Knobby Tire - Street Use

Street Use

Depending on the model of tire, a knobby tire may or may not be approved by the DOT. A knobby tire approved for street use is referred to as a "DOT knobby" or a "D.O.T. knobby." The markings on the sidewall of a DOT knobby include a DOT code (U.S.) with the last four digits representing the week and year the tire was built, which identifies the tire as street legal. If the knobby tire has markings like "Motocross Use Only" or "Not for Highway Use", then the tire is not street legal. Even if street legal, knobby tires are generally not suitable for long distances on roads or paved surfaces, because the pavement wears down the knobs and ruins the tires for off-road use.