The date of a tyre’s manufacture is stamped on its sidewall. Four digits give you the week and year of production. For example, 3218 indicates the tyre was made in the 32nd week of 2018.
How do you tell the age of a tire?
Telling the age of a tire is a breeze—just locate the Department of Transportation code on the tire’s sidewall and look at the date. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to decipher the DOT code to learn what year your tire was made plus give you the scoop on when to replace worn-out tires.
What does the age code on a tyre mean?
Since the year 2000, the date section of the code – the last digits – has been made up of 4 numbers. The first two digits tell you the week number and the last two indicate the year the tyre was manufactured. In the example below the age code is ‘3909’. This means the tyre was made in the 39th week of the year 2009.
How do I know if my tires are safe?
If you’re ready to hit the road feeling confident that your tires are safe, keep reading! Locate the DOT code on the sidewall of your tire. The code consists of the letters “DOT” followed by up to 13 numbers and letters. Read the last 4 digits of the DOT code.
How do I know if my tires are 2000?
This 4-digit marking at the end of the DOT code applies to tires manufactured in or after the year 2000. Read the full code to learn where your tire was manufactured, what its top recommended speed is, and more. Look at the last 3 digits of the DOT code (pre-2000). Look for 3 digits at the end of the DOT code if your tires are very old.
Do tires go bad with age?
How long can a tire last? Most auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires over six years old regardless of tread depth. Some tire manufacturers like Michelin and Continental give a 10-year limit. As rubber compounds age, they deteriorate and become weaker like other rubber and plastic components on your car.
Are old tires dangerous?
Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there’s no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents. Here are just two examples:
Is it safe to replace a tire that’s 6 years old?
A tire that’s 6 years old or older isn’t safe and should be replaced, regardless of wear. People usually rely on a tire’s tread depth to determine when to replace it. But tire age is critical, too.
How long is a tire safe to use?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and official manufacturers suggest a tire is only 100% safe to use until it turns 5-6 years old. However, some admit that a tire can be operable up to 10 years if you check it for issues annually after the 5th year.
When do tires age?
That’s when the real ageing process starts, when it’s exposed to high speeds, sudden braking, difference surfaces, extreme temperatures, and heavy loads. And mind you, tires also degrade even when the vehicle is not used. So, what does Michelin recommend?
Do car tyres get harder with age?
The structural components of a tyre deteriorate over time, which can cause the tread to unexpectedly separate with potentially disastrous consequences. Furthermore, as a tyre ages, the rubber compound becomes harder. The harder the rubber becomes, the less traction the tyre provides.
Do tires get hard with age?
, Casting Director and Assistant Director. Lifelong car guy. Tires do start to get hard with age but ozone and exposure to heat, cold, weather can accelerate the deterioration of rubber. A properly stored tire can last quite a long time, decades even, but it will still experience a gradual hardening of the rubber compounds.
What happens to the rubber in a tire as it ages?
The rubber in a tire gets hard as it ages, just as the rubber in other common materials does. You can even poke at tire treads with your fingernail and feel the difference between an old and new tire of the same brand and model.
How old is too old for tyres?
The NTDA recommends that tyres fitted to vehicles over 10 years old are checked for damage, wear and other signs of old age. Many NTDA members recommend that you have your tyres checked if you believe they are over 6 years old. Just because your tyre is 6, or even 10, years old does not automatically make it unsafe.
