<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


                                October 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)





                                       1

<PAGE>


ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of the Registrant, issued and
disseminated on October 16, 2002, announcing the signing of a supply agreement
for tire monitoring systems that measure pressure and temperature of car, truck
and motorcycle tires, between the Company and Pirelli Pneumatici.


ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibits

     99.1   Press release issued by the Registrant on October 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/ Jeff Finkelstein
                                        ---------------------------------
                                            Jeff Finkelstein, CA
                                            Controller

Dated: October 18, 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": "02792532"}, "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

                                October 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)

                                       1
ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of the Registrant, issued and
disseminated on October 16, 2002, announcing the signing of a supply agreement
for tire monitoring systems that measure pressure and temperature of car, truck
and motorcycle tires, between the Company and Pirelli Pneumatici.

ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibits

     99.1   Press release issued by the Registrant on October 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/ Jeff Finkelstein
                                        ---------------------------------
                                            Jeff Finkelstein, CA
                                            Controller

Dated: October 18, 2002

                                       3