How do I tell the age of my tires?

To determine the age of your tires, check the last four digits of the U.S. 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.

How old can a tire be and still be safe?

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 do you read old tire date codes?

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. For example, a date code such as 306 would let you know that the tire was built in the 30th week of a year ending in 6.

Are 8 year old tires safe?

Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there’s no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. … The older a tire gets, the higher the risk of sudden and unexpected tread separation.

Should I buy 3 year old tires?

Three-year-old new tires are perfectly safe, but that doesn’t mean you should be buying them. That’s because if you purchase a three-year-old tire, you’ll need to replace it in three years, even if it still has plenty of life left on the treads.