Where is the Date Code on a Tire and How Do I Read It

Question:

Bought some 235/80/16 F rating with no date, how do I tell when they were made?

asked by: Michele

Expert Reply:

There should be a four digit code on the sidewall of the tire directly after the DOT sequence that states when the tire was made. This code could be on one side or both but if the tire is DOT approved then it will be present, or was at one time. The first two numbers in the code are the week and the last two numbers in the code are the year. For example, if the date code is 2511 then the tire was made on the 25th week of 2011. There is no way to tell when the tire was made if the code has worn off unfortunately.

I have attached a photo that shows where the date code is on a tire for you as well. This will be the same for passenger (P), special trailer (ST), and light truck (LT) tires.

expert reply by: Conner L