Imported Car Tyre Legality

Imported Car Tyre Legality

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vise_greyish

Original Poster:

1 posts

1 month

Wednesday 11th December 2024
quotequote all
Hi,

I recently imported a Van via a dealer from Japan. The wheels and tyres came fitted from Japan. The tyres are Fuel Gripper MY all terrain tyres.

This is an American brand with a DOT rating on each tyre.

The Van passed UK MOT with these tyres on. When speaking with tyre dealers to get a spare, I have been told these are not authorised for purchase in the UK as they are not 'E' Marked.

Bearing in mind that the tread depth is fine as they are basically new.

Are these legal to use in the UK?

Thanks.

Spare tyre

10,608 posts

139 months

Wednesday 11th December 2024
quotequote all
vise_greyish said:
Hi,

I recently imported a Van via a dealer from Japan. The wheels and tyres came fitted from Japan. The tyres are Fuel Gripper MY all terrain tyres.

This is an American brand with a DOT rating on each tyre.

The Van passed UK MOT with these tyres on. When speaking with tyre dealers to get a spare, I have been told these are not authorised for purchase in the UK as they are not 'E' Marked.

Bearing in mind that the tread depth is fine as they are basically new.

Are these legal to use in the UK?

Thanks.
I’d say if it passed the mot you should be golden

I also purchased a car from Japan and they tyres to my surprise were truly awful. I wondered if they were swapped out near the port as the rest of the car was like new really

Truckosaurus

12,212 posts

293 months

Wednesday 11th December 2024
quotequote all
The only mention of E-marking on the MoT guidance is for 'Not for Highway Use' tyres:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-...

stevieturbo

17,590 posts

256 months

Wednesday 11th December 2024
quotequote all
Tyres old in the UK/EU for road use must have the E-marking.

Which is vague. As your tyres were not sold in the UK for road use.

Nothing actually stipulates the tyres must be E-marked for road use, just if to be sold for road use they must be marked as such

DOT marking will be fine. But check speed ratings too for the vehicle, as because some JDM cars had speed limiters, their tyres might have a low speed rating which isn't quite correct for the same vehicle in the UK

Some info

https://youtu.be/MWFfjMmJzfI?si=O3E6vcZy6J0Zcck7&a...

Edited by stevieturbo on Wednesday 11th December 17:57