§ 171.36. Tires and rims.
The requirements for the tires and rims of a school bus are as follows:
(1) School buses shall be equipped with tires and rims which conform to the vehicle chassis manufacturer’s specifications as to tire size, in that the tires and rims are not smaller than those that have been recommended by the chassis manufacturer. Tires and rims shall meet the requirements of FMVSS Nos. 119 and 120. See Appendix A.
(2) Dual rear tires shall be provided on Type A2, Type B, Type C and Type D school buses.
(3) Tires on the same axle shall be of the same size and type of construction—bias, belted or radial. Type A school bus tires shall be of same size and type of construction on all axles.
(4) If the vehicle is equipped with a spare tire and rim assembly for emergency use, it shall be of the same size as those mounted on the vehicle.
(5) Tube type tires and tubeless equivalent tires shall be provided on dual wheel vehicles.
(6) When tires are replaced, they shall be of a quality equivalent to the original equipment.
(7) Radial type tires at least equivalent in strength and size to the bias construction tire specified may be substituted; however, no mixing of radial type and bias construction type tires may be permitted on the same axle.
(8) Regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires shall comply with the following:
(i) Regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires may not be used on front wheels or on single rear wheels.
(ii) Regrooved tires shall comply with safety standards certified by the tire manufacturer as meeting 49 CFR 569 (relating to regrooved tires)—see Appendix A—and shall be stamped as ‘‘Regroovable.’’
(iii) Recapped or retreaded tires shall comply with FMVSS No. 117. See Appendix A.
(iv) Regroovable tires may be retreaded, recapped or regrooved.
(9) No tire may be used which is in an unsafe condition. Tread depth on tires may at no time be less than 4/32 of an inch on the front and 2/32 of an inch on the rear as measured on two adjacent treads by an acceptable gauge such as the Dill, or its equivalent.
(10) A spare tire, if used, shall be suitably mounted in an accessible location outside the passenger compartment. Types A and B school buses need not comply with this paragraph.
Authority The provisions of this 171.36 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4551—4553 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 171.36 adopted August 19, 1983, effective August 20, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2561; readopted December 4, 1987, effective December 5, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5052; amended September 13, 1996, effective September 14, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 4411; amended May 20, 2005, effective May 21, 2005, 35 Pa.B. 3039. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (219614) to (219615).
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