Hercules Tire & Rubber Company found that some of their trailer tires had a misprint in the tire identification number (TIN), which showed the wrong manufacturing date. They asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to allow the misprinted TIN because they believe it doesn't pose a safety risk. NHTSA agreed, stating that consumers would likely recognize the error and not use the tires longer than they should. As a result, Hercules doesn't have to notify customers or offer a free fix for the error, though dealers still can't sell the tires knowing they have this issue.
Simple Explanation
Hercules Tire & Rubber Company made a mistake on some of their trailer tires by putting the wrong date on them. They asked for permission to leave it as is because it doesn't make the tires unsafe, and the safety group agreed.