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

The chronological age of any tire can be found on the tire sidewall by examining the characters following the symbol "DOT". The last four numbers identify the date of manufacture of the tire to the nearest week. The first two of these four numbers identify the week of manufacture (which range from "01" to "53").

How do you read old tire DOT numbers?

The first two numbers of this grouping indicate the week of the year your tire was manufactured. The final two digits indicate the year that your tire was manufactured. For example, if your final four DOT numbers are 3020, your tire was manufactured in the 30th week of 2020.

How do you read a 3 digit tire date code?

Tires built before 2000 featured a three-digit date code at the end of the Tire Identification Number. The first two digits of the date code tell you the week that the tires were built, and the last digit tells you the year.

How do you read the date a tire was made?

Remember that the last four digits of the code are the date the tire was manufactured. You can check the first two digits of the DOT code to know the week of the manufacturing. The last two digits will reveal the manufacturing year.

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.

How old are my tires? // How to check tire age

How do you read tire numbers?

The first number is the load index if the tire is used in a single application, the second number is the load index if the tire is used in a dual application. Passenger type tires cannot be used in a dual application. Light truck tires will also have a Load Range that is indicated by a letter, such as Load Range E.

Where is the tire date code?

On both sides of all tires near the rim, there is a Department of Transportation code or "DOT" number. It is preceded by, you guessed it, the letters DOT. However the date code is (usually) only found on one side of the tire.

What is the DOT code on a tire?

Tires made in the United States have the DOT serial number located on the inside sidewall near the rim. The letters “DOT” are followed by eight to thirteen letters and/or numbers that identify where the tire was manufactured, tire size and the manufacturer's code, along with the week and year the tire was manufactured.

What do the numbers on a tire mean?

The two-digit number after the slash mark in a tire size is the aspect ratio. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65 means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire's width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire's sidewall will be.

Do all tires have date codes?

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.

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 do tire numbers and letters mean?

The number is the load rating, or the amount of weight that it can handle. 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 235 mean on a tire?

So “235” means that the tire has a nominal width of 235 millimeters. The following “55” is the tire wall height as a percentage of the width. So in our example, the actual height in millimeters would be just under 130 mm. Then comes the letter “R” as the identifier for radial tires.

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 are the first 3 numbers of a tire size?

The three numbers on tire size represent the width, the height, and the diameter of the tire, respectively. The width is measured in millimeters and indicates how wide the tire is from side to side. The height is measured in a height-to-width ratio.

What is the first number on a tire?

WIDTH. The first number to appear in your tire size information is the width, in millimeters, of the correct tires for your vehicle: P225/70R16 91S. Tire width always refers to the measurement from one sidewall to another.

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.

Can you replace 225 tires with 235?

No, not OK... all tires should be same diameter. the diameter is the same just more contact with the ground. uh... 225/45/17 and 235/45/17 are NOT the same rolling diameter.

What does H mean on a tire?

“H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tires can go based on their load capacity. This rating ranges from A – Z. “H” indicates a speed rating of up to 130 mph.

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.

Can I use 205 60r16 instead of 205 55r16?

Yes. It will have a slightly lower sidewall height, but should work fine.

What does XL mean on a tire?

XL tyres have been especially developed for use with heavy loads. Generally speaking, the tyre name XL is used for heavy duty tyres. However, the labelling varies between tyre manufacturers. Sometimes you might have XL tyres that are also labelled "reinforced" (RF or RFD), or models labelled EL (Extra Load).

What does the 275 on a tire mean?

The numbers in the tire size refer to its width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter. "275/35R19" means the tire is 275 mm wide, has an aspect ratio (that is, the width divided by the height) of 35%, and fits on a 19" wheel.