USTMA Mobilizes Consortium to Conduct 6PPD Alternatives Analysis Under California Regulations

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), which represents several of the world’s largest global tire companies, has mobilized a consortium of 16 tire manufacturers to conduct an alternatives analysis for 6PPD in tires under California’s Safer Consumer Product Regulations (SCPR). This comes after the decision by California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to act on USTMA’s recommendation to list 6PPD in tires as a Priority Product under the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program.

Members include USTMA’s full members: Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Continental Tire the Americas, LLC; Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; Hankook Tire America Corp; Kumho Tire U.S.A., Inc.; Michelin North America, Inc.; Nokian Tyres, Inc.; Pirelli Tire North America; Sumitomo Rubber Industries; Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., and Yokohama Tire Corporation and USTMA’s statistical affiliate members: Double Coin North America (CMA) LLC; Maxxis International USA; Nexen Tire America, Inc.; and Sailun Tire Americas.

“This consortium will power a collaborative approach to the alternatives analysis process, which will yield the most effective and exhaustive review possible of whether a safer alternative to 6PPD in tires currently exists,” said USTMA President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke. “With the DTSC taking this action, we will continue our active and transparent work to complete the required alternatives analysis and collaborate with other stakeholders.”

The SCPR provides a rigorous, transparent, scientific regulatory framework to analyze whether potential 6PPD alternatives exist. Any potential alternative to 6PPD identified through the SCPR process must provide equivalent tire safety and performance to 6PPD, while improving environmental metrics. The SCPR framework accounts for this, including the need for products to continue complying with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and other consumer, vehicle and tire manufacturer requirements.

USTMA has aligned with numerous federal and state regulatory bodies, material suppliers, academic and government research teams, industry associations and other partners to advance research into 6PPD-Quinone and identify effective mitigation strategies.

6PPD helps prevent degradation and cracking of tires in use. As California DTSC’s alternatives analysis proceeds, USTMA’s primary focus will be on maintaining these critical tire and vehicle safety benefits in any potential replacement product to ensure tire safety and performance. The composition and nature of chemicals present in tires today all perform specific and integrated functions, and tire composition cannot responsibly be modified without great care, including extensive and rigorous testing.