[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR571.110]

[Page 320-323]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                            OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
 
Sec. 571.110  Standard No. 110; Tire selection and rims.

    S1. Purpose and scope. This standard specifies requirements for tire 
selection to prevent tire overloading.
    S2. Application. This standard applies to passenger cars and to non-
pneumatic spare tire assemblies for use on passenger cars.
    S3. Definitions.
    Accessory weight means the combined weight (in excess of those 
standard items which may be replaced) of automatic transmission, power 
steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and heater, 
to the extent that these items are available as factory-installed 
equipment (whether installed or not).
    Curb weight means the weight of a motor vehicle with standard 
equipment

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including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so 
equipped, air conditioning and additional weight optional engine.
    Maximum loaded vehicle weight means the sum of--
    (a) Curb weight;
    (b) Accessory weight;
    (c) Vehicle capacity weight; and
    (d) Production options weight.
    Non-pneumatic rim is used as defined in Sec. 571.129.
    Non-pneumatic spare tire assembly means a non-pneumatic tire 
assembly intended for temporary use in place of one of the pneumatic 
tires and rims that are fitted to a passenger car in compliance with the 
requirements of this standard.
    Non-pneumatic tire and non-pneumatic tire assembly are used as 
defined in Sec. 571.129.
    Normal occupant weight means 68 kilograms times the number of 
occupants specified in the second column of Table I.
    Occupant distribution means distribution of occupants in a vehicle 
as specified in the third column of Table I.
    Production options weight means the combined weight of those 
installed regular production options weighing over 2.3 kilograms in 
excess of those standard items which they replace, not previously 
considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy duty 
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
    Rim is used as defined in Sec. 571.109.
    Vehicle capacity weight means the rated cargo and luggage load plus 
68 kilograms times the vehicle's designated seating capacity.
    Vehicle maximum load on the tire means that load on an individual 
tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of the 
maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two.
    Vehicle normal load on the tire means that load on an individual 
tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of the 
curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight (distributed 
in accordance with Table I) and dividing by 2.
    Wheel center member is used as defined in Sec. 571.129.
    S4. Requirements.
    S4.1  General. Passenger cars shall be equipped with tires that meet 
the requirements of Sec. 571.109, New Pneumatic Tires--Passenger Cars, 
except that passenger cars may be equipped with a non-pneumatic spare 
tire assembly that meets the requirements of Sec. 571.129, New Non-
Pneumatic Tires for Passenger Cars and S6 and S8 of this standard. 
Passenger cars equipped with such an assembly shall meet the 
requirements of S4.3(e), S5, and S7 of this standard.
    S4.2  Tire load limits.
    S4.2.1  The vehicle maximum load on the tire shall not be greater 
than the applicable maximum load rating as marked on the sidewall of the 
tire.
    S4.2.2  The vehicle normal load on the tire shall not be greater 
than the test load used in the high speed performance test specified in 
S5.5 of Sec. 571.109 for that tire.
    S4.3  Placard. A placard, permanently affixed to the glove 
compartment door or an equally accessible location, shall display the--
    (a) Vehicle capacity weight;
    (b) Designated seating capacity (expressed in terms of total number 
of occupants and in terms of occupants for each seat location);
    (c) Vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold tire inflation pressure 
for maximum loaded vehicle weight and, subject to the limitations of 
S4.3.1, for any other manufacturer-specified vehicle loading condition;
    (d) Vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire size designation; and
    (e) For a vehicle equipped with a non-pneumatic spare tire assembly, 
the non-penumatic tire identification code with which that assembly is 
labeled pursuant to the requirements of S4.3(a) of Sec. 571.129, New 
Non-Pneumatic Tires for Passenger Cars.
    S4.3.1  No inflation pressure other than the maximum permissible 
inflation pressure may be specified unless--
    (a) It is less than the maximum permissible inflation pressure;
    (b) The vehicle loading condition for that pressure is specified; 
and
    (c) The tire load rating specified in a submission by an individual 
manfacturer, pursuant to S4.4.1(a) of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 
109, or contained in one of the publications

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described in S4.4.1(b) of Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109 for the 
tire size at that inflation pressure is not less than the vehicle load 
on the tire for that vehicle loading condition.
    S4.4  Rims.
    S4.4.1  Requirements. Each rim shall:
    (a) Be constructed to the dimensions of a rim that is listed 
pursuant to the definition of test rim in paragraph S3. of Sec. 571.109 
(Standard No. 109) for use with the tire size designation with which the 
vehicle is equipped.
    (b) In the event of rapid loss of inflation pressure with the 
vehicle traveling in a straight line at a speed of 97 kilometers per 
hour, retain the deflated tire until the vehicle can be stopped with a 
controlled braking application.

