49 C.F.R. § 574.5 Tire identification requirements.
Title 49 - Transportation
Each tire manufacturer shall conspicuously label on one sidewall of each tire it manufactures, except tires manufactured exclusively for mileage-contract purchasers, or non-pneumatic tires or non-pneumatic tire assemblies, by permanently molding into or onto the sidewall, in the manner and location specified in Figure 1, a tire identification number containing the information set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. However, at the option of the manufacturer, the information contained in paragraph (d) of this section may, instead of being permanently molded, be laser etched into or onto the sidewall in the location specified in Figure 1, during the manufacturing process of the tire and not later than 24 hours after the tire is removed from the mold. Each tire retreader, except tire retreaders who retread tires solely for their own use, shall conspicuously label one sidewall of each tire it retreads by permanently molding or branding into or onto the sidewall, in the manner and location specified in Figure 2, a tire identification number containing the information set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. However, at the option of the retreader, the information set forth in paragraph (d) of this section may, instead of being permanently molded or branded, be laser etched into or onto the sidewall in the location specified in Figure 2, during the retreading of the tire and not later than 24 hours after the application of the new tread. In addition, the DOT symbol required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards shall be located as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The DOT symbol shall not appear on tires to which no Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard is applicable, except that the DOT symbol on tires for use on motor vehicles other than passenger cars may, prior to retreading, be removed from the sidewall or allowed to remain on the sidewall, at the retreader's option. The symbols to be used in the tire identification number for tire manufacturers and retreaders are: “A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0”. Tires manufactured or retreaded exclusively for mileage-contract purchasers are not required to contain a tire identification number if the tire contains the phrase “for mileage contract use only” permanently molded into or onto the tire sidewall in lettering at least one-quarter inch high. Each manufacturer of a non-pneumatic tire or a non-pneumatic tire assembly shall permanently mold, stamp or otherwise permanently mark into or onto one side of the non-pneumatic tire or non-pneumatic tire assembly a tire identification number containing the information set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section. In addition, the DOT symbol required by the Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall be positioned relative to the tire identification number as shown in Figure 1, and the symbols to be used for the other information are those listed above. The labeling for a non-pneumatic tire or a non-pneumatic tire assembly shall be in the manner specified in Figure 1 and positioned on the non-pneumatic tire or non-pneumatic tire assembly such that it is not placed on the tread or the outermost edge of the tire and is not obstructed by any portion of the non-pneumatic rim or wheel center member designated for use with that non-pneumatic tire in S4.4 of Standard No. 129 (49 CFR 571.129). (a) First grouping. The first group, of two or three symbols, depending on whether the tire is new or retreaded, shall represent the manufacturer's assigned identification mark (see §574.6). (b) Second grouping. For new tires, the second group, of no more than two symbols, shall be used to identify the tire size. For a new non-pneumatic tire or a non-pneumatic tire assembly, the second group, of not more than two symbols, shall be used to identify the non-pneumatic tire identification code. For retreaded tires, the second group, of no more than two symbols, shall identify the retread matrix in which the tire was processed or a tire size code if a matrix was not used to process the retreaded tire. Each new-tire manufacturer and retreader shall maintain a record of each symbol used, with the corresponding matrix or tire size and shall provide such record to the NHTSA upon written request. (c) Third grouping. The third group, consisting of no more than four symbols, may be used at the option of the manufacturer or retreader as a descriptive code for the purpose of identifying significant characteristics of the tire. However, if the tire is manufactured for a brand name owner, one of the functions of the third grouping shall be to identify the brand name owner. Each manufacturer or retreader who uses the third grouping shall maintain a detailed record of any descriptive or brand name owner code used, which shall be provided to the Bureau upon written request. (d) Fourth grouping. The fourth grouping, consisting of four numerical symbols, must identify the week and year of manufacture. The first two symbols must identify the week of the year by using “01” for the first full calendar week in each year, “02” for the second full calendar week, and so on. The calendar week runs from Sunday through the following Saturday. The final week of each year may include not more than 6 days of the following year. The third and fourth symbols must identify the year. Example: 0101 means the 1st week of 2001, or the week beginning Sunday, January 7, 2001, and ending Saturday, January 13, 2001. The symbols signifying the date of manufacture shall immediately follow the optional descriptive code (paragraph (c) of this section). If no optional descriptive code is used, the symbols signifying the date of manufacture must be placed in the area shown in Figures 1 and 2 of this section for the optional descriptive code. (e) Tire identification number height. Notwithstanding Figures 1 and 2, each character in the tire identification number on tires with less than 6 inches in cross section width or tires with less than 13 inches bead diameter may be any size of 5/32 inches (4 mm) or greater. [36 FR 1197, Jan. 26, 1971, as amended at 36 FR 9870, May 23, 1971; 37 FR 23727, Nov. 8, 1972; 37 FR 25521, Dec. 1, 1972; 39 FR 5192, Feb. 11, 1974; 39 FR 12105, Apr. 3, 1974; 50 FR 2288, Jan. 16, 1985; 55 FR 29596, July 20, 1990; 64 FR 36812, July 8, 1999; 67 FR 69628, Nov. 18, 2002; 69 FR 31320, June 3, 2004; 69 FR 51400, Aug. 19, 2004; 69 FR 64501, Nov. 5, 2004]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 574—TIRE IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDKEEPING
§ 574.5 Tire identification requirements.
