[Jamo]

Robert

The cop you talked to is either assolutely full of sh!t or maybe you misunderstood him.

All tires (OEM or after-market) used on public highways (except for farm impliments and other very specific and limited exceptions) must be DOT approved.

Even tires made in Mexico which are identical and made alongside what are sold here are not legal on public highways if they lack DOT stampings. I litigated a case on this when one of my clients bought some trailers made in Mexico and got cited for non-DOT Mexican tires identical to those sold in the US.

Despite this...I luvs my Big Letters.