Motor Vehicle Safety; Reporting the Sale or Lease of Defective or Non-Compliant Tires

This final rule implements section 3(c) of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act (TREAD Act). Section 3(c) directed us to issue a final rule by January 30, 2001, implementing that Act's requirement of the submission of reports concerning sales and leases of defective or noncompliant tires by certain persons. Accordingly, we published an interim final rule and request for comments in the Federal Register on December 26, 2000 (65 FR 81409). We are now publishing a final rule requiring any person who knowingly and willfully sells or leases for use on a motor vehicle a defective tire or a tire not in compliance with applicable safety standards and has actual knowledge that the manufacturer of such tire has notified its dealers of such defect or noncompliance to report that sale or lease to NHTSA. There have been no significant changes to the interim final rule.