Bill Would Modernize Federal Tire Safety Standards
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., introduced the Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026, which would update federal tire testing standards to protect passenger safety and reflect modern best practices in tire production.
“Tire manufacturing technology has evolved, but federal regulations have not kept pace,” said Senator Wicker. “This legislation would update performance standards—protecting passenger safety and promoting innovation at the same time.”
“Georgia’s nation-leading tire manufacturing industry helps keep Georgians safe and connected to boundless opportunities,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “By modernizing this critical manufacturing sector, we can help foster innovation and keep Americans connected.”
“Modernizing federal tire safety standards is essential to ensuring American drivers have access to the safest, most advanced tire technology available,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). “The ‘Tire Safety Modernization Act’ is an important step toward aligning U.S. regulations with today’s innovations, strengthening road safety and supporting a more competitive tire manufacturing sector. USTMA and its member companies are grateful to Senators Wicker (R-MS) and Warnock (D-GA) for their leadership in championing this critical legislation.”
“The introduction of this legislation by Senators Wicker and Warnock represents meaningful progress toward modernizing tire safety regulations. Aligning federal testing requirements with today’s technological advancements will help ensure effective safety oversight while promoting innovation and manufacturing growth in the United States,” said Tansu Işık, CEO Continental Tire Americas.
“We appreciate Senators Wicker and Warnock for introducing legislation to modernize outdated tire testing requirements. Tire technology continues to advance rapidly, and federal standards should keep pace with innovation. This legislation will help ensure safety requirements reflect today’s technology while supporting U.S. manufacturing competitiveness,” said Brad Heim, VP of Product Development, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
“Along with our USTMA colleagues, we applaud the introduction of the Tire Safety Modernization Act. As a domestic manufacturer, we build tires to meet the demands of modern vehicles, modern roads, and modern driving conditions across the United States. Updating testing standards and retiring outdated requirements allows us to focus our engineering and compliance resources on activities that will genuinely benefit drivers and aligns our standards with the rest of the world. This is the kind of thoughtful, science-based regulatory update our industry has been asking for, and we’re glad to see it move forward,” said Jeremy Kahrs, VP of Research & Development, Yokohama Corporation of North America.
The Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 preserves a strong focus on safety. This legislation directs the Department of Transportation to replace outdated testing requirements with more relevant, modern-day performance standards, clarifying existing safety criteria and aligning high-speed testing with internationally recognized best practices.
Bill Text Here
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