Tire Recalls Are NHTSA Territory Registration Is Your Safety Net

How Tire Recalls Differ from Consumer Product Recalls

Tires are regulated by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) under the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act - not by the CPSC. This means tire safety standards, recall procedures, and consumer notification rules are different from kitchen appliances or car seats. NHTSA requires tire manufacturers to maintain registration records and notify registered owners of defect-related recalls. The NHTSA SaferCar.gov database lists all current tire recalls - you can search by brand, model, or DOT number.

NHTSA manages tire recalls, not CPSC - check safercar.gov, not cpsc.gov/Recalls TREAD Act requires direct notification to registered tire owners for safety-related defects Tire recall remedies: free replacement or inspection, depending on defect severity Check safercar.gov/recalls or nhtsa.gov anytime with your DOT number

How to Register Tires Using the DOT Number

Every tire sold in the U.S. has a DOT (Department of Transportation) number molded into the sidewall. The DOT number identifies the manufacturer, plant, tire size, and production date. This is the key identifier for registration and recall lookup. Register your tires by visiting the tire manufacturer's website (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental, Pirelli) and entering your DOT number, purchase date, and contact information. Most major brands also accept registration via their phone app or a toll-free number.

DOT number location: molded into the tire sidewall, starting with 'DOT' Format: DOT XX XX XXXX - last 4 digits are week/year of manufacture Michelin registration: michelinman.com/register or Michelin app Goodyear: goodyear.com/en-US/register, Bridgestone: bridgestonetiresusa.com/registration

Checking If Your Tires Are Already Recalled

Before or after registering, check safercar.gov/recalls and search for your tire brand and model. You can also enter your vehicle's VIN at nhtsa.gov/vehicle - this will surface any recalls on tires that were original equipment on your vehicle from the factory. If your tires are under recall, contact the selling dealer or tire shop for the free remedy. You do not need to be the original purchaser - any owner can claim a tire recall remedy for affected DOT numbers.

safercar.gov/recalls: search by tire brand or specific DOT number nhtsa.gov/vehicle: enter VIN to check OEM tires and all vehicle components Free remedy: replacement tires or inspection, provided by any authorized dealer Non-original purchaser: claim recall remedy with DOT number - receipt not required

Tire Registration for New Cars and Lease Returns

When you buy a new car, the OEM tires are registered to the vehicle VIN by the manufacturer - you are generally covered for recall notices if the automaker has your contact information. However, if you replace tires during ownership, the new tires must be registered in your name by DOT number. For lease returns: when you turn in a leased vehicle, tire recall coverage via the VIN transfers back to the dealer or new owner. Register replacement tires in your name for any tires you purchase during the lease term.

OEM tires (new car purchase): recall coverage via VIN - ensure automaker has current contact info Replacement tires: always register by DOT number in your name at purchase Lease returns: replacement tires registered to you during lease; VIN-based coverage transfers on return Keep purchase invoice: tire shops can provide DOT number lookup if receipt is lost