How to Check the Production Date on a Tire?
2 Answers
Similar to the production date of a car, the production date of a tire is marked on the outer side of the tire. You don't need to flip the tire over; it's located on the outer side, on the sidewall of the tire. There is a set of numbers, and the last four digits of this marking provide information about the production date. It consists of four digits in the format "AABB". The details are as follows: 1. The first two digits "AA" indicate the week of the year, and the last two digits "BB" indicate the year. 2. Generally, the 11-digit number and letters immediately following the "DOT" marking on the tire sidewall represent the identification number or serial number of the tire. The last four digits of the serial number indicate the production date of the tire. The format of the tire production date code is: the first two digits represent the production week, and the last two digits represent the production year. For example, if the last four digits of DOT are 4117, it means the tire was produced in the 41st week of 2017.
When I first started driving, I didn’t know how to check tire dates either, but I figured it out later. Look for the DOT code on the tire sidewall—the last four digits indicate the production date. The first two digits represent the week of the year, and the last two are the year. For example, ‘1524’ means the tire was produced in the 15th week of 2024. Tires age over time, with rubber hardening and becoming brittle, so even if the tread looks fine, they can still blow out, which is dangerous. Over time, I developed a habit: every time I wash my car or get maintenance, I use my phone’s flashlight to carefully read those small numbers. Some tires have the date stamped on the inner side, so you’ll need to turn the wheel to see it clearly. Generally, tires older than six years should be considered for replacement—I’ve seen too many cases of unexpected blowouts due to ignored dates while working on cars. When buying new tires, always check that the date isn’t too old to ensure you’re getting a safe product. In short, checking these tiny numbers can greatly improve driving safety—don’t skip it.
