How to Check the Production Date of Tires?
2 Answers
Method to check the production date of tires: The manufacturing date of a tire can be found on the outer side of the tire. There is a set of four-digit numbers in an elongated oval shape at the end of the letters. The first two digits represent the week of the year, and the last two digits represent the year. Tires are circular elastic rubber products assembled on various vehicles or machinery for rolling on the ground. Tires are usually mounted on metal rims to support the vehicle body, cushion external impacts, achieve contact with the road surface, and ensure the driving performance of the vehicle. Tires serve as the medium for transmitting forces between the vehicle and the road surface, transmitting driving force, braking force, steering force, etc., to realize the vehicle's driving, braking, steering, and other operations.
I've been repairing cars for decades and noticed many people overlook the tire manufacturing date. It's actually quite simple: crouch beside the car and look at the tire sidewall for a code labeled 'DOT'. There's an oval-shaped imprint following it with four numbers, like '1724', indicating the tire was manufactured in the 17th week of 2024. The first two digits represent the week, and the last two the year. Why does this matter? Tires are made of rubber and age quickly; even with deep treads, they can crack or blow out after five years. Once, while helping a friend fix his car, I discovered his tires were ten years old—they blew out on the highway. Now, whenever I inspect tires for others, I always feel for the numbers to ensure they're clear; sometimes they're on the inner side, requiring the wheel to be turned for visibility. When buying a car or new tires, I recommend choosing ones manufactured within the past year for better safety and reliability.
