SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6150

BYSenators DeJarnatt, Patterson, Owen, Conner, Garrett and Rinehart

Requiring full-size spare tires.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 21, 1988

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

AS OF JANUARY 21, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has promulgated rules regulating performance of tires.  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 109 addresses tire handling, puncture resistance and stability on the rim.  These requirements also address those tires sold for use as spare tires.

State law requires that vehicles have tires which are in safe working condition in order to operate legally on public roads.  Unsafe tires are defined to include those which have ply or cord exposed, bumps which affect tire structure, and tread depth of less than 2/32 of an inch.  Tires must also be matched in tire size designation, construction and profile to other tire/tires on the same axle.  WAC rules provide that these requirements do not apply to tires designed as substitutes for conventional spare tires, if those spare tires meet FMVSS No. 109.

Starting in the late 1960's, automobile manufactures began equipping cars with spare tires which were different from the other tires on the vehicle.  This practice was expanded rapidly in the late 1970's and in the 1980's.  The use of compact spares was first introduced to save space in certain vehicle trunks.  As cars were down-sized and reduced in weight due to energy efficiency requirements, a policy of making spare tires smaller and lighter was aggressively pursued.

Currently, many vehicle manufacturers offer on portions of their model line the option of a full-size spare tire.  This option is most frequently available on a car manufacturer's larger vehicles and generally costs in the range of $75 .  Certain vehicles have as standard equipment conventional spare tires and for certain other vehicles, a full-size spare tire is not available.

In general, the compact spares are intended for limited use on a vehicle, until a vehicle operator can replace or repair a damaged conventional tire.  These tires frequently call for reduced vehicle operating speeds because these tires do not match the handling characteristics of conventional tires.  Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of the operation of a vehicle using a compact spare, both with regard to the handling characteristics of the vehicle and the safety of the reduced operating speeds required.

SUMMARY:

All new passenger cars sold in Washington on or after January 1, 1992, are required to have as standard equipment a spare tire that is matched in tire size designation, construction and profile to other tires on the vehicle.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested