How to Tell the Age of a Tire: Reading the DOT Date Code
Published Oct 23, 2026 · 4 min read · By Hassan, Owner of Roadmate Services
Every tire has a birthday. It just writes it in code. How to tell the age of a tire: find the DOT code on the sidewall and read the four digits at its end. The first two are the week, the last two the year, so 2319 means week 23 of 2019. If you only see “DOT” and some letters, the full code is on the other side.
Quick answer: tire age at a glance
| Date code or age | What it means | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 digits, e.g. 2319 | Made in week 23 of 2019 | Count the age from this date | NHTSA, Discount Tire |
| 3 digits, e.g. 439 | Made before 2000 | Replace it | Discount Tire |
| 5 years or older | The rubber is ageing | Have it inspected every year | Michelin |
| Around 6 years | Retailer guidance | Many shops suggest replacing | Discount Tire |
| 10 years or older | Too old, whatever the tread | Replace it | Michelin, Bridgestone |
Sources: NHTSA, Discount Tire (tire retailer), Michelin, Bridgestone. Checked October 2026.
How to tell how old a tire is in 4 steps
- Find the tire DOT code. Look on the sidewall for the letters “DOT” and a string of letters and numbers. The full code is often on one side only, which may face under the car. On a front tire, turn the steering wheel all the way to see it.
- Find the four-digit date code. Tire date codes sit at the very end of the DOT code, usually inside a small raised oval.
- Read the week, then the year. 1422 means week 14 of 2022. Week 23 of 2019 is not a vintage worth keeping in the cellar.
- Three digits? It was made before 2000. Before 2000 the code used three digits: 439 means week 43 of 1999. A tire that old is decades past the 10-year limit, so replace it.
What the rest of the DOT code means
The full string is the Tire Identification Number. According to NHTSA, the characters after “DOT” identify the factory, the tire size and, optionally, the manufacturer’s own code, with the date code last. The rest matters mainly for recalls. Think of it as the tire’s passport, with the birthday in the last box.
Date of manufacture vs the date you bought the tire
Tire age counts from the date of manufacture on the sidewall, not from the receipt. Tires can sit in a warehouse before anyone fits them, so read the codes before new ones go on. A “new” tire can spend its first few years in storage and still smell like the store.
How old is too old for a tire?
Cheese gets better with age. Tires did not get that memo. Rubber hardens with age, even on a tire with plenty of tread. Michelin says to have tires inspected every year once they are 5 years old. Discount Tire, a tire retailer, suggests considering replacement around 6 years. Michelin and Bridgestone say to replace any tire at 10 years, whatever the tread looks like.
Tread depth and damage matter too; see when to change tires.
Check these tires too
- The spare. It ages from its own DOT date, used or not. See how long you can drive on a spare tire.
- Used tires. Read all four codes before you pay. Good tread on an old tire is a nice coat of paint on a tired fence.
- A car you just bought. A low-mileage car can still wear its original, ageing tires.
Old tire failed on the road in Columbus?
If you are on a highway shoulder, get safe first: pull as far off as you can, hazards on, and stay buckled in or behind the barrier. Then call.
We inflate and fit your spare, or bring a used or new replacement tire. If the tire cannot be repaired and there is no usable spare, we take it to a shop, get it replaced and bring it back (quoted by phone).
Tire change in Columbus: estimated $85 to $175.
We arrive in about 32 minutes on average, depending on traffic, weather and location, 6 AM to 8 PM daily.
Not everything is a roadside job, and we will say so. We get you moving today, but replacing an ageing set is a tire shop’s job. As Hassan puts it, you cannot plan a flat, but good tires help you avoid some of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is it okay to use 7 year old tires?
Possibly, if the tread is deep enough and the sidewalls show no cracks or bulges. Michelin says to have tires inspected every year from 5 years old. Plan to replace it before 10.
Are 10 year old tires still OK?
No. Michelin and Bridgestone say to replace tires 10 years after the date of manufacture, whatever the tread looks like.
Are 9-year-old tires with good tread still good?
Tread depth does not show age, and rubber hardens over time. Have them inspected now and plan to replace them before 10 years.
Where is the date code on a tire?
At the end of the DOT code on the sidewall, usually in a small oval. The full code is often on one side only, which may face under the car.
Does a spare tire expire?
A spare ages from its own DOT date, used or not. Replace it at 10 years even if it has never touched the road.
What age does to rubber: dry rot tires.
The bottom line
The last four digits of the DOT code are the week and year the tire was made. Have tires inspected yearly from 5 years and replace them at 10, whatever the tread, the spare included. More on tire safety: NHTSA tires.
Flat tire in Columbus?
Call (380) 288-2822, 6 AM to 8 PM daily, Eastern Time. A dispatcher confirms the price and an arrival estimate before anyone heads your way.
May every tire on your car be younger than your favourite hoodie.