True to some degree, but the govt. standards are minimal and the
manufacturers are on the honor system to comply, there is no meaningful
enforcement.  In fact, most of what we have now was adopted from the
European specs.  See
http://www.goodyear.com/us/tire_school/tirespecs.html for a good
discussion of the tire rating system, and note that light truck tire
ratings are different than for  passenger car tires.

Fortunately, you can trust most tire manufacturers to make safe tires.
All but one in fact, but that alone is enough reason to at least force
the industry to adopt uniform and meaningful standards for performance,
wear, and load capacity, IMHO.

Mark Drillock wrote:
>
> What on earth are you talking about?? There is lots of regulation in the
> tire industry as well as just about every other aspect of the auto biz.
> Just look at any tire and you can see all kinds of mandated regulatory
> info molded right into it. There are standards for size, load rating,
> pressure, speed rating, tread wear rating, temperature rating... I
> believe this info appears on every tire courtesy of FEDERAL LAW. The
> issue in this case seems to be a willful cover up of manufacturing
> defects. This company should fry along with the corporate counsel and
> top execs who seem to be behind the cover up.
>
> Mark
>
> Stuart MacMillan wrote:
> >
> > ...............As anyone who has
> > bought tires recently knows, there not only is no regulation in this
> > industry (ever read your tires' warranty?), but no standardization
> > either.  This has got to end an maybe this debacle will finally end it....
> >
> >
> > Happy Friday, and have great weekend!
> >
> > Let the flames begin!
> >
> > --
> > Stuart MacMillan
> > Seattle

--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
'65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring)

Assisting on Restoration:
'72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Parts cars:
'68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT