49 C.F.R. § 571.120 Standard No. 120; Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
Title 49 - Transportation
Link to an amendment published at 68 FR 38149, June 26, 2003.
This amendment was delayed until Sept. 1, 2007, at 71 FR 886, Jan. 6, 2006.
Link to an amendment published at 71 FR 886, Jan. 6, 2006. S1. Scope. This standard specifies tire and rim selection requirements and rim marking requirements. S2. Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to provide safe operational performance by ensuring that vehicles to which it applies are equipped with tires of adequate size and load rating and with rims of appropriate size and type designation. S3. Application. This standard applies to motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds and motorcycles, to rims for use on those vehicles, and to non-pneumatic spare tire assemblies for use on those vehicles. S4. Definitions. All terms defined in the Act and the rules and standards issued under its authority are used as defined therein. Rim base means the portion of a rim remaining after removal of all split or continuous rim flanges, side rings, and locking rings that can be detached from the rim. Rim size designation means rim diameter and width. Rim diameter means nominal diameter of the bead seat. Rim width means nominal distance between rim flanges. Rim type designation means the industry or manufacturer's designation for a rim by style or code. Weather side means the surface area of the rim not covered by the inflated tire. S5. Requirements. S5.1 Tire and rim selection. S5.1.1 Except as specified in S5.1.3, each vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires for highway service shall be equipped with tires that meet the requirements of §571.109, New pneumatic tires, or §571.119, New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars, and rims that are listed by the manufacturer of the tires as suitable for use with those tires, in accordance with S4.4 of §571.109 or S5.1 of §571.119, as applicable, except that vehicles may be equipped with a non-pneumatic spare tire assembly that meets the requirements of §571.129, New non-pneumatic tires for passenger cars, and S8 of this standard. Vehicles equipped with such an assembly shall meet the requirements of S5.3.3, S7, and S9 of this standard. S5.1.2 Except in the case of a vehicle which has a speed attainable in 3.2 kilometers of 80 kilometers per hour or less, the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to an axle shall be not less than the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of the axle system as specified on the vehicle's certification label required by 49 CFR part 567. Except in the case of a vehicle which has a speed attainable in 2 miles of 50 mph or less, the sum of the maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to an axle shall be not less than the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of the axle system as specified on the vehicle's certification label required by 49 CFR part 567. If the certification label shows more than one GAWR for the axle system, the sum shall be not less than the GAWR corresponding to the size designation of the tires fitted to the axle. If the size designation of the tires fitted to the axle does not appear on the certification label, the sum shall be not less than the lowest GAWR appearing on the label. When a tire subject to FMVSS No. 109 is installed on a multipurpose passenger vehicle, truck, bus, or trailer, the tire's load rating shall be reduced by dividing by 1.10 before calculating the sum (i.e., the sum of the load ratings of the tires on each axle, when the tires' load carrying capacity at the recommended tire cold inflation pressure is reduced by dividing by 1.10, must be appropriate for the GAWR). S5.1.3 In place of tires that meet the requirements of Standard No. 119, a truck, bus, or trailer may at the request of a purchaser be equipped at the place of manufacture of the vehicle with retreaded or used tires owned or leased by the purchaser, if the sum of the maximum load ratings meets the requirements of S5.1.2. Used tires employed under this provision must have been originally manufactured to comply with Standard No. 119, as evidenced by the DOT symbol. S5.2 Rim marking. Each rim or, at the option of the manufacturer in the case of a single-piece wheel, wheel disc shall be marked with the information listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this paragraph, in lettering not less than 3 millimeters high, impressed to a depth or, at the option of the manufacturer, embossed to a height of not less than 0.125 millimeters. The information listed in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this paragraph shall appear on the weather side. In the case of rims of multi piece construction, the information listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this paragraph shall appear on the rim base and the information listed in paragraphs (b) and (d) of this paragraph shall also appear on each other part of the rim. (a) A designation which indicates the source of the rim's published nominal dimensions, as follows: (1) “T” indicates The Tire and Rim Association. (2) “E” indicates The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (3) “J” indicates Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers' Association, Inc. (4) “D” indicates Deutsche Industrie Norm. (5) “B” indicates British Standards Institution. (6) “S” indicates Scandinavian Tire and Rim Organization. (7) “A” indicates The Tyre and Rim Association of Australia. (8) “N” indicates an independent listing pursuant to S4.4.1(a) of Standard No. 109 or S5.1(a) of Standard No. 119. (b) The rim size designation, and in case of multipiece rims, the rim type designation. For example: 20×5.50, or 20×5.5. (c) The symbol DOT, constituting a certification by the manufacturer of the rim that the rim complies with all applicable motor vehicle safety standards. (d) A designation that identifies the manufacturer of the rim by name, trademark, or symbol. (e) The month, day and year or the month and year of manufacture, expressed either numerically or by use of a symbol, at the option of the manufacturer. For example:
