Officials Seize Over 1,300 Counterfeit Tires Worth 7.1 Million Baht
Authorities seized over 1,300 counterfeit and substandard tires worth 7.1 million baht in Bang Phli District, with many falsely labeled or stripped of brand names to hide their unsafe history. Officials warn consumers to verify TIS marks an
On September 2, General Nakhon Bunyuatthong, chair of the committee overseeing enforcement of industrial product standards, led a special task force operation called "Top Gun" with over 40 officers from the Industrial Standards Institute and related agencies. They conducted raids across five zones on warehouses of major tire retailers in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, inspecting 11 locations as a continuation of a previous operation in Nonthaburi on August 20.
Inspectors found 1,341 tires controlled by the standards institute. Of these, 18 tires bore no official Thai standard mark (TIS) or QR code. Another 1,315 tires were suspected counterfeits falsely claiming to be from licensed factories; when staff scanned QR codes, the label data did not match information in factory licenses. Additionally, eight tires had their brand names ground or scraped off, making their origin untraceable—suspected of being used tires or factory rejects that had been resurfaced and restamped with new brand names.
Such deception misleads consumers into believing they are buying genuine branded tires without knowing the tire's history, whether it passed quality control, or if it is safe to use. This poses serious danger because tires directly affect driving safety; defects at high speed can cause accidents and loss of life or property.
General Nakhon urged consumers to always check for the TIS mark and scan the QR code before buying, verifying manufacturer or importer details and confirming the information matches the product label. Counterfeit or substandard tires fail safety and performance tests set by standards, and consumers may unknowingly be installing unsafe tires on their vehicles.
Ekanut Romyanont, secretary-general of the Industrial Standards Institute, noted that the seized tires are for sedans and pickup trucks and must comply with TIS standards 2718-2560 for pneumatic tires on vehicles and trailers, and 2721-2560 for noise, wet grip, and rolling resistance. Compliant tires pass performance, durability, and safety tests; non-compliant tires increase accident risk. Relabeled tires are particularly dangerous because their origin, manufacturer, importer, production date, and use history cannot be verified, and cheap pricing often masks poor quality and age.
