How do I tell the age of my tires?

How do I tell the age of my tires?

To determine the age of your tires, check the last four digits of the U.S. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number stamped on the tire’s sidewall contains a date code that identifies the age of your tires.

How many years do tires expire?

six years
It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left. How do you know how old your tires are?

How do you decode tires?

The two-digit number after the slash mark in a tire size is the aspect ratio. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65 means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire’s sidewall will be.

Are 20 year old tires safe?

Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there’s no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents.

Should 5 year old tires be replaced?

We recommend replacing tires aged 6-10 years, no matter how much tread remains. When it comes to replacing tires, things can be a little unpredictable. Mileage, condition and routine maintenance all contribute to the tire’s safety and usability. You should replace them if you think they may have compromised integrity.

Are 5 year old tires still good?

Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there’s no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. The older a tire gets, the higher the risk of sudden and unexpected tread separation.

How do you read date codes on tires?

To read the date on a tire, look near the edge of the rim for a series of characters starting with the letters DOT. This is the Department of Transportation (DOT) code, which indicates that the tire has passed all minimum DOT standards for sale in the United States.

How do you read expiration date on tires?

Read the last four digits of the DOT code on most tires. The DOT code should end in a four digit number. The first two digits identify the week while the last two digits identify the year. This applies to all tires made after the year 2000.

What are the dates on tires?

A tire date code is listed on the tire sidewall to indicate a tire’s production year. The tire manufacture date is listed at the end of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s safety code on the tire sidewall. The date code first lists the week the tire was manufactured and is followed by a number representing the year it was made.

What is the legal age of a tire?

No laws in the United States restrict the age of tires. In states with inspection laws – Florida is not one of them – all that is tested is tread wear. A tire has a useful life of six years. Accordingly, for consumers to get at least two years of useful life from a tire, it should be no more than four years old at the time of purchase.