<PAGE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities and Exchange Act of 1934


                                  May 16, 2002
         --------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)


                              SmarTire Systems Inc.
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



        British Columbia                0-24209                   N/A
-------------------------------    ------------------     ----------------------
 (State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission             (IRS Employer
       Of Incorporation)              File Number)          Identification No.)




         #150 - 13151 Vanier Place, Richmond, British Columbia, V6V 2J1
         --------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                                 (604) 276-9884
                  --------------------------------------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)


<PAGE>


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant issued on May 16, 2002
which is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press release is
attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      EXHIBITS
         99       Press release issued May 16, 2002






                                       2
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.



                              By /s/  Robert V. Rudman
                              -----------------------------------------------
                                      Robert V. Rudman, CA
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  May 17, 2002




                                       3
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001057293", "assigned-sic": "3823", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "0731"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-24209", "film-number": "02656131"}, "business-address": {"street1": "150 13151 VANIER PL", "city": "RICHMOND BC CANADA", "state": "A1", "zip": "V6V 2J1", "phone": "6042769884"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "150 13151 VANIER PL", "city": "RICHMOND BC CANADA", "zip": "V6V 2J1"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

                                  May 16, 2002
         --------------------------------------------------------------
                Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

                              SmarTire Systems Inc.
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

        British Columbia                0-24209                   N/A
-------------------------------    ------------------     ----------------------
 (State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission             (IRS Employer
       Of Incorporation)              File Number)          Identification No.)

         #150 - 13151 Vanier Place, Richmond, British Columbia, V6V 2J1
         --------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (604) 276-9884
                  --------------------------------------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant issued on May 16, 2002
which is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press release is
attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      EXHIBITS
         99       Press release issued May 16, 2002

                                       2
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              SMARTIRE SYSTEMS INC.

                              By /s/  Robert V. Rudman
                              -----------------------------------------------
                                      Robert V. Rudman, CA
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  May 17, 2002

                                       3