How to Read a Tire Date Code

Look on the sidewall near the rim for the letters DOT followed by a string of letters and numbers. That string is the Tire Identification Number. The date code is the last four digits, often inside a small oval or box. The full number only has to appear on one side, so it may face the inside of the car.

What the full code contains:

If the tire is mounted with the full code facing inward, we can read it on the lift. The NHTSA tire page (opens in a new tab) has more on tire labels and recalls.

Split the four digits into two pairs. The first pair is the week of the year, from 01 to 53. The second pair is the year. So 0819 means the eighth week of 2019, and 4623 means the 46th week of 2023. Tires made before 2000 used a three-digit code, and any tire that old should come off the vehicle.

Examples:

• 1224: week 12 of 2024, around late March
• 3920: week 39 of 2020, around late September
• 0118: first week of 2018

Write down the codes for all four tires and the spare. Different codes on the same axle can mean a tire was replaced at some point, which is worth knowing when you plan the next set.

Rubber breaks down with time, heat and sunlight, even on a tire that is rarely driven. An aging tire can look fine and still be more likely to crack or separate. Age and tread are two separate measurements: tread is read in 32nds of an inch, and a new passenger tire commonly starts around 10/32 to 11/32 inch, so a tire can still show plenty of depth and be a decade old. There is no single legal expiration date, which is why the date code is the only honest way to know.

Age risk is higher when:

• The vehicle sits outside through hot summers
• The tire is a spare that has never been used
• The vehicle is driven rarely, such as a weekend car, RV or trailer
• Fine cracks are forming in the sidewall or tread grooves

Our tire age tool weighs date code, tread and wear to give you a starting point. Our seasonal tire tips cover heat and sun cracking in more detail.

Yes, both. New tires can sit in a warehouse before they are sold, so it is reasonable to ask the date code before installation. With used tires, or a used car you are thinking of buying, the date code can reveal old tires hiding behind decent-looking tread.

When you buy from us, ask us to note each tire's date code on your invoice, so you have it for records and any future warranty question.

If you are shopping for a used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection includes a look at tire age and condition. An inspection is not a warranty or a promise that nothing will fail later, but it gives you facts before you pay.

Tire recalls are listed by the full Tire Identification Number. Makers name affected tires by plant code, size code and a range of date codes. If a recall notice mentions your tire line, you need the whole number, not just the four date digits, to know whether your tires are included.

How to check:

1. Write down the full DOT number from each tire, including the date code.
2. Note the brand and tire line printed on the sidewall.
3. Look up the tire on the NHTSA recalls page (opens in a new tab), which covers tires as well as vehicles.
4. If a tire matches, contact the tire maker or follow the steps in the notice.
5. Keep your invoice. Registering your tires with the maker helps future notices reach you.

When we install tires, your invoice shows what went on the car. Ask us to add the DOT numbers so they are easy to find later.

Subtract the year in the date code from the current year, then adjust for the week. The table below uses 2026 as the current year. Treat it as a quick reference and then look at condition, because age is only half the picture. Tread has its own limit: wear bars are molded into every tire at 2/32 inch, and NHTSA advises replacing a tire once the tread is worn down to them.

Many vehicle makers advise replacement about 6 years from the build date, and most tire makers set 10 years as the outside limit no matter how much tread is left. Your owner manual carries the figure for your car. Enter your code in our tire age tool for a quick read.