NHTSA Seeks Tire Grading Paperwork Approval Again
Published Date: 9/10/2026
Notice
Summary
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval for reinstatement, with modification, of the Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQGS) requirements under 49 CFR 575.104. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on April 8, 2026 (91 FR 17828). No comments were received.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New UTQGS Burdens on Tire Makers
If you are a passenger-car tire manufacturer or brand owner, you must grade tire lines for treadwear, traction, and temperature; mold those grades into sidewalls; affix paper tread labels to replacement tires; provide grading info at point of sale; include grades in vehicle owner’s manuals; and submit grades to NHTSA. NHTSA estimates about 45 actual respondents (covering ~160 brand names), with 69,888 annual burden hours and about $35,120,000 in annual non-labor costs (including $28,500,000 for printing paper tread labels and testing costs).
Consumer Access to Tire Performance Grades
You will be able to see standardized tire grades (treadwear, traction, temperature) at the point of sale, on molded sidewalls, on paper tread labels on replacement tires, in vehicle owner’s manuals, and in a public database on NHTSA’s website so you can compare tire quality across brands. The agency says the collection and publication of these grades is intended to help consumers make informed tire purchase decisions.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19964, The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The SAFE Vehicles Rule III updates fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031, making sure manufacturers build vehicles that better match what American families want and need. This rule changes how fuel efficiency is measured and sets new deadlines starting November 30, 2026. It aims to save money at the pump and help the environment by encouraging smarter, more affordable vehicle designs.
2026-11072, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214; Side Impact Protection; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 305a; Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electric Powertrain Integrity; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 307; Fuel System Integrity of Hydrogen Vehicles
Starting July 6, 2026, car makers must follow updated safety rules that clean up old, outdated side-impact protection standards and fix related rules for electric and hydrogen vehicles. These changes make the rules clearer without adding new costs or big changes for manufacturers. If anyone wants to challenge the updates, they have until July 20, 2026, to speak up.
2026-08144, Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures
The Department of Transportation is bringing back and improving its rules for making new policies, giving guidance, and enforcing laws. This affects anyone involved in transportation regulations, making the process clearer and more consistent. These changes kick in on May 27, 2026, aiming to save time and avoid confusion without adding extra costs.
2026-05024, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 102 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles
NHTSA wants to update a safety rule to help self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or gear shifts. They’re proposing to remove the need for a gear position display in these automated vehicles, cutting costs without hurting safety. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 15, 2026!
2026-05023, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 103 and FMVSS No. 104 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Incorporation by Reference
NHTSA is updating rules for windshield defrosting, defogging, wiping, and washing to better fit self-driving cars that don’t have steering wheels or pedals. These cars won’t have to follow old rules meant for human drivers, cutting costs and unnecessary requirements without hurting safety. The changes kick in about six months after the final rule, and manufacturers can still add these features if they want.
2025-22674, Public Hearing for Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards: The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
The government is holding a virtual public hearing on January 7, 2026, about new fuel economy rules for cars and light trucks from 2022 to 2031. These rules aim to keep vehicles safer and more affordable while improving fuel efficiency. If you care about how much gas your car uses or how much you pay at the pump, this is your chance to speak up before the rules are finalized.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-18466, Notice of Intent To Exchange of Air Force Real Property for Non-Air Force Real Property
The Department of the Air Force is publishing this Notice to identify Federal real property that it intends to exchange land with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) property in furtherance of a federally funded research and development center operated by MIT at Hanscom AFB, MA.
Next: 2026-18471, Procurement List; Additions
This action adds service(s) to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.