How to Check Tyre Manufacturing Date and What is the Importance?

Tyres are one of the primary components of your vehicle. Tyres in their proper state are necessary to ensure the driver's safety. Other than safety, factors such as fuel economy also depend on the tyre's condition.

Therefore, you must regularly check the tyre's condition, check the manufacturing date, and replace it whenever necessary to ensure your safety and your vehicle's optimum performance.

Learn how to check tyre manufacturing dates and more in this quick guide.

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What is a Tyre Manufacturing Date?
Importance of Checking Manufacturing Date
Check the Tyre Manufacturing Date
How to Interpret the Date Code?
Factors Affecting Tyre Age
How to Maintain Tyre Longevity?
Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Tyre Manufacturing Date?

The tyre manufacturing code is a four digit code that decodes the manufacturing date in the form of week and year. The first two digits showcase manufactured week and the last two digits represent manufactured year.

What is the Importance of Changing Tyres?

Changing tyres is of utmost importance for several reasons. Check out some of the following reasons to find out when and why you should consider changing tyres:

Road Safety

Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road surface, and their condition significantly affects traction, handling, and braking. Worn-out or damaged tyres can compromise vehicle control, increasing the risk of accidents.

By regularly changing tyres, drivers can maintain optimal grip and manoeuvrability, especially in adverse weather conditions.

Fuel Efficiency

Over time, tyres experience wear and tear, leading to decreased rolling resistance and increased fuel consumption. By replacing worn tyres with new ones, drivers can minimise rolling resistance and improve fuel efficiency, ultimately saving money on fuel expenses.

Longevity of Wheels

Regularly rotating and replacing tyres helps distribute the tyre wear more evenly across all four wheels, extending their lifespan. This improves the performance and longevity of individual tyres and reduces the chances of unexpected failures on the road.

Environmental Sustainability

Worn-out tyres produce more greenhouse gas emissions due to increased rolling resistance, impacting the overall carbon footprint of vehicles. By changing to new, eco-friendly tyres and maintaining proper inflation, drivers can reduce emissions, supporting a greener environment.

By prioritising regular tyre maintenance and replacement, you can ensure a smooth and safe driving experience while minimising environmental impact.

How to Check Tyre Manufacturing Date?

Checking the manufacturing date of a tyre is crucial for ensuring safety and determining its overall condition. The age of a tyre plays a significant role in its performance, as rubber compounds deteriorate over time, leading to decreased grip and increased risk of failure.

Here are the four steps to help you check the manufacturing date of a tyre:

1. Locate the DOT Code

Look for a series of characters imprinted on the sidewall of the tyre. The Department of Transportation (DOT) code combines alphanumeric characters, including the manufacturing date.

2. Identify the Last Four Digits

The last four digits of the DOT code represent the manufacturing date of the tyre. The first two digits indicate the week, and the last two digits represent the year. For instance, if the code ends with "2418," the tyre was manufactured in the 24th week of 2018.

3. Decode the Manufacturing Date

You need to understand the tyre age code to calculate the precise manufacturing date. The first two digits of the year are used instead of the full year. For example, "18" represents 2018, "19" represents 2019, and so on. Combine this information with the week number to determine the exact manufacturing date.

4. Interpret the Results

Once you have deciphered the manufacturing date, evaluate the tyre's age. Tyres typically have a lifespan of six to ten years, depending on various factors such as usage, storage conditions, and maintenance. If the tyre is older than six years, it's important to inspect it more carefully for signs of deterioration.

How to Interpret the Date Code?

Once you spot the code on the sidewall of the tyre, it is necessary for you to interpret it and note it down. For example, let’s use an imaginary code for your understanding. The code is: DOT XXXX4022.

Now, in this, look at the last four digits. The first two digits denote the specific week in which it was manufactured and the last two digits denote the year of manufacture. So, in this example, the tyre was manufactured in the 40th week of the year 2022.

What Factors Affect Tyre Age?

The following four factors are the major factors that are responsible for influencing the age of a tyre:

Storage Conditions of Tyre:

The tyres are made of unique rubber compounds which are temperature sensitive. Storing them in extreme temperatures degrades the quality of tyres and promotes rubber degradation.

Driving Style:

Rash and aggressive driving styles such as sudden braking or hard cornering decrease the life of tyres and provoke the tyre wear rate.

Tyre Inflation:

Proper tyre inflation is a very important factor that influences the tyre age. Under or overinflation causes uneven tyre wear.

