New Jersey Committee Approves Rule on Used Tire Sales

Sept. 13, 2016

The New Jersey Assembly's Consumer Affairs Committee has approved legislation on the sale of used tires. The bill is supported by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).

The bill, A 3896, would prohibit the sale of worn-out, damaged or improperly repaired used tires. The RMA, the New Jersey Gasoline-Automotive Association and the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute testified in support of the bill.

Under the bill, a used tire could not be sold if it:

  1. (has a tread depth of less than 1/16 inch measurable in any groove;
  2. has any damage exposing the reinforcing plies of the tire, including any cuts, cracks, bulges, punctures, scrapes, or wear;
  3. has any improper repairs, including, but not limited to: any repair to the sidewall or bead area; any repair made in the tread shoulder or belt edge area; any puncture that has not been sealed or patched on the inside and repaired with a cured rubber stem through the outside of the tire; or any puncture repair of damage larger than 1/4 inch;
  4. shows evidence of prior use of a temporary tire sealant without evidence of a subsequent proper repair;
  5. has a defaced or missing tire identification number;
  6. has inner liner or bead damage; or
  7. shows indication of internal separation, such as bulges or local areas of irregular tread wear.

“A 3896 seeks to weed out those tires that every tire professional can and should know poses an unreasonable risk to motorist safety,” the RMA said in written testimony. “Simply put, if you’re in the business of selling tires, you should know not to sell tires that match the conditions listed in this legislation.”

The penalty for selling an unsafe tire would be $500 for the first violation, according to the bill. Additional sales would count as violations of the consumer fraud act and would carry stiffer penalties.

Dan Zielinski, RMA senior vice president of public affairs, testified at the Sept. 8 hearing. He says, “This is common-sense regulation to help protect consumers from high-risk tires that are too readily available in the market.  We are grateful to the bill sponsor, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, and to the Consumer Affairs Committee and Chairman Paul Moriarity for their efforts to advance this important pro-safety, pro-consumer bill.”