How to Check the Date on Car Tires?
3 Answers
The production date of car tires is located on the tire sidewall. Look for a string of characters starting with the English letters "DOT". At the end of this string, there will be a four-digit number enclosed in an oval border, which indicates the tire's production date. The first two digits represent the week of the year the tire was produced, while the last two digits indicate the production year. The functions of car tires include: 1. Supporting the entire weight of the vehicle and bearing the car's load; 2. Transmitting traction and braking torque to ensure the adhesion between the wheels and the road surface; 3. Reducing and absorbing vibrations and impact forces during driving, preventing severe vibrations and premature damage to car components, adapting to high-speed performance, reducing driving noise, and ensuring driving safety, handling stability, comfort, and fuel efficiency.
As an average car owner, when checking the tire date, I usually squat beside the car and carefully examine the long string of characters on the tire sidewall, especially looking for the code starting with DOT. The last four digits of this code indicate the production date. For example, the number '2219'—the first two digits '22' represent the week of production (there are about 52 weeks in a year), and the last two digits '19' stand for the year 2019. The location might be on the outer or inner side, and for some cars, you need to use a phone light to see it clearly. I regularly check this because tires are prone to cracking and air leaks as they age. I remember before a long trip, I found out the tires were already seven years old, so I quickly replaced them to avoid the hassle of a blowout on the road. During routine maintenance, I use a tire pressure gauge to check the pressure and also take a quick glance at the date—safe driving really relies on these small details. The recommended lifespan for tires is usually no more than six years; otherwise, the grip decreases, increasing the risk of skidding in rainy conditions.
From a car enthusiast's perspective, checking tire dates is quite straightforward. There's a series of characters on the tire sidewall, with the key being the last four digits of the DOT code. For example, '1520' means the tire was manufactured in the 15th week of 2020. The location varies, but I often spot it printed prominently on the sidewall during tire changes. Tire aging affects braking distance and handling—I learned this the hard way when I lost control during a high-speed drive and later discovered the culprit was a two-year-old stock tire with insufficient elasticity. To expand my knowledge, I also learned that sunlight and temperature accelerate rubber degradation, so I recommend checking the date and wear quarterly, along with tread depth, to ensure overall safety. When buying new tires, I always remind the seller not to give me ones with dates that are too early, to avoid wasting money.
