Tire dealers in Maine are waiting for word from the state's Legislative Transportation Committee that would make Maine's controversial vehicle inspection law more dealer-friendly.
The New England Tire & Service Association (NETSA) and the State of Maine Police Department testified at a public hearing conducted by the Committee last month.
The law states that if the rim size of a vehicle is changed, the overall diameter of the wheel and tire "must be within the vehicle manufacturer's specification."
"We are looking for the elimination of (the part of the law) that refers to speed rating and load index having to be the same as the (specs) on the vehicle placard," says NETSA Executive Director Dick Cole.
"We also asked for emergency legislation because springtime is almost here and people will be changing their tires back over" from snow tires to summer or all-season tires.
The issue -- which has cost some tire dealers replacement tire sales -- "still has not been brought into a (Committee) work session yet, but it should fairly soon," says Cole.
Dedicated snow tires were declared exempt from the law's speed rating requirement last November.
