WHAT IS A TIRE DATE CODE?
The tire date code is a four-digit code that indicates the age of a tire. Since the age of a tire is so important to safety, knowing the tire manufacture date is key information to plan and budget for when you’ll need to replace a tire or a set of tires. The tire date code is part of a larger series of numbers known as the Tire Identification Number (TIN) or DOT (for Department of Transportation).
HOW TO READ TIRE DATE CODE
You can find the tire date code on the sidewall of a tire. Look for the letters D-O-T followed by a series of up to 13 characters. For tires made since the year 2000, the tire date code is always the last four numbers in the series.
The first two digits represent the week of the year the tires were made, and the last two digits indicate the year. For example, 1422 means the fourteenth week of 2022. The tire date code is separate from another important series of numbers on the tire sidewall: the tire size. Find out how to read the tire size to avoid confusing the two.
CHECKING TIRE TREAD WEAR
In addition to the tire date code, keeping a close eye on your tire tread wear is a good way to monitor the condition of your tires and if the time to replace them may be approaching. Uneven tire tread wear patterns can also indicate an issue with alignment or suspension that needs to be addressed. Ideally, you want all four of your tires to be wearing at approximately the same rate, so they can be replaced as a set.
There are a few commons ways to check tire tread wear including:
- The penny test: Use a penny to measure the depth of tread grooves at various points on a tire.
- Check tread wear bars: Some tires have a raised piece of rubber molded into the grooves of a tire tread. If the tread has worn down to meet this piece of rubber, it’s time to replace them.
- Use a tire tread gauge: A small instrument that anyone can use to measure tread depth. Tires with tread at 2/32” or below should be replaced immediately.
Are you ready to buy a new set of tires and need professional installation? The experts at Firestone Complete Auto Care can help.