NHTSA Moves to Modernize Tire Safety Standards in First Major Overhaul in More Than 20 Years
The U.S. Transportation Department's NHTSA is rewriting federal tire safety standards for the first time in over two decades, aiming to boost driver safety and lower automotive costs.
- more than 20 years
- up to 18
- 30 days after Federal Register publication
What Happened
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced it is modernizing its tire safety standards, calling it the first major overhaul in more than 20 years. The agency says updating outdated standards and encouraging the adoption of new technologies will enhance driver safety and lower automotive costs under the Trump Administration. The effort covers both the tests tires must pass and the rules for newer tire designs and vehicle weight limits.
- Modernizing safety tests, including tire strength, rim resistance and endurance, to align with current road conditions and modern tire technology
- Setting safety rules for new designs such as airless (puncture-proof) tires
- Modernizing tire sidewall markings
- Reviewing weight limit guidelines for trucks and SUVs
“As American tire technology and vehicle design continue to evolve, our regulatory framework must keep pace. By bringing key industry stakeholders and other technical safety experts to the same table, we can modernize outdated standards to boost safety and reduce costs for you and your family.”
To accelerate the update of federal tire standards, NHTSA is using a negotiated rulemaking, consulting experts early to streamline the process. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy will appoint up to 18 stakeholders drawn from tire manufacturers, automakers, safety organizations, research institutions and engineering associations. The agency is also soliciting public comments on the scope of the rulemaking and on the balance of the committee's membership, as well as formal nominations for membership.
up to 18
Named by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy from tire makers, automakers, safety groups, research institutions and engineering associations
Comments and membership applications must be received no later than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Comments can be submitted at regulations.gov under Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1717, and membership applications should be emailed to [email protected]. The agency frames the early consultation as a way to move faster on standards it describes as outdated.
Previously from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Earlier in October 2026, NHTSA said it would rewrite Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, the rule governing vehicle lighting, and would use negotiated rulemaking for the first time in more than 25 years to do it. Days later the agency proposed lighting rule updates for vehicles built to be driven only by automated systems, including standardized cyan marker lamps. The tire overhaul announced today uses the same negotiated-rulemaking approach to bring outside experts in early.
- NHTSA to modernize vehicle lighting rules, opening first negotiated rulemaking in 25 years
- NHTSA Proposes Lighting Rule Updates for Driverless Vehicles, Including Cyan Marker Lamps
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official releases.
Why this matters
Tire rules shape what tires can be sold in the U.S. and how they are tested, so the rewrite reaches tire manufacturers, automakers and the buyers of the trucks and SUVs whose weight limits are under review. NHTSA says the goal is both safer roads and lower costs for American families, and it is bringing industry and safety experts into the process early through negotiated rulemaking.
Terms in This Story
- Negotiated rulemaking
- A rulemaking process in which an agency convenes representatives of the affected interest groups to try to reach consensus on a proposed rule before it is formally issued.
- Airless tires
- Tires that do not use compressed air, so they cannot be punctured and go flat, relying instead on a flexible structure to carry the load.
- Rim resistance
- A tire test that checks how a tire behaves when it is pushed against the edge of its wheel rim, simulating certain road impacts.
- Federal Register
- The official U.S. government publication where federal agencies publish proposed rules, notices and the dates that start public comment periods.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.