FAQs

The DOT (US Department Of Transportation) Code consists of 7 to 13 characters and is required by law. Usually this code is printed in smaller letters near the tire bead (where the tire meets the rim). The first letters are DOT, which stands for 'Department of Transportation' and indicates that the tire satisfies all the pertinent regulatory tests and standards. The last four numbers of the DOT code are often the most useful for car owners because they indicate the age of the tire. The first two digits of the last four numbers indicate the week in which the tire was produced, and the last two numbers indicate the year. For example, a tire with a DOT code 1119 was produced in the eleventh week of 2019. Other information included in the DOT code is the manufacturing location and both the size and type of tire.

M+S (Mud + Snow) is a marking on the sidewall of a tire based on the geometry of the tire lugs compared to the amount of void area in the tread pattern. Traction in the snow and ice depends on more than just the geometry of the tread pattern so the tire industry has adopted an additional marking called the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) to differentiate true winter & all-weather rated products from the all-season products that only bear the M+S marking. The 3PMS icon is depicted as a snowflake inside the outline of a mountain. M+S rated tires are the base minimum for mild winter conditions, but the 3PMS is the necessary upgrade for more severe winter weather conditions.

To check if a Pirelli tire has RUN FLAT technology prior to purchasing it, check us.pirelli.com to verify if it has that technology. After purchasing the tire, you will find the RUN FLAT marking on the outside/inside shoulder of your new tires.

Look at your tires often to see if they seem to be bulging under the weight of the vehicle more than in the past, but tire air pressure should be checked once a month using an accurate tire pressure gauge. Remember that the pressure check should be carried out when the tires are cold, i.e. when the vehicle has been stationary for at least three hours.

We recommend that you always keep your tire pressure at the PSI indicated on the tire placard label located on the inside of the driver's door. If you don't find any stickers with tire pressure indications here, then you can look for them in the car owner's manual.

As with other tires, RUN FLAT tires require regular air pressure maintenance for proper functioning so they consistently achieve maximum performance. We always recommend following the guidelines in your car's tire placard label and owner's manual to find out the optimum pressure limit suitable for your tires. If your vehicle did not originally come with RUN FLAT tires and you choose to install them, discuss proper tire inflation with your local certified tire specialist.

Yes, Pirelli offers manufacturer, road hazard, 30-day trial and limited mileage warranties depending the tire and purchase date. For all of the details pertaining to Pirelli's limited warranty please see: Consumer Warranty Policy.

Give us a call at 1(800) PIRELLI (1(800) 747-3554) or send us a message on the following contact page.

Pirelli warranty claims are initiated at the dealer level. If you believe your original equipment tire presents a warrantable condition, one of your vehicle manufacturer’s dealers can assist you in initiating a warranty claim. For replacement tires, the authorized Pirelli dealer whom you purchased your tires can assist you in initiating a warranty claim.

Tire registration allows us to contact you in the event of a recall. Tire registration is not necessary to activate warranty coverage on your tires, but it is strongly recommended to ensure you are notified of any active recalls. You can register your tires online at the following link.

The 'price from' cost displayed on Pirelli's website prior to initiating a click-to-buy inquiry is only representative of the recommended retail price of a tire. The actual price may vary depending on the dealer, region, tire size and other factors. Each Pirelli dealer determines the price independently of the 'price from' cost displayed on us.pirelli.com. Please check with your authorized Pirelli dealer for prices near you.

The origin of Pirelli dates back to 1872, the year in which Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded a limited partnership in Milan, 'GB Pirelli & C.', for the production of elastic rubber articles. Today, Pirelli has an extensive geographical presence, with 18 production plants in ​12 countries and points of sale in 160 countries. Production sites are located around the world outside of Italy, including but not limited to: Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and the United States.

Pirelli tires can be purchased online and through physical retail partners - www.pirelli.us offers our click-to-buy program platform where you can see if tires are available through a selected partner. You can then directly access your tire selection through that partners website from www.pirelli.us to complete your purchase. Pirelli tires are also available online through most major tire retailers. For retail stores, use our convenient dealer locator to find authorized Pirelli dealers in your area.

The Pirelli Group is based in Milan, Italy and was founded in 1872. Pirelli US's headquarters is located in Rome, GA and includes onsite tire manufacturing.

The idea of the capital letter stretching horizontally to cover the other letters that make up the name was imagined in New York on a day back in 1908. It was a spur of the moment stunt to satisfy a request by a representative Pirelli had onsite. Read the full story here.