Following a special conference call with the board of directors earlier in the week, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) submitted a series of amendments to the tire repair legislation recently introduced in the New York State Senate that would essentially outlaw improper tire repairs.
Unlike the current version that regulates the steps constituting a proper repair, the TIA amendments put the focus on improper tire repair practices such as plugging the tire on the rim without demounting it for inspection and installing a patch on the inner liner without filling the injury.
“After meeting with several of the tire companies on an individual basis as well as with officials from the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), it became obvious that there would be continued efforts to pass tire repair legislation at the state level. In the letter to the New York State Senators, we clearly outlined why we could not support the current language in the bill. But rather than continue to fight flawed legislation in New York and other states, our board of directors voted to support amendments that would ban improper repairs,” says Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president.
TIA recognizes the hazards that improperly repaired tires create for motorists, so the association decided to act in the best interest of public safety by supporting legislation that prohibits methods and materials that do not conform to industry standards. The TIA amendments would make it illegal for retailers to plug a tire while it is still mounted on the rim or install a patch without a plug. Violations would also occur if injuries in the shoulder or sidewall were repaired, and it would be illegal to repair a tire that has already been improperly repaired.
“TIA’s board unanimously voted to take a leadership role on this issue and promote legislation that bans improper tire repair. The amendments we submitted to the New York State Senate will have a positive impact on the tire service industry and improve safety for the motoring public if they are adopted,” says Larry Brandt, TIA president. “We determined that the best approach for the industry would be to propose legislation that targets the minority of service providers who are the source of the problem. TIA could have ignored the problem by just opposing the bill, but the board decided to take a more proactive approach and propose a solution.”
If the amendments to the proposed New York tire repair legislation are accepted, the definition of a proper repair would be limited to removing the tire from the rim, inspecting the inside of the tire, and installing a plug and patch or patch/plug combination repair unit.
