Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Tire Safety Modernization Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Transportation to update several federal motor vehicle safety standards. It requires the removal of certain outdated testing requirements regarding tire strength for passenger car, light truck, and commercial tires. The bill also mandates revisions to the definition of "chunking" to include specific details for snow tires and requires a review of how that definition applies to other tires. Additionally, the Secretary must clarify that visual evidence of chunking constitutes a failure in endurance and low pressure tests. Finally, the Act calls for the creation of uniform high-speed performance testing protocols and a GAO study to evaluate the impact of these changes.
Yes
- Scored +4
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill enhances consumer safety by establishing uniform high-speed performance testing protocols for tires.
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates a GAO study to evaluate the implementation and market impact of the new tire safety standards.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved High-Speed Safety Standards: The Secretary will establish uniform high-speed performance testing protocols to verify structural integrity and safety margins for passenger car and light truck tires (Section 2(e)).
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Clarified Safety Definitions: The bill requires a revised definition of "chunking" that specifically addresses how pieces of the tread or sidewall might break away to expose reinforcing materials in snow tires (Section 2(b)).
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Enhanced Tire Endurance Oversight: The Secretary will clarify that visual evidence of chunking is considered a failure under the performance requirements for tire endurance and low pressure (Section 2(c)).
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Market Impact Oversight: A GAO study will be conducted to evaluate the implementation of these changes, including their impact on the safety and availability of tires (Section 2(f)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill enhances consumer safety by establishing uniform high-speed performance testing protocols for tires.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates a GAO study to evaluate the implementation and market impact of the new tire safety standards.
- 7/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia