How to Determine the Year of a Tire
2 Answers
To determine the year of a tire, follow these steps: 1. Look at the letters and numbers on the sidewall of the tire; 2. The last four digits represent the production date of the tire; 3. The first two digits indicate the week of production; 4. The last two digits indicate the year of production. The functions of a tire are: 1. To support the entire weight of the vehicle, bear the load of the car, and transmit forces and moments in other directions; 2. To transmit traction and braking torque, ensuring good adhesion between the wheel and the road surface to improve the vehicle's power, braking, and passing performance; 3. Together with the vehicle suspension, to mitigate the impact received during driving and dampen the generated vibrations.
I've driven quite a few cars, and now checking tire production dates has become quite simple for me. There's always a small alphanumeric code on the tire sidewall called the DOT identification. Just look for the last four digits - the first two represent the week of the year, and the last two indicate the last two digits of the production year. For example, 1523 means the tire was manufactured in the 15th week of 2023. However, after tires are mounted, this code is often on the inner sidewall, requiring you to slowly rotate the wheel to see it clearly or use a flashlight to illuminate the hard-to-see area. Aging tires can become problematic - the rubber deteriorates and turns brittle. Even with good tread depth, tires older than six years may lose traction, especially during rainy highway driving when braking distances increase significantly. I once drove an old SUV with decade-old tires that made creaking noises, and I nearly had an accident. I recommend checking your tires every six months. If the date code becomes illegible or the tires exceed ten years old, replace them immediately - any repair shop can handle this. Parking in shaded areas can also help slow down aging. Safety comes first - don't overlook this seemingly minor issue.
