Interpretation ID: aiam3578
4309 County Line Road
Chalfont
PA 18914;
Dear Sir: At the request of the office of the Honorable Peter Peyser, M.C., w are writing this letter to you to explain the significance of certain items of information molded on the sidewall of new tires.; Part 574, *Tire identification and recordkeeping* (49 CFR 574) requires that each new tire to be sold in the United States have a serial number molded on one of its sidewalls. That number identifies the tire's manufacturer, date of manufacture, and size. This information is designed to ensure the proper identification of all tires subject to a recall by the manufacturer for correction of a safety-related defect or of a failure to comply with a safety standard. The serial number is not a guarantee of quality or of compliance with any safety standard.; Each new tire is also required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safet Standards Nos. 109, *New pneumatic tires*, and 119, *New pneumatic tires for vehicles other than passenger cars* (49 CFR 571.109 and 571.119), to have the symbol 'DOT' appear on one of its sidewalls. This symbol is a certification by the tire's manufacturer that the tire fully complies with all requirements of the applicable safety standard. The symbol does not guarantee the quality of a tire in areas of performance unregulated by the safety standards.; Neither the serial number nor the DOT symbol constitute representation that a tire is free from any safety- related defect.; If you have any questions regarding these matters, please contact me. Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel