All tires intended for highway use must bear a DOT Tire Identification Number and comply with the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard before they are offered for sale in the US. Compliance must be established prior to importation; tires that do not meet FMVSS requirements cannot be admitted for highway use and may be subject to recall or export.

Active antidumping and countervailing duty orders on tires from several countries—including China and others—can add substantial landed costs that are not always predictable at the time of purchase. Importers should check the Commerce Department's ADD/CVD order database for their specific tire type and size category, and factor in potential duty deposit rates and final assessment adjustments when evaluating supplier pricing.