DOT issues new tire plant codes

WASHINGTON (Feb. 6)—The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued 37 new DOT tire plant codes—necessary for selling tires in the U.S.—in the past two years to 32 companies. Among the new codes are 26 issued to Chinese companies. The newly issued codes bring to 775 the number of codes the DOT has issued over the years to new tire manufacturers. Of the new codes issued, four are codes re-issued by the DOT. This marks the first time in the 31-year history of DOT codes that the agency has re-issued old codes—those assigned to plants that have ceased tire production—to new parties. Officially, the DOT keeps codes for closed or sold factories in its active list for up to eight years after a change occurs, covering the limit of legal jurisdiction the DOT has to effect a recall, according to a DOT spokesman.