I still think they were manufactured to sell somewhere other than the USA. A lot of tires were sold in the US that were meant for other countries in the late 90's. It was a way of dodging FET. Most of bootleggers were shut down in 98 or 99. If they were meant for the US, they would have a 3 digit date code. I bought some Michelins about that time and would up paying FET on them.