Why don't my tires have a DOT code?

Question

I have National Commando XT tires on my RAV4. There is no DOT code for me to tell how old they are! I know how to read the codes and yes, I'm sure there's no code on these tires. Does this make these tires illegal? Do I have any recourse (I bought the car used, with these tires on it)?

Answer 1

Is it on the inboard side of the tire?

I found this on

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance

They tested the tires in 2004 if you look down a ways into the document and they passed their testing

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Cars/testing/comply/

monthly/2004/

statrept.042.doc

It wont let me post it all together copy all that to your browser

Answer 2

ALL tires are required by law to have a DOT number (It's also called the serial number).  It is between 10 to 12 digits long and it is located near the letters "DOT" and it only needs to be on one side of the tire - and that side might be towards the inside of the vehicle.

The regulation that covers tires, say the first 2 digits are the plant of manufacture.  The second 2 digits are the tire size (in a code).  The next 3 or 4 are a code that describes the exact type of tire.

And the last 3 or 4 digits are the date code in a week/week/year or a week/week/year/year format.

Tire produced 1998 and earlier will have 3 digits and tires produced after 2000 will have 4 digits.  Between 1999 and 200 there was a transition from 3 digits to 4.

So if the last 3 digits are 236, the tire was produced the 23rd week of 1996 (or 1986 or 1976), and if the last 4 digits are 1807, the tire was produced the 18th week of 2007.

Contact your local (DOT) department of transportation and see if they can help you.....

Answer 3

Those tires are a "prive brand" of Dynamic Tire. Dynamic tire has all their tires made in China. The Chinese are notorious for "forgetting" to place a DOT number on the sidewall. It happens all the time. If it's not on the inside call your dealer where you got them for or Dynamic tire themselves and demand a FREE replacement tires that are legal. If they don't then call NHTSA and report them because it's a $5,000.00 fine per occurance.