1. Informal Document No. GRRF th GRRF, September 2004 Agenda Item 6. Submission by the United States of America for information on the status of rulemaking on tire pressure monitoring systems Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

2. Background
U.S. Congress mandated a final rule to require a warning system “in motor vehicles to indicate to the operator when a tire is significantly under-inflated” be completed by November 1, 2001
Congress mandated that this rule must take effect by November 1, 2003

3. TPMS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Final Rule published on June 5, 2002
NHTSA sued by Consumer Groups to prevent use of 1-tire 30% under-inflation systems
In August 2003, U.S. Court of Appeals invalidated final rule and directed the agency to publish a new final rule
The NPRM is in response to the Court ruling

4. Highlights of the NPRM
Proposed requirements are performance-based and allows any design based on performance criteria:
Must detect under-inflation in 1 to 4 tires at the greater of 25 percent below placard pressure or minimum activation pressure
Must provide a warning within 10 minutes of under-inflation
Must provide a yellow Low pressure warning indicator
Must provide a yellow Malfunction indicator to warn of TPMS malfunction due to incompatible tires or other malfunction

5. Other Major Issues Addressed
Replacement tire requirement has been dropped
Test course specified
Calibration procedures
Telltale symbols and color
Warning activation within 10 minutes
Disablement of TPMS
Concerns of small volume manufacturers

6. Effective Dates Proposed phase-in with effective date beginning:
September 1, 2005 for 50 percent installation
September 1, 2006 for 90 percent installation
September 1, 2007 for 100 percent installation
Therefore, beginning September 1, 2007 all light vehicles are required to be equipped with a TPMS.

7. Low Tire Pressure Activation
Tire Type
Max. Inflation Pressure (kPa)
Min. Activation Pressure (kPa)
P-metric - Standard
240
300
350
140
P-metric – Extra Load
280
340
160
LT load range C
200
LT load range D
450
260
LT load range E
550
320

8. Summary NPRM published with 60-day comment period.
Submit comments to Docket No at website dms.dot.gov or in writing
Agency will review all the comments and decide on how to proceed for Final Rule
Expect final rule in 2005