National Highway Traffic Safety Administration	PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

FMVSS NO. 139

PROPOSED

NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES

FOR LIGHT VEHICLES

Office of Regulatory Analysis and Evaluation
Plans and Policy
October 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I.	INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
		A.  Firestone Recall
		B.  TREAD Act
		C.  Current Tire Standards
		D.  Changes in U.S. Light Vehicle Market
II.	PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
		A.  High Speed Test Requirements
		B.  Endurance Test Requirements
		C.  Low Pressure - Endurance Test / Low Pressure - High Speed Test
		D.  Road Hazard Impact Test
		E.  Bead Unseating Test Requirements
		F.  Accelerated Aging Test Requirements
		G.  Tire Variability Analysis
III.	TARGET POPULATION
IV.	BENEFITS
V.	COSTS and LEAD TIMES
VI.	SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT
VII.	COST EFFECTIVENESS