A report by Consumer Report's Eric Evarts has identified that the $95 Pegasus Advanta 265/70R17 SUV tires tested by Consumer Reports are unauthorized copies of the authentic Pegasus Advanta tire. The tires may be from tire molds that may have been stolen.
American Pacific Industries ("API") in Scottsdale AZ, owner of the Pegasus brand in the United States, stated the tire information number provided by Consumer Reports identifying the tested tires plant and date of production did not identify legitimate Pegasus tires.
API claimed it doesn't know who made the counterfeit tires, or what types of materials or processes went into making that batch of tires. API told Consumer Reports that "The Pegasus Advanta SUV tires you tested were not produced by any authorized vendor to American Pacific Industries; who owns the trademark "Pegasus Advanta SUV" and the hardware used to produce those tires." Littrell's letter to Consumer Reports also stated that the factory was destroyed after API's contract ended.
The tire codes on Consumer Report's tested tires, 3E 3512, 3612, and 5012 indicate that the tires were built at the Yellow Sea tire factory in Qingdao, Shandong, China, in August and December 2012. API's Bill Littrell stated that API made no such manufacturing run.
Meanwhile, API has ceased using the "Pegasus" name and has begun marketing the tires under the "Advanta" brand name instead. However, authentic tires still bear the "Pegasus Advanta SUV" sidewall branding.
Consumer Reports bought all 10 of the tested Pegasus Advanta SUV tires online at Tires-easy.com -- an online retail tire outlet that specializes in low-priced tires.
To identify when and where your tires were made, refer to the last four digits of the tire information number on your tire's sidewall.
Tires the with a manufacturer code of "3E" AND the final digits of "12" or higher as shown in the pictures below indicate they were tires that API did not produce. If in doubt, consult a professional or contact API.
Consumer Reports recommends that if you believe you have counterfeit tires, share your concerns with your retailer and file a complaint with the IPR Center. Be aware that as part of any criminal investigation through the IPR center, counterfeit tires could be seized as evidence.
A Consumer Reports test of Pegasus Advanta branded SUV tires revealed they had unauthorized copies.
Counterfeit tires pose a significant consumer risk as materials and processes that are used to make the tires are unknown. (photo: Consumer Reports)
The label on this Authentic Pegasus Advanta SUV tire identifies it only as an Advanta "All Steel Radial" but the authentic tire still carries the full "Pegasus Advanta SUV" name molded on the tire sidewall.
If in doubt, contact API.
The label on this counterfeit P265/70R17 Pegasus Advanta tire incorrectly identifies it as a "SUA" tire, not "SUV."
Buy your tires from authorized retailers and if in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
This counterfeit Pegasus Advanta SUV 265/70R17 tire would easily deceive consumers.
The counterfeit tires tested by Consumer Reports performed very poorly, and the materials and construction process is unknown.
To identify the manufacturing date on a Pegasus Advanta SUV 265/70 R17 - locate the DOT Date of Manufacture code on the tire.
Here, the manufacturer code is "PP" and the date code is "2613" -- the 26th week of 2013.
This counterfeit Advanta SUV 265/70 R17 has a DOT manufacturer code "3E" and a manufacture date of "3512" -- the 35th week of 2012.
If the tire has the "3E" manufacture code AND a date ending 12 or higher, it is counterfeit.
Counterfeiters don't care about your safety or damaging the manufacturers brand. The materials and processes used in counterfeit tires are unknown.
Is your life worth risking a counterfeit tire? Buy from authorized retailers
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