 Table I--Occupant Loading and Distribution for Vehicle Normal Load for
                  Various Designated Seating Capacities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Vehicle
                                  normal
 Designated seating capacity,     load,      Occupant distribution in a
      number of occupants       number of     normally loaded vehicle
                                occupants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 through 4                             2  2 in front.
5 through 10                            3  2 in front, 1 in second seat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    S5. Load Limits for Non-Pneumatic Spare Tires. The highest vehicle 
maximum load on the tire for the vehicle shall not be greater than the 
load rating for the non-pneumatic spare tire.
    S6 Labeling Requirements for Non-Pneumatic Spare Tires or Tire 
Assemblies. Each non-pneumatic tire or, in the case of a non-pneumatic 
tire assembly in which the non-pneumatic tire is an integral part of the 
assembly, each non-pneumatic tire assembly shall include, in letters or 
numerals not less than 4 millimeters high, the information specified in 
paragraphs S6 (a) and (b). The information shall be permanently molded, 
stamped, or otherwise permanently marked into or onto the non-pneumatic 
tire or non-pneumatic tire assembly, or shall appear on a label that is 
permanently attached to the tire or tire assembly. If a label is used, 
it shall be subsurface printed, made of material that is resistant to 
fade, heat, moisture and abrasion, and attached in such a manner that it 
cannot be removed without destroying or defacing the label on the non-
pneumatic tire or tire assembly. The information specified in paragraphs 
S6 (a) and (b) shall appear on both sides of the non-pneumatic tire or 
tire assembly, except, in the case of a non-pneumatic tire assembly 
which has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted 
on a vehicle, in which case the information specified in paragraphs S6 
(a) and (b) shall only be required on the outward facing side. The 
information shall be positioned on the tire or tire assembly such that 
it is not placed on the tread or the outermost edge of the tire and is 
not obstructed by any portion of any non-pneumatic rim or wheel center 
member designated for use with that tire in this standard or in Standard 
No. 129.
    (a) FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY; and
    (b) MAXIMUM 80 KM/H (50 M.P.H.).
    S7. Requirements for Passenger Cars Equipped with Non-Pneumatic 
Spare Tire Assemblies
    S7.1  Vehicle Placarding Requirements. A placard, permanently 
affixed to the inside of the vehicle trunk or an equally accessible 
location adjacent to the non-pneumatic spare tire assembly, shall 
display the information set forth in S6 in block capitals and numerals 
not less than 6 millimeters high preceded by the words ``IMPORTANT--USE 
OF SPARE TIRE'' in letters not less than 9 millimeters high.
    S7.2  Supplementary Information. The owner's manual of the passenger 
car shall contain, in writing in the English language and in not less 
than 10 point type, the following information under the heading 
``IMPORTANT--USE OF SPARE TIRE'':
    (a) A statement indicating the information related to appropriate 
use for the non-pneumatic spare tire including at a minimum the 
information set forth in S6 (a) and (b) and either the information set 
forth in S4.3(e) or a statement that the information set forth in 
S4.3(e) is located on the vehicle placard and on the non-pneumatic tire;
    (b) An instruction to drive carefully when the non-pneumatic spare 
tire is in use, and to install the proper pneumatic tire and rim at the 
first reasonable opportunity; and
    (c) A statement that operation of the passenger car is not 
recommended with

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more than one non-pneumatic spare tire in use at the same time.
    S8. Non-Pneumatic Rims and Wheel Center Members
    S8.1  Non-Pneumatic Rim Requirements. Each non-pneumatic rim that is 
part of a separable non-pneumatic spare tire assembly shall be 
constructed to the dimensions of a non-pneumatic rim that is listed 
pursuant to S4.4 of Sec. 571.129 for use with the non-pneumatic tire, 
designated by its non-pneumatic tire identification code, with which the 
vehicle is equipped.
    S8.2  Wheel Center Member Requirements. Each wheel center member 
that is part of a separable non-pneumatic spare tire assembly shall be 
constructed to the dimensions of a wheel center member that is listed 
pursuant to S4.4 of Sec. 571.129 for use with the non-pneumatic tire, 
designated by its non-pneumatic tire identification code, with which the 
vehicle is equipped.

[36 FR 22902, Dec. 2, 1971, as amended at 37 FR 23727, Nov. 8, 1972; 40 
FR 5530, Feb. 6, 1975; 47 FR 36183, Aug. 19, 1982; 49 FR 38612, Oct. 1, 
1984; 55 FR 29589, July 20, 1990; 56 FR 19311, Apr. 26, 1991; 60 FR 
13643, Mar. 14, 1995]