Tire Registration & Recall Alerts

The TREAD Act: Why Tire Registration Exists

The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act was signed into law in 2000 after a series of deadly tire failures linked to defective tires on SUVs. The law requires:

• Tire dealers to offer registration at the point of sale. When you buy tires, the dealer is required to provide you with a registration form or register the tires on your behalf
• Manufacturers to maintain tire owner databases so they can contact registered owners when a recall is issued
• NHTSA to oversee tire recalls and enforce notification requirements for defective tires
• Tire identification numbers (TIN/DOT codes) to be used for tracking which tires are affected by recalls

Despite this law, only 29.7% of consumers register their tires. The result is that the majority of drivers on the road will never receive a direct notification if their tires are recalled.

How to Read Your Tire's DOT Code

Every tire sold in the United States has a DOT (Department of Transportation) code molded into the sidewall. This code is essential for registration and recall identification:

• The DOT code starts with "DOT" followed by a series of characters. The full code is typically 10-13 characters
• The first two characters after "DOT" identify the plant where the tire was manufactured
• The last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture (e.g., "2523" means the 25th week of 2023)
• The full DOT number is what you need for registration. It is usually on one side of the tire only — if you do not see the complete code on the outside, check the inner sidewall

When registering tires, you will need the full DOT code from each tire, your contact information, and the vehicle the tires are installed on.

How to Register Your Tires

There are several ways to register your tires. The process is straightforward once you have your DOT codes:

• At the dealer — tire dealers are required to offer registration at the point of sale. Ask your dealer to register your tires when you purchase them. Many complete the registration electronically
• Online through the manufacturer — most tire manufacturers have registration forms on their websites. Enter your DOT codes and contact information
• NHTSA tire registration form — you can register tires directly through NHTSA's website, which serves as a backup if the manufacturer's registration is unavailable
• Paper registration cards — some tires still come with paper registration cards. Fill them out and mail them to the manufacturer

What Happens During a Tire Recall

When NHTSA determines that a tire has a safety defect, the recall process works as follows:

• NHTSA issues a recall notice and the tire manufacturer is required to notify all registered tire owners by first-class mail
• Registered owners receive a letter explaining the defect, the risk, and the remedy (typically a free replacement)
• Unregistered owners are not directly contacted — they must proactively check NHTSA's recall database or hear about the recall through media coverage
• Free replacement or refund — recalled tires are replaced at no cost to the owner. Registration speeds up the process because your tire information is already on file

Used Tires and Secondhand Vehicles

Tire registration becomes even more important when you are not the original buyer:

• Used car purchases — the tires on a used car were likely registered to the previous owner, if registered at all. You should re-register them under your information
• Used tire purchases — tires sold secondhand may have active recalls. Check the DOT code against NHTSA's recall database before use, and register them in your name
• Fleet and rental vehicles — companies that manage vehicle fleets should have tire registration processes in place for all vehicles