How do you read a tire date code?

The last four numbers represent the manufacturer's date. The first two numbers indicate the week, while the last two indicate the year. (For example, a tire with the number 2910 was manufactured in the 29th week of 2010.)

How do you tell how old a tire is by the numbers?

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 do you decode a tire code?

The last four numbers give the date of production which let you know how old your tires are with the first two digits indicating the week and the latter two the year (for example, "2318" means that tire was produced in the 23rd week of 2018).

How many years do tires expire?

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.

Are 7 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.

How to read dot dates on car tires AND read where they were made.

Do tires get old if not used?

If not used, tires last for 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.

What do numbers on tires mean?

The first three-digits refer to the Tire Width. The Tire Width is a measurement of the tire, sidewall to sidewall, in millimeters. In our example, the Tire Width is 205mm. After the slash is a two-digit number, which dictates the Aspect Ratio. This ratio measures the height of the tire's cross-section to its width.

What do the 3 numbers mean on tire size?

B: TIRE WIDTH The three-digit number following the letter is the tire's width (from side to side, looking at the tire head on) in millimeters. This may also be referred to as the section width. C: ASPECT RATIO The forward slash separates the tire width number from the two-digit aspect ratio.

What does the first 3 numbers on a tire mean?

The first three-digit number in the tire size refers to the tire width. For instance, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the width is 215 millimeters.

What does H and W mean on tires?

The most common ratings are S and T (sedans, minivans, light trucks); H (some passenger cars, sports cars, coupes, some light trucks); N, P, Q and R (light trucks); and V, W and Y (high-performance and some electric vehicles). Most winter tires have Q, S or T speed ratings.

What does the letter at the end of a tire size mean?

The letter is the speed rating, or the maximum speed the tire is built for. As an example, a tire rated 90R could safely carry 1,323 pounds and travel at 106 mph. Consult a load and speed index to find out what your tire's specific rating means.

What does the second number on a tire mean?

The second number, 65, is the aspect ratio, which means that the height of the tire is 65% of the tire's width for this example. The bigger the aspect ratio, the larger the sidewall of the tire. The last number, 15, is the rim diameter of the wheel that the tire will fit.

What does 92y mean on a tire?

In this case, the 92 means it can support 1,389 pounds. The Y is the speed rating, or the maximum speed the tire was designed to withstand and maintain. Back to the Z. The letter used to designate the highest possible speed rating, and it meant the tire could withstand more than 149 mph.

Is it OK to buy 5 year old tires?

"The rule of thumb for the lifespan of tires is five years," says Al Premji, owner of Vancouver's ABC Tire. "After about five years, the rubber becomes hard and, even if the tires are looking good, the traction reduces and weakens quite dramatically, actually.

Are 20 year old tires safe?

Per BRMA, unused tires over six years old should never be put in service, and all tires should be replaced after 10 years from their date of manufacture. JATMA recommends inspection after five years and replacement after 10, regardless of treadwear and overall condition.

Do tires have an expiry date?

Every tire has a birth date—the day it was manufactured—and an expiration date that is six years from that manufacture date. Most automobile manufacturers warn drivers to replace vehicle tires after six years.

Can I use 245 tires instead of 235?

The quick answer is yes you can replace 245/50-18 tyres with 235/50-18 but they will have 10mm (0.4 in) smaller overall diameter. Will only slightly effect speedo and odometer - ie speedo will read about 1.5% high.

What does XL mean on a tire?

XL (or Reinforced) tyres are 'extra load' tyres – they indicate that a tyre is reinforced to be able to withstand a higher load than other tyres of the same size.

What does the letter at the beginning of a tire code represent?

Put another way: the first letter tells you exactly what kind of vehicle a tire is compatible with. “P” stands for passenger vehicle (cars, vans, SUV's, and pickup trucks). “LT” is an abbreviation for “light truck.” “T” indicates it is a temporary spare that should only be used for a little while when you have a flat.

What does the letter D mean on tires?

The D indicates that the tire is a diagonal bias ply construction and the R indicates that the tire is a radial tire construction. Beyond the size and type, there are load ranges for tires. Most trailer tires are load range B, C or D.

What does the R stand for in tire size?

“R” stands for the construction method of the tire indicating the tire is a radial tire. The following two numbers (16) indicate the diameter of the wheel rim in inches. The next two or three numbers (94) indicate the load index of the tire. In the example, 94 means the tire can carry 670kg.

What are Z rated tires?

A “Z” rating can mean different things. While it nearly always means a high performance tire for high-performing sports cars, “Z” may actually appear in the middle of a tire's size information. When it does, it represents either a maximum speed of more than 149 mph (240 kph) or 186 mph (300 kph).

Which is better H or T rated tires?

The “T” or “H” on tires pertain to their speed ratings. A T-rated tire can withstand top speeds of up to 118 mph (190 km/h), while an H-rated tire can support up to 130 mph (210 km/h). It is important to note these markings and stay within those speed limits.

What does BSW mean on a tire?

OWL = Outlined White Letters. RWL = Raised White Letters. ORWL = Outlined Raised White Letters. B, BLK, BW, BSW = Blackwall or Black Sidewall.