§FMCSR.com
Current textIn force on Oct. 15, 2021Source: eCFR

§ 397.17 Tires.

Current wording, in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 2006.

eCFR as of October 15, 2021 ↗
49 CFR § 397.17 — Tires.. Text in force on October 15, 2021. This wording effective October 1, 2006 to present. Source: eCFR as of October 15, 2021, https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2021-10-15/title-49/section-397.17. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/397.17?asof=2021-10-15, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) A driver must examine each tire on a motor vehicle at the beginning of each trip and each time the vehicle is parked.

(b) If, as the result of an examination pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or otherwise, a tire if found to be flat, leaking, or improperly inflated, the driver must cause the tire to be repaired, replaced, or properly inflated before the vehicle is driven. However, the vehicle may be driven to the nearest safe place to perform the required repair, replacement, or inflation.

(c) If, as the result of an examination pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, or otherwise, a tire is found to be overheated, the driver shall immediately cause the overheated tire to be removed and placed at a safe distance from the vehicle. The driver shall not operate the vehicle until the cause of the overheating is corrected.

(d) Compliance with the rules in this section does not relieve a driver from the duty to comply with the rules in §§ 397.5 and 397.7.

Amendment history

4 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. Oct. 1, 2006 → presentannual editions 2006–2016diff vs. previousviewing
  2. Oct. 1, 2004 → Oct. 1, 2006annual editions 2004–2005diff vs. previous
  3. Oct. 1, 2003 → Oct. 1, 2004annual edition 2003diff vs. previous
    [36 FR 4876, Mar. 13, 1971, as amended at 68 FR 62192, Oct. 4, 2002]
  4. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2003annual editions 1996–2002

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.