Conditions of Road:

Harsh road conditions, such as the presence of potholes, are responsible for increased tyre wear and shorten the tyre’s life.

How to Maintain Car Tyres?

The tips mentioned in the next part of the article have proven to be helpful in maintaining the longevity of tyres:

1. Proper Tyre Pressure:

The tyre pressure needs to be checked quite frequently to rule out over or underinflation.

2. Rotation of Tyres:

Rotation of tyres is very much required after every 6000 to 8000 miles to ensure even tyre wear.

3. Inspection of Tyres:

Inspect your tyres carefully and at regular intervals for any kind of damage, embedded objects or punctures. If present, get it repaired as soon as possible.

4. Safe Driving Habits:

Avoid aggressive driving that in turn reduces the tyre life and makes you prone towards accidents.

5. Proper Tyre Storage:

Do not place your spare tyres under direct sunlight and store them in a cool and dry place to maintain their quality.

After being able to decode the year of manufacture of the year. You will be able to keep a track of its performance and replace it when time comes. Apart from this, you can also follow the tips mentioned in the article to maintain quality and longevity of the tyres.

FAQs about How to Check Tyre Manufacturing Date

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What should I do if I cannot find the tyre manufacturing date?

If you cannot find the tyre manufacturing date, consider going through your car manual's tyre section for guidance. Otherwise, consider contacting a mechanic.

What are the consequences of using old tyres?

Old tyres are more likely to burst, which can cause a crash. They are also more likely to have uneven wear, which can reduce grip and handling. As a result, replacing your tyres every six years is important, even if they still have plenty of tread left.

Can I use a tyre beyond its manufacturing date if it appears to be in good condition?

It is generally not recommended to use a tyre beyond its manufacturing date, even if it appears to be in good condition. The rubber compounds degrade over time, and the tyre's performance and safety can be compromised. It's advisable to consult with a tyre professional or adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding tyre lifespan.

How do I find the manufacturing date for my tyres?

Inspect and observe the tyre very carefully and you will find a 4-digit code written on the sidewalls of the tyre, between two asterisk mark. That code tells us the week and year of manufacture.

What is a 3-digit tyre date?

The 3 digit code for tyres was used before the 2000s when a different system was followed which has become obsolete now.

How to see the Bridgestone tyre manufacturing date?

Just like any other tyre, the Bridgestone tyres also contain a four-digit code in which the first two digits denote the week of manufacture and the last two digits denote the year of manufacture.

How to tell the tyre age?

There is a four-digit code on the sidewall of a tyre that denotes the date of manufacture. Once the code is deciphered, you can easily calculate the age of the tyre.

How many years can a tyre last?

The average lifespan of a tyre is basically 5 to 6 years, after which the tyres are not able to perform optimally.

Do tyres have an expiry date?

Although there is no such expiry date for tyres, there is a period of time till which the tyres can provide optimum performance after which the performance level gradually declines.

How to check tyre life?

The lifespan of the tyre can be deciphered from its manufacturing date and consequently calculated. This will tell you when to replace your old tyres and get a new one.

How to read a tyre code?

Once you find the tyre code, decode it slowly. The first three numbers denote the width of the tyre, the next two numbers tell us about the aspect ratio, the next alphabet specifies the type of construction, the next two numbers are the rim diameter, and the last two digits indicate the load index. The last T is the speed symbol.

How do I check my tyre grade?

Observe your tyre carefully and look for a string of letters and numbers present on the sidewall of the tyre. These numbers and letters provide all the information about the tyres.

What is the age limit for tyres?

Some companies and experts say that a tyre only works good for the first 6 years of manufacture where as some say that they last upto 10 years of manufacture. However, this completely depends on the brand that manufactures them.

How do I check expired tyres?

The expiry of tyres can be checked from the manufacturing date itself. Look for a four-digit code that is in between two asterisks written on the sidewall of your tyre. The first two numbers in that code denote the week number in which it was manufactured.

What is the validity of tyres?

Generally, the manufacturing companies expect the tyres to work properly till 6 years after the date of manufacture. Replacement of tyres after this period helps in safe driving.

How to check tyre lifespan?

The process of checking the lifespan of tyres is very easy. Nowadays, the tyres come with TWI, Tread Wear Indicator, which is a small rubber piece present within the grooves of the tyres. If the tread touches the TWI level, you should replace your tyres as soon as possible.