How old can the production date of new car tires be?
2 Answers
New car tires are generally fine if their production date is within 3 years. Here are the details: 1. Definition of stock tires: Tires that have been in storage for over 1 year after production are considered stock tires. However, this also depends on the tire's service life. Typically, all-season or economy tires have a service life of 3-5 years or about 50,000 kilometers. 2. Checking tire production date: To identify a tire's production date, you need to understand how to read the date code on the tire sidewall. It usually appears as a 4-digit number following the DOT code (a series of letters and numbers). The last four digits indicate the production date - the first two digits represent the production week, and the last two digits indicate the production year.
When I was choosing a new car at the dealership, I paid special attention to the tire production date because tires, like food, have a shelf life. If stored for too long, the rubber can age and harden, compromising safety and performance. Experts recommend that new car tires should ideally not be older than 6 years from their production date, otherwise they may crack or burst. In practice, I prioritize tires with a production date within 3 years—the fresher, the better. Checking this is simple: the last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall indicate the week and year of production. For example, '2524' means the tire was produced in the 25th week of 2024. Don’t just focus on mileage—even new tires require attention to this detail. Otherwise, braking distances may increase at high speeds, and the tires are more prone to skidding on wet roads, which is particularly dangerous. In short, for the safety of your family, always check the tire date carefully when buying a car—don’t overlook it.
