Is the tire production date the same as the car manufacturing date when buying a new car?
2 Answers
When purchasing a new car, the manufacturing date of the vehicle is not the same as the production date of the tires. Here are the relevant details: 1. Normal phenomenon: It is common to find that the production dates of the tires are different when buying a new car. This is normal because tires have production batches, which are defined by the tire manufacturers and are not related to the car's production batch. The production date of the tire can be checked on the outer sidewall of the tire. There is a four-digit number in an elongated oval shape at the end of the DOT code. The first two digits represent the week of the year, and the last two digits represent the year. 2. Additional information: It is acceptable to mix tires with different production dates on a new car. However, tires on the same axle must be of the same brand, same tread pattern, same size, same load index, same speed rating, and have similar tread depths. This is for safe driving considerations.
As a car owner who frequently pays attention to vehicle maintenance, I find it quite common for the production date of new car tires to differ from the vehicle's manufacturing date. The car's manufacturing date refers to the completion time of the entire vehicle assembly, while tires are produced separately by suppliers and may have been stockpiled before reaching the factory. Based on my experience, when purchasing a new car, I always check the DOT code on the tire sidewall—for example, a code like 4323 indicates the tire was produced in the 43rd week of 2023. A difference of a few months is normal, but if it exceeds half a year or even a year, the tire rubber may age, affecting safety and grip even if unused. The last time I bought a new car, the tire date was a quarter earlier than the car's date. After confirming with the dealer, they assured me the tire quality was fine. In short, when buying a car, don’t just focus on the exterior—take a moment to check the tire date, ideally ensuring it’s within a year to avoid risks from long-stored inventory vehicles.
