The FHWA and HUD are amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and an interpretation of the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards concerning the transportation of manufactured homes. The FHWA and HUD are reducing the amount of tire overloading allowed (currently up to 50 percent above the tire manufacturer's load rating) on tires used to transport manufactured homes. As a result of this rulemaking the amount of the load on a manufactured home tire will be reduced so that it cannot exceed the tire manufacturer's load rating by more than 18 percent. Manufactured homes transported on tires overloaded by 9 percent or more may not be operated at speeds exceeding 80 km/hr (50 mph). Eighteen-percent tire overloading will be allowed for a two-year period. The two-year period will begin on November 16, 1998, effective date of this final rule. Because the agencies have sufficient data indicating that overloading is potentially unsafe, unless both agencies are persuaded that 18 percent overloading does not pose a risk to the traveling public, or have an adverse impact on safety or the ability of motor carriers to transport manufactured homes, any overloading of tires beyond their design capacity will be prohibited at the end of this two-year period.