Goodyear Acknowledges Labeling Miscue

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. told the federal government that 79 truck-trailer tires it made in March and April were mislabeled with respect to the number of steel-cord plies.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the Goodyear petition in the Federal Register on June 9. The model number for the commercial tires is G316 LHT 295/75R22.5 LRG.

Goodyear’s April 27 letter to NHTSA said the trailer tires, manufactured during a three-week stretch, actually have five steel-cord plies even though they are labeled as having just four of them.

The Akron, Ohio-based manufacturer said safety is not at issue from the mistake because sidewall markings for load capacity and inflation pressure are correct.

The petition from company Vice President Don Stanley asks NHTSA to designate the mislabeling as “inconsequential noncompliance” with regulations, as the agency has done previously.

NHTSA will accept comment on the petition through July 9.