How to Check the Production Date on Car Tires?
2 Answers
To check the production date on car tires: The tire sidewall will always have a production date identifier, usually in the form of a four-digit number. Following a series of alphanumeric characters starting with DOT, the last four digits represent the production date. The first two digits indicate the production week, and the last two digits indicate the production year. For example, 2320 represents the 23rd week of 2020. In addition to the production date identifier, the tire sidewall will also have markings like 225/45R1791W, which correspond to the tire width, aspect ratio, tire type, rim diameter, load index, and speed rating.
Every day at the repair shop, I remind people to check this when helping them change tires. There is a four-digit number inside an oval frame on the tire sidewall, for example, '2824' means the tire was produced in the 28th week of 2024. The first two digits represent the production week, and the last two digits indicate the year. When changing tires, pay attention to this date. Tires older than six years should be replaced even if the tread is deep, as aged rubber can be extremely dangerous at high speeds. Also, when installing new tires, verify that the production dates of all four tires are close to each other. I’ve encountered cases where a car was fitted with tires that had a two-year difference in production dates.
