Is the tire production date the same as the vehicle manufacturing time for a new car?
2 Answers
No. Below is relevant information about car tires: 1. Vehicle and tire production dates differ: The vehicle's production date and the tire's production date are not the same. Some owners may notice that their tires have different production dates. This is normal as tires also have production batches, which are defined by tire manufacturers and are separate from the vehicle's production batch. As long as all four tires are from the same year and have similar production cycles, there is no issue. 2. Tire manufacturing date can be checked on the sidewall: The tire's manufacturing date can be found 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.
When I first bought my new car, I wondered if the tires were made at the same time as the car, only to find out they weren’t. My car was manufactured in June last year, but the DOT code on the tire sidewall shows 4323, meaning the tires were made in the 43rd week of 2023—about a month earlier than the car itself. This is perfectly normal, as tire manufacturers typically produce batches in advance and store them for car assembly lines to use from inventory. Rubber starts aging from the moment it’s made, so always check the tire date when buying a car—look for that code on the sidewall: the last two digits indicate the year, and the first two show the week. Avoid tires that are too old, as they can compromise driving safety, especially before long trips. Fresh tires ensure better grip and durability. If you end up with a new car whose tires are already two years old at delivery, their lifespan might be shortened. My advice? Take a quick glance at the code when picking up your car—it’s an easy check.
