Overview

Amazon enforces strict compliance standards for sellers listing automotive tires, wheels, and rims. These requirements cover product condition, federal safety certifications, tire identification numbers, registration obligations, and mandatory documentation. Sellers who fail to meet these standards risk listing removal and potential account action, making it essential to understand every requirement before entering this product category.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• New condition only — All tires, wheels, rims, and wheel accessories must be sold in new, unused, and undamaged condition with original manufacturer labels and stickers intact. The sale of used tires, wheels, rims, or wheel accessories is strictly prohibited.
• Tire age limits apply — Tires must have been manufactured no more than three years before the date of sale, based on the manufacturing date encoded in their Tire Identification Number (TIN). Additionally, tires may not be sold more than two years before the expiration of their original manufacturer warranty.
• Valid TIN required — Every tire must carry a valid U.S. Tire Identification Number that has not been altered. The TIN serves as the primary traceability marker for safety recalls and compliance verification.
• FMVSS certification is mandatory — Automotive tires, wheels, and rims imported or sold in the United States must be certified to comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
• Tires must never have been mounted — Tires listed as new must never have been mounted to any wheel or rim, including for display or test-fitting purposes.
• Tire registration is required — Sellers must comply with federal tire registration requirements, which include reporting purchaser information to tire manufacturers.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)

Several FMVSS regulations govern the sale of automotive tires, wheels, and rims depending on the product type. Key standards include 49 CFR 571.109 covering pneumatic bias ply and certain specialty tires, 49 CFR 571.110 addressing tire selection and rims for vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less, and 49 CFR 571.119 for pneumatic tires on vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds GVWR as well as motorcycles. Additional standards include 49 CFR 571.120 for tire selection and rims on heavier vehicles, 49 CFR 571.129 covering non-pneumatic tires for passenger cars, and 49 CFR 571.139 for pneumatic radial tires on light vehicles. Sellers should consult the NHTSA FMVSS resources to determine which standards apply to their specific products.