DOT issues 43 new tyre plant codes

Washington DC -- The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued 43 new tyre plant identity codes-necessary for selling road-going tyres in the US-during 2008, of which 29 are for factories in China and five in Vietnam.

The latest additions bring to 257 the number of tyre factories in China with a DOT new tyre plant code, according to the DOT's database.

Of the 29 new codes issued for Chinese factories, Tire Business was able to find Web sites for 15 of the companies identified, and about half of these identify themselves as manufacturers of bicycle, motorcycle or industrial tyres and/or tubes.

The latest list from the DOT shows 879 codes issued, including 158 issued in the past three years. Of the 879 codes listed, 128 are for plants that are closed and at least 35 are for retread plants, factories that don't make tyres or make only bicycle tyres and/or tubes. Three of the codes issued last year-apparently in error-are for retread plants in the US.

The DOT symbol indicates the tyre maker certifies the tyre meets all US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements. The manufacturer is not required to test the tyres, but if they are sold in the US 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.

Tyres 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 $16.4 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, however, are for plants that closed more than 30 years ago.

The new codes, listed alphabetically by manufacturer, are:

• Anlas Anadolu Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Ulus, Istanbul, Turkey - KL;
• Automobile Tyre & Tube, Danang, Vietnam - KT;
• Binh Loi Rubber Factory, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - MP;
• Casumina, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam - LC;
• Continental A.G., Hannover, Germany - LF;
• Dalian Tyre Factory Co. Ltd., Dalian, Liaoning, China - KK;
• Danang Rubber J.S.C., Danang, Vietnam - MF;
• Deestone Radial Tyre, Banglane, Nakompathaom, Thailand - KA;
• Dong Nai Rubber Factory, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam - MN;
• Dongying Huantai Rubber Co. Ltd., Dongying, China - M2;
• Dongying New Dong Yue Group Co. Ltd., Dongying City, Shandong, China - KX;
• Dongying Tiantong Rubber & Plastic Co. Ltd., Dongying City, Shandong, China - KY;
• Foshan Foshan Shunde Tian Di Rubber Co. Ltd., Foshan, Guangdong, China - K7;
• Fullrun Tyre Tech Corp. Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China - JV;
• Hangzhou Chaoyang Rubber Co. Ltd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China - KN;
• Hwa Fong Rubber Co. (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Changshu, Jiangsu, China - 4N;
• Kumho Tire (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Binh Duong Province, Vietnam - K2;
• Nanjing Kumho Tire Co. Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China - 7U;
• Nanjing Tire Co. Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China - KV;
• Qingdao Great Rubber Factory, Pindgdu, Shandong, China - A2;
• Qingdao Lianyi Tyres Co. Ltd., Pingdu, Shandong, China - A0;
• Qingdao Shuanghe Tyre Co. Ltd., Pingdu, Shandong, China - TR;
• Qingzhoui Hua Han Rubber Co. Ltd., Qinzhou City, China - K6;
• Rosava, Belaya Tserkov/Kiev, Ukraine - KC;
• Ruain Jianda Tyre Manufacture Co. Ltd., Ruian, Zhengjiang, China - MU;
• Shandong Linglong Rubber Co Ltd., Zhaoyuan, Shandong, China - KE, KF;
• Shandong Province Sanli Tire Mfg. Co. Ltd., Caoxian, Shandong, China - KJ;
• Shandong Zhengfang Tyre Co. Ltd., Taian, Shandong, China - K8;
• Shandong Zhushenghua Rubber Co. Ltd., Dongying, Shandong, China - KP;
• Shengtai Group Co. Ltd., Dongying, Shandong, China - KW;
• Suntop Tire (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Wuxi, Jiangsu, China - MT;
• Valsa Bila Tserkva Tyre, Belaya Tserkov/Kiev, Ukraine - KD;
• Weifang Jingtong Da Tyre Co. Ltd., Goomi City, Shandong, China - MH;
• Weifang Lutong Rubber Co. Ltd., Weifang, Shandong, China - LE;
• Weifang Luyi Rubber Products Co. Ltd., Changyi, China - KU;
• Wenzhou Zhengxin Tyre Co. Ltd., Ruian, Zhejiang, China - ME;
• Wuxi Yuangfang Rubber Engineering Co. Ltd., Wuxi, Jiangsu, China - LA;
• Zhaoqing Junhong Co. Ltd., Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China - KB;
• Zhejiang Best Rubber Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China - ML; and
• Zhejiang Wanxin Rubber Co. Ltd., Xianju, Zhejiang, China - LD.