UTV Tires and DOT Approval
Does Interco Offer A DOT Approved UTV Tire?
You probably found this page while searching for "DOT approved UTV tires, and are probably wondering, does Interco offer a DOT approved UTV Tire? The short answer is NO. Why, might be your second question. That's becuase (as of January 2024) there is no U.S. law or regulation within the United States Federal Register that governs the street, road, or highway use/application of UTV tires in any manner. As of 2023, there is no classification, regulation, or guideline that would make or allow any UTV tire "street legal" or approved by NHTSA or DOT.
Let us say that again, just to make sure we are clear. There is no such thing as a DOT rated/approved/certified UTV or ATV tire.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) and All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) tires offered for sale in the United States incorrectly labeled and marketed as being compliant with DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are prohibited.
This means that the symbol “DOT” cannot appear on any ATV, UTV, or Not for Highway Service (NHS) tire. Only tires intended for a vehicle certified to the FMVSS are legally permitted to be marked with “DOT” and may be marketed as conforming to the FMVSS.
Language that tires are “approved,” “certified,” or “compliant” with DOT standards are also prohibited per FMVSS standards. Interco UTV tires are built to be the best on the market for their particular intended use. The same standard we set for our LT tires, all which are DOT approved (with the only exception being those with compettion compounds ("Sticky Tires" and or those specifically marked not for highway service.) Interco has never claimed to offer a DOT approved UTV tire, although several years ago one of our Radial UTV tires were marekted as DOT Marked. In order to comply with the issueance of thi DOT notice, this was stopped and all verbage alluding to such was removed from any Interco Tire and from the marketing information for them immediately.
The Official NHTSA and FMVSS statement on this subject reads
According to 49 U.S.C. § 30102, a “motor vehicle” is defined as: (7) ‘‘motor vehicle’’ means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated only on a rail line.
Based on this definition, there are no FMVSS that apply to UTV or ATV tires, because UTVs and ATVs are not manufactured for use on public roadways. Additionally, 49 C.F.R. § 574, Tire Identification and Recordkeeping states:
49 C.F.R. § 574.5(e)(1) - The DOT symbol constitutes a certification that the marked tire conforms to an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. And:
49 C.F.R. § 574.5(e)(3) – The DOT symbol must not appear on tires to which no Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard is applicable.
