How to Identify the Production Date of Car Tires?
3 Answers
Method to check the production date of car tires: There is a rectangular oval on the sidewall of the tire, which contains a series of numbers and letters. Among them, a set of four digits represents the production date of the tire. The first two digits indicate the week of the year, while the last two digits represent the year. The normal service life of a tire is about 5 years. Beyond this period, the tire may experience aging, cracking, reduced load capacity, and an increased risk of blowouts. Within the normal service life, the tire should be replaced once it wears down to the raised markers in the tread grooves; otherwise, it may compromise driving safety. To protect car tires, it is also essential to adopt good driving practices, such as avoiding sudden braking and sharp steering, to extend the tire's lifespan.
I did some research on this when I changed my tires before. If you crouch beside the tire and carefully examine the small print on the sidewall, you'll find a string of codes starting with DOT. The most crucial part is a four-digit number enclosed in an oval frame, like '0521'. The first two digits '05' represent the production week, meaning the 5th week of the year; the last two digits '21' indicate the year 2021. The tires on my car show '4620', which calculates to November 2020 production. Just a heads-up - the date is usually only printed on one side. If you can't see it on the inner side, you might need to reach in to feel it or take a photo with your phone. When buying tires, it's best to choose ones manufactured within the last two years. Rubber aging affects grip, and never use tires that have been sitting in storage for over five years - safety first, right?
With over a decade of experience in auto repair, I can check tire dates in just seconds. Simply locate the small oval frame on the tire sidewall containing four digits. For example, '3522' means the tire was produced in the 35th week (around August or September) of 2022. Some beginners might miss it because the tire is mounted backwards with the production date facing inward. Here's a tip: There's often a triangular arrow next to the numbers pointing to the code. Last time I checked for a customer, I found his front-right tire was made in 2018 while the rear-left was from 2020 – a dangerous mix with over two years' difference between tires, which can easily cause alignment issues.
