Kevin Rohlwing of the
Tire Industry
Association (TIA) was able to present
key points on behalf of the tire market
during a recent Tire Fuel Efficiency
(TFE) Workshop conducted by the
National Highway Transportation Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in San
Francisco.
The purpose of the event was to collect
information regarding a new tire rating
system on rolling resistance, which is
required by the federal Energy
Independence and Security Act (EISA) of
2007. Part of the act is the
establishment of a Tire Fuel Efficiency
Consumer Information Program with the
goal of increasing fuel efficiency,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
increasing the nation’s energy
independence.
TIA’s presentation, which supports the
position of the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA), focused on several
key areas including tire labeling and
rolling resistance coefficient. While
the measurement system for rolling
resistance is more important to the
tire companies, TIA remains strongly
opposed to implementing new tire labels
as the primary mechanism for the
national consumer education
campaign.
Rohlwing also emphasized the importance
of educating retailers on the new
rating system because tire dealers are
the primary sources of information for
the average car owner in need of
tires.
TIA stressed that the new ratings must
be simple and easy to explain, unlike
the confusing Uniform Tire Quality
Grading System (UTQG), which is
supposed to provide tire shoppers with
information to compare tire treadwear,
traction and performance.
“TIA has the experience as well as the
network in place to ensure that
retailers are properly educated,” says
TIA President Larry Brandt, who has
spent decades within the retail tire
market.
“Tire dealers are the natural ‘trusted
adviser’ of the general public when it
comes to gathering information when
purchasing tires,” he points
out.
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Rohlwing, TIA’s senior vice president
of training, testified that “proper
tire inflation, rotation, alignment and
maintenance are still the most
effective and proven methods for
improving tire fuel efficiency.”
He noted that NHTSA’s own research has
indicated that rolling resistance is
not an important factor for tire
buyers, and it will not have a major
effect on fuel consumption in the
U.S.
For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.
