U.S. issues 51 new DOT tyre plant codes

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

By Bruce Davis, Tire Business staff

WASHINGTON (Feb. 13, 2012) - The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued 51 new DOT tyre plant identity codes - necessary for selling road-going tyres in the U.S. - during 2011, including 35 for plants in China.

The latest additions bring to 325 the number of tyre plant DOT codes issued to tyre factories in China, according to the DOT's database. As many as 25, however, are considered duplicates for the same plants.

Among the new codes are ones for Mitas a.s.'s farm tyre plant in Charles City, Iowa; Carlisle Tire & Wheel's farm and industrial tyre plant in Jackson, Tenn.; Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.'s plants in Silao, Mexico, and Kirov and Voronezh, Russia; and Continental A.G.'s plant in Kaluga, Russia.

The latest list from the DOT shows 982 codes issued, including 85 issued in the past three years.

Of the 982 codes listed, at least 150 are for plants that are closed or no longer make tyres, with another 30 or so for retread plants, factories that don't make tyres or make only bicycle tyres and/or tubes.

The DOT symbol indicates the tyre maker certifies tyres bearing the mark meet all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements.

The manufacturer is not required to test the tyres, but if they are sold in the U.S. they are subject to random testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with penalties assessed if the tyres aren't in compliance with federal standards.

Tires found not in compliance with these federal standards will be subject to recall, and the manufacturer is subject to civil penalties of up to $6,000 per tyre-up to a maximum of $17.4 million for any related series of violations, according to agency documents.

Officially, the transportation department keeps codes for closed or sold plants in its active list for up to eight years after a change occurs, covering the limit of legal jurisdiction in which the DOT has to order a recall. Some of the codes in the active list, however, are for plants that closed more than 30 years ago.

The new codes issued during 2011 are as follows, with company name followed by factory location and code:

Company…………………………Location……………………………Code

Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd………………Jiaozuo, Henan, China………………VJ

Anhui Darui Rubber Co. Ltd……..Wuhu,Anhui, China…………………VB

ATC Tires Pvt. Ltd………………Mumbai, India………………………Y4

Bridgestone Huizhou……………Huizhou, Guangdong, China………TM

Briland Rubber Tire Co. Ltd………Wenzhou,China……………………VV

Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co…………Jackson, Tenn………………………P4

Chen Shin Tire & Rubber (Chongqing) Co. Ltd……………………………

……………………………………Chang-Hua Hsien, Taiwan…………UL

Continental Kaluga………………Kaluga, Russia………………………VL

Dongying Zhongyi Rubber Co. Ltd. ………………………………………

……………………………………Dongying, Shandong, China………XU

Double Coin Group (Anhui) Warrior Tire Co. Ltd.…………………………

……………………………………Wuwei, Anhui, China………HX

I-Greatest Rubber Ind. Co. Ltd.…Chang-Hua Hsien, Taiwan…………UM

Kenda Tire (Tianjin) Co. Ltd……Tianjin, China………………………MM

Mitas Tires North America Inc……Charles City, Iowa…………………UD

MRF Ltd…………………………Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India……PE

MRF Ltd…………………………Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India……YA

Nexen Tire Corp……………………………………………………………

………………Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea…UA

Otani Radial Tire Co. Ltd…………Nakornpathorn, Thailand……………E6

P.T. Banteng Pratama Rubber……Bogor, Indonesia……………………ML

Pirelli Kirov O.p.c.o………………Kirov, Russia………………………XH

Pirelli Neumaticos S.A. de C.V…Silao, Mexico………………………UN

Pirelli Voronezh O.p.c.o………….Voronezh, Russia……………………YB

Qingdao Huada Rubber Production Co. Ltd. ………………………………

……………………………………Jiaonan, Shandong, China…………YR

Qingdao Morechi Rubber Co. Ltd…Jiaonan, Shandong, China…………XR

Qingdao Morewin Rubberware Co. Ltd.…Jiaonan, Qingdao, China……TU

Qingdao Yuanzhou Rubber Products Co. Ltd………………………………

……………………………………Jiaonan, Shandong, China……………VK

Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group Rubber Co……………………………

……………………………………Xianyang, Shaanxi, China…………UF

Shandong Deruibao Tire Co. Ltd…Guangrao, Qingdao, China…………TT

Shandong Fengyuan Tire Mfg. Co. Ltd……………………………………

……………………………………Zahzhuang City, Shandong, China…LB

Shandong Fuyu Bluestone Tyre Co. Ltd. ……………………………………

……………………………………Zibo, Shandong, China………………UC

Shandong Haolong Rubber Tyre Co. Ltd……………………………………

……………………………………Dongying, Shandong, China…………J2

Shandong Haoyu Rubber Co. Ltd……………………………………………

…………………………………Guangrao County, Shandong, China……VC

Shandong Hawk International Rubber Industry Co. Ltd……………………

……………………………………Laizhou, Shandong, China…………11

Shandong Hengyu Science & Technology Co. Ltd…………………………

……………………………………Dawang, Shandong, China…………UB

Shandong O'Green Tyres Co. Ltd…Dongying, Shandong, China………TV

Shandong Wosen Rubber Co. Ltd…Dawang, Shandong, China………AV

Shandong Yinuo Engineering Tyre Co. Ltd…………………………………

……………………………………Tengzhou City, Shandong, China……UH

Sumitomo Rubber (Hunan) Co. Ltd…Changsha, Hunan, China…………VH

Tianjin Century Rubber Co. Ltd…Tianjin, China………………………5B

Tiumsun Rubber Tire (Weihai) Co. Ltd…...Wehai, Shandong, China……UE

Tovic Tire Co. Ltd………………Chanwon City, South Korea…………JK

Toyam Tyre Corp. Ltd…………….Beijing, China………………………UK

Voronezh O.p.c.o…………………Voronezh, Russia……………………OW

Weifang Huantai Rubber Co. Ltd….Changyi City, Shandong, China……TN

Weifang Shunfuchang Rubber & Plastic Co. Ltd……………………………

……………………………………Shouguang, Shandong, China………TW

Weifang Yuelong Rubber Co. Ltd….Shouuang, Shandong, China………7P

Weifang Zhenfu Industrial Co. Ltd….Gaomi City, Shandong, China……VF

Weihai Huamao Rubber Science & Technology……………………………

……………………………………Wehai, Shandong……………………VX

Wiegel Rubber Co. Ltd…………Handan, Hebei, China………………TX

Wiegel Rubber Co. Ltd……………Pindgu, Shandong, China…………TY

Zhejiang Best Rubber Co. Ltd……Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China…………MA

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)