Non-DOT tires from Japan and aged tires - Please read
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:07 am
This applies to new and current Delica and all JDM owners of vehicles coming over from Japan.
JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles are the one's you see coming over from Japan. Mostly RHD's.
DOT (Department of Transportation) tires can be manufactured anywhere in the world, however they are all stamped with D.O.T meaning they have been approved by the Department of Transportation in Canada/US to be used legally on our roads.
If you would like more information on DOT tires, you can either google or look it up at Transport Canada's site.
For this topic, Delica's will be an example, however this applies to all JDM's.
I have seen more than a dozen Delica's sold by local dealers with Non-DOT tires and/or tires without a load rating on them.
This is illegal in British Columbia and could very well impact the driver's future insurance rating if he/she were to get involved in an auto accident.
That one small detail alone (overlooked by many who are uniformed or do not know what to look for) is worth paying a 3rd party inspector and/or mechanic to go over any potential vehicles someone would be looking to purchase regardless of were it is located (private or business seller).
Selling a used JDM vehicle with illegal road tires is wrong and more so, prospectively dangerous to the future driver.
The ABC video below applies to all tires, even one's you buy off the shelf here in Canada.
However, it applies to this thread because many vehicles we purchase from Japan (JDM's) have been sitting for years without moving.
This can cause the tire to rot or dry out depending one the conditions where is sits.
Not only are JDM Non-DOT/load rating tires illegal on Canadian roads, they are also suspect to drying out or rotting that can cause serious accidents/injury.
Be sure to check your tires when purchasing or looking at a Delica, as well as asking for the history on them if at all possible.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
From Brian Kangas, the technical advisor ICBC :
JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles are the one's you see coming over from Japan. Mostly RHD's.
DOT (Department of Transportation) tires can be manufactured anywhere in the world, however they are all stamped with D.O.T meaning they have been approved by the Department of Transportation in Canada/US to be used legally on our roads.
If you would like more information on DOT tires, you can either google or look it up at Transport Canada's site.
For this topic, Delica's will be an example, however this applies to all JDM's.
I have seen more than a dozen Delica's sold by local dealers with Non-DOT tires and/or tires without a load rating on them.
This is illegal in British Columbia and could very well impact the driver's future insurance rating if he/she were to get involved in an auto accident.
That one small detail alone (overlooked by many who are uniformed or do not know what to look for) is worth paying a 3rd party inspector and/or mechanic to go over any potential vehicles someone would be looking to purchase regardless of were it is located (private or business seller).
Selling a used JDM vehicle with illegal road tires is wrong and more so, prospectively dangerous to the future driver.
The ABC video below applies to all tires, even one's you buy off the shelf here in Canada.
However, it applies to this thread because many vehicles we purchase from Japan (JDM's) have been sitting for years without moving.
This can cause the tire to rot or dry out depending one the conditions where is sits.
Not only are JDM Non-DOT/load rating tires illegal on Canadian roads, they are also suspect to drying out or rotting that can cause serious accidents/injury.
Be sure to check your tires when purchasing or looking at a Delica, as well as asking for the history on them if at all possible.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
From Brian Kangas, the technical advisor ICBC :
"Tires need to indicate clearly that they meet CMVSS standards. Inspectors
and enforcement need to be able to identify the tires are safe. Load
ratings and PSI are specifically what needs to be identified. DOT indicates
clearly that the standard is met. Some E codes will have the markings as
well. If there is no way to determine the compliance, acceptable documents
certifying that the particular tire does meet CMVSS need to be provided,
similar to what happened with the JIS lenses.
The JIS marking alone is not a clear indication of the safety information.
Hope this is helpful
Brian"