Just a PSA for anyone who is doing this in the business, and for all of us who are just buying tires. I'm mentioning it, as I actually have to go back and have an uncomfortable chat on Monday morning with a very skilled (but not up to date) old timer, who then is going to have to remount three new tires. While not giving anyone legal advice, I'm also mentioning it as retired counsel who once handled tire defect litigation.
In a phrase, it's mount them DATE CODES OUT. As in facing outboard. And that is not just for asymmetrical and directional tires (where it should be idiot proof). It's for all tires. And it's a safety rule.
And a good argument can be made that it is now not just a DOT regulation for tire makers, but is also actionable Best Practices for all installers. And having handled defect cases, if an installer mismounted a tire against these Rules, that later failed (causing injuries) and had been subject to recall, there is a very high probability that installer would be brought into the litigation. If only because they had insurance.
Mounting and installer involvement are among the first things that a tire expert evaluates in examining the evidence. Not a good day for the usual neighborhood tire shop that hasn't kept up with 2009.
Unfortunately, a lot of shops, particularly with symmetrical tread tires, still appear to be mounting them against the Rule, even today in 2024 (15 years later).
As we know, and as many tire installers think, in the case of a symmetrical tire, they can mount them any way because there is no performance or reliability reason for doing so.
But the reason for this Rule has nothing to do with the performance or reliability of the tire. It's a safety reason. And a good one.
We can all thank Firestone (again) for these added Rules and responsibilities.
For those wanting to know more or why, the NHTSA gives some detailed reasons:
After the Firestone/Explorer debacle, the DOT labeling rules were changed starting in late 2009 for all tires manufactured thereafter, requiring that full TIN information, to include the date code, be placed on the Intended Outboard Side of all tires. And as anyone who has been involved in defective tire recalls know, the date code is essential to correct identification. That is why DOT specifies any TIN lacking a date code as only "partial".
And thereafter, in a series NHTSA decisions, that Rule was clarified and explained as to why, and why "Intended Outboard Side" is not just about directionals or asymmetricals, but all tires:
Tires manufactured after September 1, 2009 must be labeled with the TIN on the intended outboard sidewall of a tire and either the TIN or partial TIN on the other sidewall ...
Paragraph S5.5.1 of FMVSS No. 139 requires that radial tires manufactured on or after September 1, 2009 for motor vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less be permanently labeled with: (1) A full TIN required by 49 CFR part 574 on the intended outboard sidewall of the tire ...
Tire recalls in the year 2000 highlighted the difficulty that consumers experienced when attempting to determine whether a tire is subject to a recall when a tire is mounted so that the sidewall bearing the TIN faces inward i.e., underneath the vehicle. ...
The agency explained that when tires are mounted so that the TIN appears on the inward facing sidewalls, motorists have three difficult and inconvenient options for locating and recording the TINs. Consumers must either: (1) Slide under the vehicle with a flashlight, pencil and paper and search the inside sidewalls for the TINs; (2) remove each tire, find and record the TIN, and then replace the tire; or (3) enlist the aid of
a garage or service station that can perform option 1 or place the vehicle on a vehicle lift so that the TINs can be found and recorded. If the tires were mounted with the intended outward sidewall facing inboard, the intended inboard sidewall would be facing outboard and the TIN would not be visible. Without any TIN information on the outside sidewalls of tires, the difficulty and inconvenience of obtaining the TIN by consumers reduces the number of people who respond to a tire recall campaign and increases the number of motorists who unknowingly continue to drive vehicles with potentially unsafe tires.
YTC suggests that this noncompliance does not preclude motorists from checking the inboard sidewall if the TIN is not found on the outboard sidewall. This approach is inadequate. The noncompliance here is the exact problem that plagued millions of tire owners in 2000 and one that Congress mandated that NHTSA address.
[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0115; Notice 2]
The following later decision clarifies that the term "Intended Outboard Sidewall" applies to all tires, not just asymmetric, but including symmetrical designs, and that the NHTSA's intention for the Rule is that ALL tires be mounted with the complete TIN (including date code) facing outboard. In this decision, the NHTSA also implies mismounting responsibility attaching to the installer in the field, and how asymmetrical tires appear to reduce that risk:
Pirelli suggests that this noncompliance does not preclude motorists from checking the inboard sidewall if the TIN is not found on the outboard sidewall. However, since asymmetric tires are specially constructed for certain performance parameters, and the TIN is marked on the intended outboard sidewall, the Agency agrees that it is extremely unlikely that the tires will be mismounted with the inboard sidewall facing outboard ...
... in this case it is extremely unlikely that one or more of the asymmetric tires will be incorrectly mounted with the intended outboard sidewall facing inboard.
[Federal Reg., V.78, No. 91, May 10, 2013]
Some manufacturers (but not all), such as Cooper, now even place this basic information on their consumer website:
So if you are installing tires, or having tires installed, for your own protection (and even that of your shop), install them Intended Outboard Sidewall OUT - DATES OUT. Even the symmetrical ones.
It's not just likely Best Practice now. It's not just for you, but for the next owner should you sell the vehicle. It's common courtesy to the customers and future owners who have to use these tires down the road. It's ultimately safer for everyone. And it's a simple rule.
