How Old Are My Tires?
Decode a tire DOT date code, estimate when the tire was made, identify the manufacturing plant when available, and learn what the numbers mean.
Quick Summary
For tires manufactured since 2000, the last four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number show the production week and year. For example, 0226 means the tire was made during the second DOT production week of 2026.
Enter the full DOT code when you have it. This tool will try to identify the plant code, decode the date code, estimate the tire's age, and create a shareable educational result.
Tire age checker
Enter a complete DOT code, the last four date-code digits, or the first three plant-code characters after DOT.
How to read the last four DOT digits
For tires manufactured since 2000, the last four digits identify the week and year of manufacture. The first two digits are the production week. The last two digits are the year.
Example: DOT U2LL LMLR 5107 means the tire was manufactured during the 51st DOT production week of 2007.
Important limitations
This tire age checker is educational. It does not determine whether a tire is safe, legal, roadworthy, recalled, properly stored, or fit for service. Tire age is one factor. Tread depth, cracking, impact damage, repairs, heat exposure, storage conditions, inflation, loading, and vehicle manufacturer guidance also matter.
For safety-critical decisions, follow the tire manufacturer, vehicle manufacturer, qualified tire professional, and applicable regulatory guidance.
Tire age FAQ
Does the DOT date code show the exact day my tire was made?
No. The last four digits identify a production week and year, not a specific day.
Why does my tire only show part of the DOT code?
The complete Tire Identification Number may be on only one sidewall. If you only see DOT and a few characters, the complete date code may be on the inward-facing sidewall. Do not crawl under a vehicle or place yourself in an unsafe position to read it.
Is a tire automatically expired after a certain age?
Not from the date code alone. Age is important, but tire condition and manufacturer guidance matter. Many manufacturers give age-based inspection or replacement guidance, especially around older tires.