“September 4, 1976” may be expressed numerically as: 90476, 904, or 76 76 904 “September 1976” may be expressed as: 976, 9, or 76 76 9 (1) Any manufacturer that elects to express the date of manufacture by means of a symbol shall notify NHTSA in writing of the full names and addresses of all manufacturers and brand name owners utilizing that symbol and the name and address of the trademark owner of that symbol, if any. The notification shall describe in narrative form and in detail how the month, day, and year or the month and year are depicted by the symbol. Such description shall include an actual size graphic depiction of the symbol, showing and/or explaining the interrelationship of the component parts of the symbol as they will appear on the rim or single piece wheel disc, including dimensional specifications, and where the symbol will be located on the rim or single piece wheel disc. The notification shall be received by NHTSA at least 60 calendar days prior to first use of the symbol. The notification shall be mailed to the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. All information provided to NHTSA under this paragraph will be placed in the public docket. (2) Each manufacturer of wheels shall provide an explanation of its date of manufacture symbol to any person upon request. S5.3 Each vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds, and motorcycles, shall show the information specified in S5.3.1 and S5.3.2 and, in the case of a vehicle equipped with a non-pneumatic spare tire, the information specified in S5.3.3, in the English language, lettered in block capitals and numerals not less than 2.4 millimeters high and in the format set forth following this paragraph. This information shall appear either— (a) After each GAWR listed on the certification label required by §567.4 or §567.5 of this chapter; or at the option of the manufacturer, (b) On the tire information label affixed to the vehicle in the manner, location, and form described in §567.4 (b) through (f) of this chapter as appropriate of each GVWR-GAWR combination listed on the certification label. S5.3.1 Tires. The size designation (not necessarily for the tires on the vehicle) and the recommended cold inflation pressure for those tires such that the sum of the load ratings of the tires on each axle (when the tires' load carrying capacity at the specified pressure is reduced by dividing by 1.10, in the case of a tire subject to FMVSS No. 109) is appropriate for the GAWR as calculated in accordance with S5.1.2. S5.3.2. Rims. The size designation and, if applicable, the type designation of Rims (not necessarily those on the vehicle) appropriate for those tires. TRUCK EXAMPLE—SUITABLE TIRE-RIM CHOICE
GVWR: 7,840 KG (17,289 LB) GAWR: FRONT—2,850 KG (6,280 LB) WITH 7.50–20(D) TIRES, 20×6.00 RIMS AT 520 KPA (75 PSI) COLD SINGLE GAWR: REAR—4,990 KG (11,000 LB) WITH 7.50–20(D) TIRES, 20×6.00 RIMS, AT 450 KPA (65 PSI) COLD DUAL GVWR: 13,280 KG (29,279 LB) GAWR: FRONT—4,826 KG (10,640 LB) WITH 10.00–20(F) TIRES, 20×7.50 RIMS, AT 620 KPA (90 PSI) COLD SINGLE GAWR: REAR—8,454 KG (18,639 LB) WITH 10.00–20(F) TIRES, 20×2.70 RIMS, AT 550 KPA (80 PSI) COLD DUAL S5.3.3 The non-pneumatic tire identification code, with which that assembly is labeled pursuant to S4.3(a) of §571.129. S6. 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. S7 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 S7 (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 S7 (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 S7 (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.). S8. Requirements for Vehicles Equipped with Non-Pneumatic Spare Tire Assemblies S8.1 Vehicle Placarding Requirements. A placard, permanently affixed to the inside of the spare tire stowage area or equally accessible location adjacent to the non-pneumatic spare tire assembly, shall display the information set forth in S7 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. S8.2 Supplementary Information. The owner's manual of the vehicle 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 S8 (a) and (b) and either the information set forth in S5.3.6 or a statement that the information set forth in S5.3.6 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 vehicle is not recommended with more than one non-pneumatic spare tire in use at the same time. S9 Non-Pneumatic Rims and Wheel Center Members S9.1 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 §571.129 for use with the non-pneumatic tire, designated by its non-pneumatic tire identification code, with which the vehicle is equipped. S9.2 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 §571.129 for use with the non-pneumatic tire, designated by its non-pneumatic tire identification code, with which the vehicle is equipped. (Authority: Secs. 102, 119, and 202, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718 (15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407, and 1422); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50) [42 FR 7144, Feb. 7, 1977, as amended at 49 FR 20824, May 17, 1984; 54 FR 38386, Sept. 18, 1989; 55 FR 29589, July 20, 1990; 56 FR 19311, Apr. 26, 1991; 58 FR 13426, Mar. 11, 1993; 59 FR 25578, May 17, 1994; 60 FR 13644, Mar. 14, 1995; 61 FR 29495, June 11, 1996; 63 FR 28922, May 27, 1998; 67 FR 69627, Nov. 18, 2002; 68 FR 37982, June 26, 2004]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 571—FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart B—Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
§ 571.120 Standard No. 120; Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles with a GVWR of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds).
