What this checklist covers
The ESMA Tire Compliance Checklist is a 15-point scorecard for UAE tyre labelling, date of manufacture, storage conditions, conformity documents, and unsafe tyre prevention. Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on what the auditor sees on the day, and every gap goes into an action plan with an owner and a close date.
AutoSmart tip: ESMA tyre compliance in the UAE includes specific restrictions on the maximum age of tyres at point of sale, which is stricter than the practice in many other markets. A tyre that is within its physical usable life may still fail UAE compliance if its DOT code places it beyond the permitted age limit — always verify the manufacture date at receiving, not only at sale.
The checks
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Tyre labelling and conformity
- Are all tyres stocked and sold by the dealership certified and registered under the applicable UAE ESMA tyre conformity requirements before being placed in the market?
- Do tyre labels comply with UAE labelling requirements, including tyre size, load index, speed rating, country of manufacture, and applicable conformity mark?
- Are conformity marks correctly applied on tyres, verified against the actual ESMA registration held for that tyre brand, size, and specification?
- Is original manufacturer labelling preserved on tyres, with no labels removed, altered, or obscured between receipt and point of sale?
Date of manufacture and storage conditions
- Is the DOT date code (week/year of manufacture) checked for every tyre at the point of receiving, with tyres exceeding the maximum permitted age at sale identified and quarantined?
- Is tyre age at the point of sale tracked, ensuring no tyre exceeds the maximum age permitted under UAE regulations or OEM recommendations?
- Are tyres stored in conditions that prevent UV exposure, ozone contact, heat degradation, and physical deformation (no stacking beyond recommended height, away from electrical equipment)?
- Is storage area temperature and environment monitored to ensure tyre storage conditions remain within the manufacturer's recommended range?
Supplier approval and documents
- Are tyres sourced only from suppliers holding valid ESMA tyre conformity registration for the specific brands and specifications supplied?
- Are supplier documents (certificate of conformity, test reports, invoice, packing list) retained for every tyre shipment received?
- Is a traceability record maintained for each tyre batch received, allowing identification of supplier, manufacture date, and shipment date if a quality issue arises? INSPECTION & UNSAFE TYRE PREVENTION
- Is a receiving inspection conducted on every tyre delivery, checking for visible damage, bulges, sidewall cuts, or manufacturing defects before stock is accepted?
- Are tyres identified as damaged, degraded, or non-conforming during inspection or storage immediately quarantined and removed from saleable stock?
- Is there a zero-tolerance policy for fitting or selling tyres that are visibly damaged, exceed the maximum age, or lack conformity documentation — enforced without exception?
- Are staff responsible for tyre sales and fitment trained on UAE tyre compliance requirements, including age limits, labelling, and identification of unsafe tyres?
How to run it
How the scoring works
Before the visit, fill in the dealer or centre, the auditor, the date and the audit cycle. Then score each of the 15 checks from 1 to 5 on what you see on the day, not on what the site aims for, and add them up out of 75.
- 1Not in place
- 2Attempted
- 3Defined
- 4Managed
- 5Fully sustained
- Green60–75 · 80–100%Compliant. Keep the standard.
- Amber38–59 · 50–79%Improvement needed: a structured action plan within 30 days.
- Red0–37 · Below 50%Priority intervention, escalated to regional management.
Then close every gap
Each gap goes into the action plan tracker and moves through four stages until the auditor closes it.
- 1PendingOwner and close date set
- 2In progressWork under way, evidence gathered
- 3CompletedEvidence submitted for review
- 4ApprovedVerified and closed by the auditor
