Tire age calculator
Enter the last four digits of your tire's DOT code to decode exactly when it was made, how old it is today, and whether age alone means it is time to replace it.
Age is only one factor. A tire can need replacing well before these thresholds for low tread, punctures, sidewall damage, or uneven wear. This tool reads modern (post-2000) four-digit codes; three-digit codes are pre-2000 and mean the tire is far too old to use.
Related
Read the full explainer on tire age and when to replace, check what pressure to run, and keep a good tire inflator on hand.
Common questions
Where is the DOT date code on a tire?
It is stamped into the sidewall as part of the DOT code, which starts with the letters DOT followed by a string of characters. The last four digits are the manufacture date: the first two are the week of the year and the last two are the year. Sometimes the full date code is only on the inboard side of the tire.
How do I read a tire date code?
Read the final four digits as week then year. A code ending in 3419 means the tire was built in the 34th week of 2019. If your tire has only three digits at the end, it was made before 2000 and is far too old to be in service.
How old is too old for a tire?
Many manufacturers advise a professional inspection every year once a tire passes six years, and most recommend replacing any tire at ten years from its manufacture date regardless of remaining tread. Aged rubber hardens and cracks, which raises the risk of failure even on a tire that looks fine.
Does a tire expire even if it is never used?
Yes. Age affects the rubber whether or not the tire is driven, so an unused spare or a new-old-stock tire that has sat for years can already be past its safe life. Check the date code on spares and on any tire sold as new but possibly old stock.
Is tire age more important than tread depth?
Both matter and either can end a tire's life first. Tread depth governs grip and wet braking day to day, while age governs how brittle the rubber has become. A tire with deep tread but a ten-year-old date code should still be replaced.