How to Check the Tire Date Code and Why it’s Important
The tire manufacture date is important because tires have a limited lifespan due to aging. Over time, the rubber compounds in tires degrade due to factors like exposure to oxygen, UV light, heat, and humidity, which can affect their performance and safety. Even if a tire has never been used, its structural integrity can deteriorate, increasing the risk of failure, such as blowouts or reduced traction. Tires can deteriorate even if stored in a warehouse. Before any tires are put on your car – save yourself a headache – check the tire manufacture date.
How to Check Tire Manufacture Date
The manufacture date is located on the tire’s sidewall as part of the Department of Transportation code (DOT code). The DOT code is issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation and provides essential information about the tire, including its manufacturer, manufacturing plant, tire size, and date of manufacture. This code is crucial for identifying a tire’s age and ensuring it complies with federal safety standards.
Breakdown of the DOT Code
- DOT: The code starts with the letters “DOT,” which confirms that the tire meets all federal safety standards.
- Manufacturer and Plant Code: The next 2-3 characters identify the tire manufacturer and the specific plant where the tire was made.
- Tire Size Code: The following 2-4 characters identify the tire’s size.
- Manufacturer-Specific Code: After the size code, there may be additional characters (optional) that are manufacturer-specific.
- Date of Manufacture: The last four digits are crucial, as they represent the week and year the tire was manufactured.
- For example, if the last four digits are “2422,” the tire was made in the 24th week of 2022.
- Example of a Full DOT Code:
- DOT 7Y8R 2422:
- 7Y: Manufacturer and plant code.
- 8R: Tire size.
- 2422: Manufactured in the 24th week of 2022.
Is There an Ideal Manufacture Date?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has no specific guidelines on tire aging and defers to the recommendations of carmakers and tire manufacturers. Most manufacturers suggest replacing tires once they reach 6 years from the manufacture date, regardless of tread wear – but, this does not help answer “what is an acceptable manufacture date, at installation.” So, the acceptable manufacture date of a tire is left up to the owner of the car.
If you look online, you will see a fierce debate about what is the oldest manufacture date of tire you should accept. Keep in mind, most respectable institutions will not sell/install “new” tires that are more than 6 months post manufacture date. If you are buying “new” tires and paying top dollar, you deserve to get tires that were most recently manufactured.
Beware Buying “New” Discounted Tires
We all want to save money and get a good deal – especially on big purchases like tires. However, if you do get a good discount on tires, there may be a reason for that. I have learned that many online tire dealers that offer large discounts, advertise tires as “new”, but the tires were manufactured more than a few years ago. If you are purchasing tires online, call or email customer service and try to check the manufacture date – if you can’t get the exact date, you may be able to get an idea of when the tires were manufactured. I also suggest reviewing the online retailers return policy before making the purchase.
Out of curiosity, I called and spoke with a representative at a local Costco tire department. He advised that a person should not accept tires that are more than 2 years post manufacture date, explaining that the discount will not be worth it in the long run. Older “new” tires will likely wear out faster than a newer tire and you may not get that much of a saving. So, if you are able to find tires at a discount, check the manufacture date and don’t accept anything more than 2 years post manufacture date.