Ohio Governor Signs Unsafe Used Tire Bill

Ohio tire dealers say the bill will prevent injuries and fatalities and “is long overdue.”

Ohio Governor John Kasich signed legislation last month prohibiting the installation of unsafe used tires on vehicles within the state. The new law takes effect July 1, 2019.

Mars Mineral

Passage of the legislation and the Governor’s signing drew praise from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) which supported the legislation.

Sen. Frank LaRose (R-Hudson) and Rep. Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) sponsored the new law, which will impose a fine on a business that installs tires that exhibit any one of several unsafe conditions such as worn-out tread, visible damage or improper repairs. Additionally, installation of an unsafe used tire would violate the Ohio Consumer Sales Practice Act.

“USTMA applauds Governor Kasich for taking this important action to protect Ohio motorists from unsafe used tires,“ USTMA president and CEO Anne Forristall Luke said. “And we thank Senator Larose and Representative Sprague for their leadership and commitment to advancing motorist safety.”

In addition to USTMA, the national trade association for U.S. tire manufacturers, all USTMA member companies, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Manufacturers Association, Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, Ohio Tire and Automotive Association, the Property Casualty Insurance Association and the Tire Industry Association supported the legislation.

USTMA cited figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that worn-out tires are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than tires with sufficient tread depth. NHTSA crash statistics indicate that about 738 fatalities are attributed to tire-related causes annually.

USTMA research shows that more than 30 million used tires are available for sale nationally each year. The legislation does not ban all used tire sales. It targets used tires that have specific, well-established, unsafe conditions.

Tires worn to 1/16th of an inch are worn-out and are dangerous because they no longer provide sufficient grip on the road, particularly under wet conditions. Tires with damage exposing steel belts or other internal components threaten a tire’s structural integrity. Improperly repaired tires can suffer loss of inflation pressure or have hidden damage that may contribute to tire failure. Tires with bulges indicate possible internal damage that can lead to tread separation.

© Scrap Tire News, January 2019