SmarTire Confirms NHTSA Final Rule Requiring Tire Monitoring Systems

Light vehicle tire monitoring legislation driving interest in other vehicle markets

RICHMOND, BC, April 11 -- SmarTire Systems Inc. (OTCBB: SMTR) reported today that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued its final rule requiring all new passenger cars and light vehicles being manufactured for sale in the USA to be equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) by September 2007. The more stringent requirements of NHTSA's final rule can currently only be fulfilled by direct measurement systems such as the kind developed by SmarTire.

"We are very pleased that the uncertainty surrounding TPMS legislation has been resolved and the rule is finally in place," says Robert Rudman, President and CEO of SmarTire. "SmarTire has invested considerable technical and financial resources in the development of direct measurement systems and the public deserves this higher standard of performance and reliability. This legislation has also driven interest in other vehicle markets such as trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and motorcycles and we anticipate this legislation will expand to cover these vehicles in the future. SmarTire's advanced direct measurement TPMS products have been chosen by some of the world's most prestigious manufacturers including Aston Martin in the automotive sector, New Flyer and MCI in the bus sector, and Monaco, Country Coach and Western RV in the recreational vehicle sector."

In November 2000, a U.S. federal transportation law was enacted to prevent the re-occurrence of automotive tragedies as experienced with Firestone equipped Ford sport utility vehicles. The Transportation, Recall, Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act empowered NHTSA to improve vehicle safety through various initiatives including one regulation that requires the installation of low pressure warning systems in new vehicles to indicate when tires are significantly under-inflated.

About SmarTire Systems Inc.

SmarTire develops and markets proprietary advanced tire pressure monitoring and technology systems for the global automotive and transportation industries. The U.S. Government, through the TREAD Act, has legislated that all new passenger vehicles must be equipped with tire monitoring systems beginning with a phased implementation in 2006. SmarTire is capitalizing on the rapidly emerging OEM and aftermarket opportunities. The company's vision is to become the preeminent provider of wireless sensing and control systems for vehicles worldwide. Incorporated in 1987, SmarTire has offices in North America and Europe.