Drivers are warned to be cautious of cheap, substandard tires after the Top Gun team and TISI inspected 11 tire shops in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan Province, uncovering 1,341 illegal tires valued at over 7.1 million baht. These included tires without TIS marks, forged licenses, and tires with brand labels removed. Authorities are seizing the products and expanding investigations to manufacturers and importers to prevent these counterfeit tires from reaching the market and causing road hazards.
On 3 Sep 2026 GMT+7, General Nakrob Boonbuathong, Chairman of the Committee for Driving and Monitoring Enforcement of Industrial Product Standards Law and related regulations under the Ministry of Industry, known as the Top Gun special task force, reported inspecting warehouses of major tire sellers in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan Province. This operation was a follow-up to previous tire seizures of substandard products in Nonthaburi Province.
The inspection found a total of 1,341 tires, which are controlled items under TISI. Of these, 18 tires lacked the TIS mark and QR codes, and 1,315 tires were suspected of having counterfeit TIS marks and falsely using licenses from authorized factories.
Scanning the QR codes revealed discrepancies between the label information and licensing details. Additionally, eight tires were found with erased brand labels and unclear origins, raising suspicions they might be used tires or products that bypassed factory quality control before having their original brand names and logos removed and replaced with new ones.
This practice can mislead consumers into believing the tires are genuine branded products, leading to usage without knowledge of the tires' origins, quality control status, or condition. This poses significant risks since tires are critical for driving safety; defects at high speeds could cause accidents resulting in injury or property loss.
"We urge consumers to check for the TIS mark and scan the QR code on tires before purchase to verify the manufacturer or importer and ensure the information matches the product label. Tires with counterfeit TIS marks or that do not meet standards have not undergone required performance and safety tests, so consumers may unknowingly use unsafe tires," said the spokesperson.
Mr. Akniti Romyanon, Secretary-General of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), stated that the seized tires were for passenger cars and pickup trucks, which are controlled items under TISI. They must comply with TIS 2718-2560 for pneumatic tires for motor vehicles and trailers, and TIS 2721-2560 regarding noise emission, wet road traction, and rolling resistance requirements.
Standard-compliant tires must pass tests for performance, durability, and driving safety. Non-standard tires increase accident risks as they fail to meet these prescribed performance standards.
Meanwhile, tires with erased brand labels cannot be traced to their manufacturer, importer, production date, or usage history. These are often sold cheaply to attract buyers but carry risks due to uncertain quality and lifespan, posing significant dangers when used on roads.
The operator involved is charged with selling products without the TIS mark, punishable by up to six months imprisonment and fines up to 500,000 baht, or both. In cases of counterfeit markings, penalties can reach up to two years imprisonment and fines up to 2 million baht. TISI will continue investigations to identify producers and importers involved; unauthorized manufacture or importation carries the same maximum penalties.