information on tire inflation pressure, alignment, rotation and tread wear to maximize fuel efficiency, safety and durability of replacement tires.
