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@Foodnerd81: I've always used it. Like you, I've never even considered that it might be optional. Personally, I feel like our Maxi Cosi Pria gets a much tighter fit in the car with the tether. I can't think of any reason not to use it - it doesn't inconvenience me in any way or obstruct anything else in the car, since it tethers to the back of the seat it rests on. Maybe if it had to tether to the floor to f the trunk so that the strap was in the way, I wouldn't want to?

The tether is required for forward facing in the seat we have. I agree that it definitely makes the seat fit better and fee more secure.

Just want to add though - the tether shouldn't help get a more secure fit. The seat should be properly installed before attaching the tether. Once the tether is attached you only have to remove the slack from it, not tighten it to an extreme. If you feel the seat is only in securely because of the tether I would double check your install.

@catgirl: Good to know, thanks! My seat is out of the car right now so I will do a better job when putting it back in.

@maddyz: you can contact Jeep to possibly have top tether anchors retrofitted. If you are interested in doing that I would do so as soon as possible because many car manufacturers are running out of the pieces. Although, 2001 was when top tethers were required so I'm suprised you don't have them. Lower anchors weren't required until 2002.

Most car seat brands encourage tether usage in the manual, and some require it for certain weight brackets. But there is no across the board legal requirement for tether usage in the US.