How to Check the Manufacturing Date of Michelin Tires?
2 Answers
To check the manufacturing date of Michelin tires, look for the DOT mark on the sidewall of the tire. The four digits following this mark indicate the production date of the Michelin tire. The first two digits represent the week of the year it was produced, and the last two digits represent the year of production. For example: DOT7DHDDBJ0807, where 0807 is the production date, indicating the 8th week of 2007. Below are ways to distinguish genuine Michelin tires from counterfeit ones: 1. Observe the tread pattern, color, and gloss: The quality of the tire can be identified by examining the tread pattern, color, and gloss. Genuine tires have a layered tread pattern with a slight bevel, while counterfeit tires have a hollow pattern without layering. The tread of a new tire has a natural blue tint, whereas retreaded tires appear overly shiny. 2. Observe the tire studs and computer lines: Genuine Michelin tires have clear studs and computer lines, while counterfeit tires are blurry or may lack them entirely. 3. Observe the sidewall: Check if the brand lettering is complete and whether there are signs of grinding. Verify the presence of the mandatory national CCC certification, and ensure the specifications, speed rating, load index, and load capacity are clearly marked. 4. Check the certificate of compliance: Legitimate Michelin tires sold through official channels usually have a certificate of compliance attached to the label. The silver coating on the certificate can be scratched off to reveal an anti-counterfeiting code, which can be verified on Michelin's genuine tire verification platform.
Look for the DOT code on the tire sidewall, and the last four digits are crucial. The last two digits indicate the year, while the first two represent the production week. For example, if you see '3621', it means the tire was produced in the 36th week of 2021. This is quite important because tire rubber degrades over time, affecting grip. My friend once bought a three-year-old tire to save money, and the road noise at high speed was terrifying—later, he noticed fine cracks on the sidewall. When buying tires, clean the sidewall and inspect carefully. Avoid tires older than three years, and even new tires should be checked for cracks or hardening.
