Tire Codes

[fogdot]

I know my tires are old, but I don't know how old. I don't see the DOT dating code on the outside of the tire (whitewall side).
Would it be on the other side? When did they start putting the code on the tires? I suspect my tires are older than that.
Dave

 

[Geo Hahn]

If they are too old to have a code... then they are too old.

As I recall, the code may appear on only one side of the tire. Mine are all blackwalls so I just look until I find one on the outer side.

I'm thinking the code system changed in the year 2000 with a 2-digit year instead of a 1-digit. Don't know exactly when the coding began but have certainly seen it on tires from the 90s and have seen tires without it that were probably from the 80s.

 

[TR3driver]

If they are too old to have a code... then they are too old.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif The only exception would be if they are not DOT-approved tires (but I wouldn't use those either).

Here's some further reading :

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=33

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=138

 

[mike crane]

Dave
Tires have had to have a DOT code since the early seventies. On whitesidewall tires the code will be on the blackwall side. Your concern will be the last three numbers as they indicate the month and year of manufacture. i.e a tire manufactured this week would have a date code of 507. Remember this rolls over each ten years. The other letters and numbers indicate manufacturer, plant location, etc.
HTH
Mike C (tire salesman)

 

[Guest]

Why would you want to keep old, unsafe tires on your car? If you want the look of OE Redlines for show, I suppose that would make sense, as new ones are quite expensive. But not for driving. I have a friend that (stupidly) brought his highly modified TR6 up to 90 mph when his OE Redlines blew (three at once). He is lucky to be alive and unscathed. His TR6 didn't fair quite as well. Totaled.

 

[fogdot]

Dave
Tires have had to have a DOT code since the early seventies. On whitesidewall tires the code will be on the blackwall side. Your concern will be the last three numbers as they indicate the month and year of manufacture. i.e a tire manufactured this week would have a date code of 507. Remember this rolls over each ten years. The other letters and numbers indicate manufacturer, plant location, etc.
HTH
Mike C (tire salesman)

The closest thing to a date is near the DOT impression with a probable date of 674. Wow, 33 year old tires?
What is a modern tire that will look authentic, and not break the bank? Wire wheels, I presume take a tube.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...a tire manufactured this week would have a date code of 507...

Actually I think it would say 5007 since they went to a 2-digit year in 2000.

The closest thing to a date is near the DOT impression with a probable date of 674...

Hmmm - that is a non-sequitur per the above links and my own experience, but I'll admit I had other things on my mind in 1974 and can't say for sure if tires had a date back then and if so what format might have been used.