Deciphering this code is easy if you have the key. There is a lot of information on a tire, and it's important that you know how to read it. Simply find the string of numbers beginning with the DOT located near the inner ring of your tire. Then follow that number until you get to the last four digits. The four digits are a date code. The first two numbers are the week of the year the tires were made, and the last two numbers are the year it was made. The number “5207” would tell you that they were made in the last week of December 2007. For tires manufactured in the year 2006 and earlier, the code may be on the inside of the tire rather than the outside where it is easily visible. This type of coding does not apply to tires produced prior to the year 2000. For the years prior to 2000, the last 3 digits tell you the week of the year and the year of the decade. However, there’s no one universal identification for the decade making it very difficult to know which decade the tires came from.
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| This tire was made in the last week of September in 2009 |
Want to know what the other numbers in the string mean? DOT
means the tire passed the testing requirements set forth by the Department of
Transportation. Then there is a two digit plant code, two digit tire size code,
and a four digit manufacturer’s code.
Now that you know how old your tires are, you should keep in
mind that you should be wary of any new tires that are more than two years old.
The weather (especially heat) and ultraviolet light from the sun both break
down rubber and cause it to deteriorate. This can cause the rubber to become
brittle, and the tires to become less effective. Most car makers and tire
companies suggest replacing tires somewhere between six to ten years from the
date of manufacture, regardless of the wear. Since they are a crucial part of
braking, turning, and accelerating, it’s in your best interest to make sure
your tires are in the best possible shape. If you think that it's time for new tires, make an appointment at Town Fair Tire to see how much you can save on your new tires today.
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