Section 22-405.5 - Unsafe tires. - Maryland Statutes

§ 22-405.5. Unsafe tires.
 

(a)  Retail sale for highway use.- A person may not sell or offer for sale, at the point of final retail sale to the consumer, an unsafe tire, for use on a highway, that does not meet or exceed the requirements set forth in subsection (b) of this section or in regulations promulgated under § 22-405(c) of this subtitle. 

(b)  Tires considered unsafe.- A tire shall be considered unsafe if it: 

(1) Has tread wear indicators and the tire is worn to the point that the tread wear indicators are flush with the tread at any place on the tire; 

(2) Does not have tread wear indicators and the tire is worn so that less than 2/32 of an inch tread remains when measured in any groove at three locations spaced approximately equally around the outside of the tire; provided that motorcycle tires shall be allowed to be worn down to 1/32 of an inch, if measured under this paragraph; 

(3) Has a worn spot that exposes the cord through the tread; 

(4) Has tread cuts, snags, or sidewall cracks in any direction which are deep enough to expose body cords; 

(5) Has visible bumps, bulges, or knots indicating partial failure or separation of the tire structure; 

(6) Has unrepaired fabric breaks or the sidewall has damaged body cords; 

(7) Has been regrooved or recut except as authorized in § 22-405.1 of this subtitle; or 

(8) Is marked: 

(i) For farm use only; 

(ii) For off-highway use only; or 

(iii) For racing use only. 

(c)  Sale for off-highway use.- A tire failing to meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section may be sold for off-highway use only if the tire has permanently inscribed on its sidewall the letters "OH" at least 3/4 of an inch in height. 
 

[1981, ch. 342; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; 2005, ch. 25, § 13.]