Beware Your Tire Date Code: How to Tell If Your New Tires Are Actually Old
You can buy tires that look fresh and still set you up for a bad day. Rubber ages. Winter is when you find out fast, because cold roads punish weak tires. If you buy “new-ish” tires online, or you drive on a spare that’s been hiding under your truck for years, you’re playing roulette.
The 30-second check that tells you the truth
Forget tread depth for a minute. And forget the promise of the salesman. Check the DOT tire date code. First, look for the letters “DOT.” That’s the start of the Tire Identification Number (TIN). It’s molded into the rubber near the rim area. The DOT string can be on either side of the tire. If you don’t see it on the outside-facing sidewall, it’s probably on the inside sidewall (turn the steering wheel out for the front tires, or use a flashlight and peek behind).
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The last four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number show the week and year your tire was made. “0420” means week 4 of 2020. If the tire shows only 3 digits at the end, it’s from the 1990s or earlier and it’s not safe for road use today
Use this simple rule: at six years old, treat the tire like milk past the date. It can be fine, or it can be done. At ten years old, it’s done. NHTSA notes that vehicle makers and tire makers commonly recommend pulling tires from service somewhere in the six-to-ten-year range, even if the tire still looks okay.
Now do the part that saves people from the classic “my tire blew out for no reason” story: check the spare. Tire aging guidance shared at an NTSB tire safety symposium flags that many automakers push a six-year replacement rule that also applies to spares. Spares sit, heat-cycle, and never get inspected.
If you’re buying used tires, make the date code your first filter, not the seller’s story.
My Verdict
Your tires expire. Even new ones could be. Your tire salesman may not even know; they are just "from stock". If you want one fast safety flex before winter travel, before you pay the bill, find the DOT tire date code and use the six-and-ten rule. Tread depth lies. Remember, even dealers lie. Date codes don’t.