If you’re looking to find out when your tires were manufactured, there are a few easy ways to do so. Knowing the age of your tires is important, as tires can degrade over time even if they haven’t been used much. In this article, we’ll explore some of the methods you can use to find the manufacturing date of your tires.
- Check the Sidewall
The easiest way to find the manufacturing date of your tires is to check the sidewall. Look for a series of characters that begin with the letters “DOT.” This stands for the Department of Transportation, which requires all tires sold in the United States to be marked with a DOT code.
The DOT code will consist of 11 or 12 characters. The last four digits are the date code, which will be in the format of a week number followed by a two-digit year. For example, if the last four digits are “3718,” that means the tire was manufactured in the 37th week of 2018.
- Look for a Stamp on the Rim
In some cases, the manufacturing date of the tire may also be stamped on the rim. This is especially true for spare tires. Look for a series of numbers and letters that will indicate the date of manufacture.
- Check with the Manufacturer
If you’re still having trouble finding the manufacturing date of your tires, you can always check with the manufacturer. Most tire manufacturers have a customer service line that you can call or an online form you can fill out to request information about your tires.
It’s important to note that tires can degrade over time even if they haven’t been used much. The general rule of thumb is that tires should be replaced every six years, even if they still have plenty of tread left. If your tires are getting close to that age, it’s a good idea to start thinking about replacing them.
In conclusion, knowing the manufacturing date of your tires is important for both safety and maintenance purposes. By using these methods, you can easily find out when your tires were made and determine if it’s time for a replacement.
References:
- How to Read a Tire Sidewall: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11
- How to Read a Tire Date Code: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11&new=true#tireborn
- How to Find Your Tire Size and Determine Tire Type: https://www.bridgestonetire.com/tire-basics/find-my-tire-size
- How Old Are Your Tires? Check the Born-On Date: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/12/how-old-are-your-tires/index.htm
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