DOT on a tyre, i.e. the year of manufacture of the tires - check if the date of manufacture matters.

When looking for specific information about the age of tires, sooner or later you will find the DOT marking. what is this? This is an abbreviation for Transport department, which means "Faculty of Transport" in Polish. The year of manufacture of tires is always indicated on the profile in the presence of the abbreviation DOT. What does this symbol look like and what does it mean? To learn more!

What is the production date of the tires?

When looking at the tire from the sidewall, you will see the word "DOT" followed by several codes. Depending on the manufacturer, these may be:

• marking informing about the place of manufacture of the tire;
• scale code;
• mark. 

The last place in the sequence is occupied by 4 (previously 3) digits that determine the year of manufacture of the tire. They can occur without a clear gap between them, as well as with a visible border.

How to check the year of a tire installed on a car?

If you already know the DOT number of the tire, deciphering the tire's production date is very easy. We will use an example. In the tire profile you will find a series of numbers, for example 3107. What does this mean? The first number, 31, indicates the week of tire production in that year. The second is the end of the given year, in this case 2007. Isn't it all simple? However, things are not always so trivial. Why?

How to check the age of an old tire?

What about cars made before 2000? In theory, they should no longer be in circulation due to the level of exploitation. Suppose, however, that you come across an instance with number 279 and an additional triangle at the end. Getting started is not a problem because 27 is a week of the year. 9 and the triangle behind the number mean 1999. Manufacturers had no idea how to distinguish the year of manufacture of tires from the 80s and 90s. Therefore, those produced in the last decade of the 2000 century were additionally marked with a triangle. From the age of 4, they began to enter a string of XNUMX digits and the problem was solved.

Tire age and regulations, i.e. how old can tires be?

Many people wonder how old tires can be. Interestingly, the regulations do not specify the allowable age of the tire. You will not meet the reaction of a policeman who says that since you have 8-year-old tires, they should be replaced. The wear condition is mainly determined by the tread height. And it cannot be lower than 1,6 mm. If the "DOT" on a tire shows it is several years old but shows no signs of excessive wear, it can still be used.

Does the year of manufacture of a tire affect its properties?

Tires are consumables, so their wear is not even on every machine. Bah, it is not even in one car between the axles. Therefore, it cannot be said that tires are suitable for replacement after a certain period of time. It's like saying that since the turbocharger in the car is already 10 years old, it must be replaced with a new one. With proper maintenance, it can last a very long time. The same is true for tires, the life of which largely depends on the care of the owner of the vehicle.

How old can a tire be to provide adequate grip?

However, with age, even the most well-groomed part, subjected to constant use, simply wears out. Although tire life is not predetermined, tire companies suggest when to change tires. What time frame are we talking about? It's about 10 years old. However, it should be bluntly stated that very few tires will last a decade. Therefore, the year of manufacture of tires will not be of decisive importance, and you should rather pay attention to their technical and visual condition.

Tire life - how many kilometers does each type last?

Manufacturers indicate in the technical specification the approximate mileage of specific models. Of course, it can't be set hard, because one can really ride very softly and the tires will last longer. A driver who likes to drive hard wears out tires much earlier. And what exactly does it look like in numbers?

How many years can you ride winter tires?

The year of manufacture of tires says a lot about their condition, but not everything. However, in the case of winter specimens, this is important. Rubber prepared for the production of such tires is definitely softer. Therefore, it hardens over time, especially if the wheels are not properly stored. However, 6 years is supposed to be the upper limit for winter tires. Much depends on when they change - if the temperature exceeds 10-15^oC, they wear out faster than during frost.

How many kilometers do summer tires run?

The driver's driving style has the greatest influence on the life of summer tires. Also don't forget to change tires if you don't have directional spears in your inventory. Then the tires wear evenly. Drivers most often achieve a mileage of 60-100 thousand kilometers on good quality summer tires. Of course, the year of manufacture of tires cannot indicate that they are more than 10 years old, because then their quality deteriorates.

What is the lifespan of all season tires?

Drivers using all-season tires notice that they wear out a little faster than special tires. No wonder - they should have a mixture suitable for winter and summer. Sometimes the temperature difference between seasons can reach 50 degrees.^oC, so it makes a big difference in longevity. Therefore, good quality all-season examples can usually be driven up to 50 kilometers.

You already know how important the tire year is. And how to keep tires in good condition for a long time? First of all - take care of the correct air pressure in the tires. Avoid hard braking and acceleration with squealing tires. Try to spin the wheels every time you change a wheel. Also observe the correct storage conditions. Then the tires will definitely serve you longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to check the year of manufacture of tires?

You will find the DOT numbers on the sidewall of the tire. They define different tire parameters. At the end of this code, you will find four digits indicating the date the tire was manufactured.

Does a tire have an expiration date?

It is assumed that tires should be used for a maximum of 10 years, because it is during this period that they retain their properties. In addition to the age of the tire, the height of its tread is important - if it is less than 1,6 mm, you need to replace the tires with new ones.

How important is the tire year?

Tires are a working element of the car, on which driving safety largely depends. The year of manufacture may indicate that the tire needs a tread check or a complete replacement. It is suggested that once a tire is 5 years old, it should be inspected approximately every 12 months.