Where to find the tire date and what it tells you
The tire date is stamped on the sidewall of your tire as a four-digit code, usually near the bottom. The first two digits are the week of manufacture (01 through 53), and the last two digits are the year. A code of 3521 means the tire was made in week 35 of 2021. This date tells you how old a tire is, which matters because rubber degrades over time whether the tire is being driven or sitting in storage.
You need to know the tire date because tires older than ten years are generally considered unsafe, even if the tread looks fine. The rubber hardens and loses grip as it ages. Most tire shops and manufacturers recommend replacing tires at six to ten years old, depending on storage conditions and how much you drive. Knowing the manufacture date is the only way to track this.
Key Takeaways
- The tire date code is a four-digit number on the sidewall: the first two digits are the week, the last two are the year.
- You can find it by looking at the outer sidewall near the bottom, often printed after "DOT" and other markings.
- Tires older than ten years should be replaced regardless of tread depth, because rubber hardens and loses grip with age.
- If you cannot find the date code, a tire shop can read it for you or help you determine the age another way.
How to locate the code on your tire
Walk around your vehicle and look at the sidewall of any tire. The sidewall is the vertical part of the tire between the tread and the rim. You are looking for a series of letters and numbers that includes "DOT" followed by a long string of characters. At the very end of that string is the four-digit date code.
The date code is always the last four digits of the DOT number. It may be on the outer sidewall (the side you see when you look at the car from outside) or the inner sidewall (the side facing the engine or suspension). If you cannot see it on the outside, you may need to turn the wheel or get down to look at the inner sidewall. A flashlight helps, especially if the tire is dirty or the code is faded.
Reading a four-digit date code
Once you find the four digits, break them into two pairs. The first two digits represent the week of the year (01 through 53). The second two digits represent the year. So 2418 means week 24 of 2018. Week 1 is the first week of January, and week 53 is the last week of December.
You do not need to know the exact week—the week number is mainly for tire manufacturers and distributors. What matters to you is the year. If your tire was made in 2018 and it is now 2024, the tire is six years old. If it was made in 2014, it is ten years old and should be replaced soon, even if the tread still has depth.
Why tire age matters more than you might think
Tire rubber is a compound that hardens over time. This happens whether you drive the tire or leave it parked in a garage. As rubber hardens, it loses flexibility and grip, especially in cold weather and wet conditions. A tire that looks fine on the outside may have lost much of its ability to hold the road.
Older tires are also more prone to blowouts and sidewall failure. The internal structure of the tire weakens as the rubber ages. This is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires at ten years old, and why many insurance companies and rental car companies replace tires at six years. If you drive in hot climates or park your car in the sun, the rubber degrades faster, so you may want to replace tires sooner.
What to do if the date code is faded or missing
If the DOT number and date code are worn away or too faded to read, a tire shop can help you. Bring the tire in and a technician can examine it for signs of age—cracking in the sidewall, hardness of the rubber, and overall condition. They can also look up the tire's model and sometimes cross-reference it with manufacturing records, though this is not always possible.
If you cannot determine the age and the tire shows visible cracks, hardness, or other signs of age, the safest choice is to replace it. The cost of a new tire is much lower than the cost of a blowout or loss of control on the road.
Checking tire date when buying used tires or a used car
When you buy used tires or a used vehicle, always check the date code on all four tires before you drive it. A used car might have tires that are five or seven years old already, and you need to know that so you can plan a replacement. Some used tire shops will tell you the age, but not all, so checking yourself is the safest approach.
If you are buying a used car and the tires are more than five years old, factor in the cost of new tires when you negotiate the price. Tires are a major expense, and knowing the age upfront helps you make an informed decision about whether the deal is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the date code tell me when the tire was installed on a car?
No. The date code is when the tire was manufactured, not when it was put on a vehicle. A tire could have been made in 2020 but installed in 2023. The manufacture date is what matters for safety, because the rubber begins aging from the moment it is made.
Can I drive a tire that is exactly ten years old?
Technically yes, but most experts recommend replacing tires between six and ten years old depending on how you drive and store them. If a tire is ten years old and shows cracks or hardness, replace it when ready. If it is ten years old and looks fine, have a tire shop inspect it before you decide.
What if one tire is newer than the others?
It is normal to replace tires one or two at a time as they wear out. You can drive with tires of different ages as long as all four have adequate tread depth and none are older than ten years. If one tire is much newer, the tread depth will be different, which can affect handling slightly but is not unsafe.
Does the date code expire or change over time?
No. The date code is stamped into the tire when it is made and never changes. It will remain the same whether the tire is driven or stored. This is why you can always look at an old tire and know exactly when it was manufactured.