Consumer Information Regulations, Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards

This document responds to a petition for reconsideration of a final rule of this agency that amended the Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards to establish a new traction grade of ``AA'' and to freeze the base course wear rate of course monitoring tires used in treadwear testing at its current value. The petition asked the agency to exclude the petitioner from the applicability of the amended base course wear rate value until the mandatory compliance date of the amendments in the final rule. If that request is not granted, the petitioner requested a lead time of 2 years following publication of the final rule. This document denies the petition, and reaffirms NHTSA's decision both to maintain the base course wear rate at its current value and the mandatory compliance date specified in the final rule. Further, in response to a number of inquiries, this document makes it clear that manufacturers have the option of early compliance with the amendments in the final rule.