Dates Out.
In a phrase, it's mount them DATE CODES OUT. As in facing outboard. And that is not just for asymmetrical and directional tires (where it should be idiot proof). It's for all tires. And it's a safety rule.
And a good argument can be made that it is now not just a DOT regulation for tire makers, but is also actionable Best Practices for all installers. And having handled defect cases, if an installer mismounted a tire against these Rules, that later failed (causing injuries) and had been subject to recall, there is a very high probability that installer would be brought into the litigation. If only because they had insurance.
Mounting and installer involvement are among the first things that a tire expert evaluates in examining the evidence. Not a good day for the usual neighborhood tire shop that hasn't kept up with 2009.
Unfortunately, a lot of shops, particularly with symmetrical tread tires, still appear to be mounting them against the Rule, even today in 2024 (15 years later).
As we know, and as many tire installers think, in the case of a symmetrical tire, they can mount them any way because there is no performance or reliability reason for doing so.
But the reason for this Rule has nothing to do with the performance or reliability of the tire. It's a safety reason. And a good one.
We can all thank Firestone (again) for these added Rules and responsibilities.
For those wanting to know more or why, the NHTSA gives some detailed reasons:
After the Firestone/Explorer debacle, the DOT labeling rules were changed starting in late 2009 for all tires manufactured thereafter, requiring that full TIN information, to include the date code, be placed on the Intended Outboard Side of all tires. And as anyone who has been involved in defective tire recalls know, the date code is essential to correct identification. That is why DOT specifies any TIN lacking a date code as only "partial".
And thereafter, in a series NHTSA decisions, that Rule was clarified and explained as to why, and why "Intended Outboard Side" is not just about directionals or asymmetricals, but all tires:
Tires manufactured after September 1, 2009 must be labeled with the TIN on the intended outboard sidewall of a tire and either the TIN or partial TIN on the other sidewall ...
Paragraph S5.5.1 of FMVSS No. 139 requires that radial tires manufactured on or after September 1, 2009 for motor vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less be permanently labeled with: (1) A full TIN required by 49 CFR part 574 on the intended outboard sidewall of the tire ...
Tire recalls in the year 2000 highlighted the difficulty that consumers experienced when attempting to determine whether a tire is subject to a recall when a tire is mounted so that the sidewall bearing the TIN faces inward i.e., underneath the vehicle. ...
The agency explained that when tires are mounted so that the TIN appears on the inward facing sidewalls, motorists have three difficult and inconvenient options for locating and recording the TINs. Consumers must either: (1) Slide under the vehicle with a flashlight, pencil and paper and search the inside sidewalls for the TINs; (2) remove each tire, find and record the TIN, and then replace the tire; or (3) enlist the aid of
a garage or service station that can perform option 1 or place the vehicle on a vehicle lift so that the TINs can be found and recorded. If the tires were mounted with the intended outward sidewall facing inboard, the intended inboard sidewall would be facing outboard and the TIN would not be visible. Without any TIN information on the outside sidewalls of tires, the difficulty and inconvenience of obtaining the TIN by consumers reduces the number of people who respond to a tire recall campaign and increases the number of motorists who unknowingly continue to drive vehicles with potentially unsafe tires.
YTC suggests that this noncompliance does not preclude motorists from checking the inboard sidewall if the TIN is not found on the outboard sidewall. This approach is inadequate. The noncompliance here is the exact problem that plagued millions of tire owners in 2000 and one that Congress mandated that NHTSA address.
[Docket No. NHTSA-2010-0115; Notice 2]
The following later decision clarifies that the term "Intended Outboard Sidewall" applies to all tires, not just asymmetric, but including symmetrical designs, and that the NHTSA's intention for the Rule is that ALL tires be mounted with the complete TIN (including date code) facing outboard. In this decision, the NHTSA also implies mismounting responsibility attaching to the installer in the field, and how asymmetrical tires appear to reduce that risk:
Pirelli suggests that this noncompliance does not preclude motorists from checking the inboard sidewall if the TIN is not found on the outboard sidewall. However, since asymmetric tires are specially constructed for certain performance parameters, and the TIN is marked on the intended outboard sidewall, the Agency agrees that it is extremely unlikely that the tires will be mismounted with the inboard sidewall facing outboard ...
... in this case it is extremely unlikely that one or more of the asymmetric tires will be incorrectly mounted with the intended outboard sidewall facing inboard.
[Federal Reg., V.78, No. 91, May 10, 2013]
Some manufacturers (but not all), such as Cooper, now even place this basic information on their consumer website:
Tire Identification Number - TIN | Cooper Tire
Tire Identification Number (TIN) which follow the letters DOT on the tire sidewall provide important manufacturers information.
www.coopertire.com
So if you are installing tires, or having tires installed, for your own protection (and even that of your shop), install them Intended Outboard Sidewall OUT - DATES OUT. Even the symmetrical ones.
It's not just likely Best Practice now. It's not just for you, but for the next owner should you sell the vehicle. It's common courtesy to the customers and future owners who have to use these tires down the road. It's ultimately safer for everyone. And it's a simple rule.
Dates Out.