How to Read The Date Code on Tires to Determine Their Age
One of the more important things in your car, travel trailer or 5th wheel is your tires. After all, the entire weight falls on them, and knowing if they are good enough is extremely important so you can be safe on the road. One of the main things you need to check is the date code on tires so you can determine the age.
Even if you get new tires for your RV, the age of the tire is important because it’s possible that the tires were sitting in a warehouse somewhere for quite some time. Getting older tires might cause an RV accident which is something that nobody wants. Although it’s highly unlikely that something like that happens, it’s better to know how to read the date code on tires so you know what you’re purchasing.
Every tire has a specific code on it that shows the age of the tire. All tires manufactured after the year 2000 have a letter DOT code and the last part of the DOT code have some numbers. These numbers are known as the digits of the DOT and this is the actual manufacture date of the tire. There are four numbers in total on this part of the date code. The first two numbers are indicators of the week of the year the tire was built while the second two numbers indicate the year in which it was made. By locating this DOT number on your tire you can easily determine the age of your tire.
While there is not a dedicated side on the tire where the DOT code has to be, the tire manufacturers are obligated by the department of transportation to put it on the tire. The place where it’s most often located on tires is the inner sidewall of the tire. This is not a rule so if it is not on the inner sidewall you might need to turn the tire around to find the number but it has to be there.
The DOT code doesn’t just have the date codes on tires but it also has other information. After the DOT part of the code, you have the plant code of the tire followed by the tire size. After those two there are a few more markings which indicate some characteristics of the brand and only after that are the numbers for the tire age.
Essentially, the agreed length of the life of a tire is somewhere between six and ten years. It would depend on many factors such as what materials the tire is made of but to be on the safe side of things it’s generally not wise to get tires that are older than 10 years. Even if they are not worn out it is not a good option to get tires that were stored somewhere for more than 10 years.
Depending on how much you travel and how well you take care of your tires, your tires can last a long time. However, it’s good to change them every 4 years on average. According to the law, if your tires get worn out and the depth of the tread is lower than 1.6mm you have to replace the tires. The recommended length at which you should replace your summer tires is 3mm and your winter tires at 4mm. These changes will ensure your safety on the road and make sure that you don’t get into an accident because of improper or worn-out tires.
Knowing how to determine when a tire was produced will certainly save you some money and increase your safety on the road. Although not many tires reach their 10th birthday and become unsafe some do which is where this little information will prove to be very useful. If you are unsure about your tires or you are about to buy tires that might be older, locate the date code on tires which is usually on the inner sidewall and check the last four digits. They will reveal the week and the year the tire was made by the manufacturer and afterward, you can calculate if the tire is too old or not.
We hope that this article on how to read the date code on tires and how to determine the age of your tires will help you make an informed decision when you are wondering if your tires need to be replaced.
Even if you get new tires for your RV, the age of the tire is important because it’s possible that the tires were sitting in a warehouse somewhere for quite some time. Getting older tires might cause an RV accident which is something that nobody wants. Although it’s highly unlikely that something like that happens, it’s better to know how to read the date code on tires so you know what you’re purchasing.
How To Determine The Age Of Your RV Tire Reading The Code?
Every tire has a specific code on it that shows the age of the tire. All tires manufactured after the year 2000 have a letter DOT code and the last part of the DOT code have some numbers. These numbers are known as the digits of the DOT and this is the actual manufacture date of the tire. There are four numbers in total on this part of the date code. The first two numbers are indicators of the week of the year the tire was built while the second two numbers indicate the year in which it was made. By locating this DOT number on your tire you can easily determine the age of your tire.
How to Find The DOT Code On Your Tire?
While there is not a dedicated side on the tire where the DOT code has to be, the tire manufacturers are obligated by the department of transportation to put it on the tire. The place where it’s most often located on tires is the inner sidewall of the tire. This is not a rule so if it is not on the inner sidewall you might need to turn the tire around to find the number but it has to be there.
What Else Can The DOT Code Tell Me About The Tire?
The DOT code doesn’t just have the date codes on tires but it also has other information. After the DOT part of the code, you have the plant code of the tire followed by the tire size. After those two there are a few more markings which indicate some characteristics of the brand and only after that are the numbers for the tire age.
When Should I Change My Tires?
Essentially, the agreed length of the life of a tire is somewhere between six and ten years. It would depend on many factors such as what materials the tire is made of but to be on the safe side of things it’s generally not wise to get tires that are older than 10 years. Even if they are not worn out it is not a good option to get tires that were stored somewhere for more than 10 years.
Depending on how much you travel and how well you take care of your tires, your tires can last a long time. However, it’s good to change them every 4 years on average. According to the law, if your tires get worn out and the depth of the tread is lower than 1.6mm you have to replace the tires. The recommended length at which you should replace your summer tires is 3mm and your winter tires at 4mm. These changes will ensure your safety on the road and make sure that you don’t get into an accident because of improper or worn-out tires.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to determine when a tire was produced will certainly save you some money and increase your safety on the road. Although not many tires reach their 10th birthday and become unsafe some do which is where this little information will prove to be very useful. If you are unsure about your tires or you are about to buy tires that might be older, locate the date code on tires which is usually on the inner sidewall and check the last four digits. They will reveal the week and the year the tire was made by the manufacturer and afterward, you can calculate if the tire is too old or not.
We hope that this article on how to read the date code on tires and how to determine the age of your tires will help you make an informed decision when you are wondering if your tires need to be replaced.
