How Old Is My Tyre? Reading the DOT Date Code
How to find and read the four-digit date code on your tyre, why age matters even with good tread, and when an old tyre should go.
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Tread depth tells you how worn a tyre is, but not how old it is. A tyre that has done very few miles can still be years past its best, especially on a spare wheel, a caravan or a car that spends most of its time parked.
Every modern tyre has its date of manufacture moulded into the sidewall. Once you know where to look, it takes seconds to read.
Short answer: Find the letters DOT on the sidewall and look at the last four digits of the code that follows, usually inside an oval.
- The first two digits are the week of manufacture (01 to 52).
- The last two digits are the year.
- So 2321 means week 23 of 2021, and 0819 means week 8 of 2019.
A code with only three digits means the tyre was made before 2000 and should be replaced.
Where to Find the Date Code on a Tyre
Look on the sidewall for the letters DOT, followed by a string of letters and numbers. DOT stands for the US Department of Transportation, but tyres sold in the UK and Europe carry the same code. The early part identifies the factory and the tyre type. The date is the final group of four digits, often in a slightly raised oval at the end.
Some manufacturers only put the full code with the date on one side of the tyre. If you cannot find it on the outside face, it may be on the inner sidewall facing the suspension. You may need a torch, and on some cars it is easier to check with the steering turned to full lock.
How to Read the Four Digits
| Code | Made in |
|---|---|
| 0124 | Week 1 of 2024 (early January) |
| 3520 | Week 35 of 2020 (late August or early September) |
| 5016 | Week 50 of 2016 (mid-December) |
| 478 (three digits) | Week 47 of a year ending in 8, before 2000 |
Before 2000, tyres used a three-digit code: two digits for the week and one for the year within the decade. Because the decade is not shown, you cannot tell whether a three-digit tyre is from the 1980s or 1990s, but either way it is far too old to rely on.
How Old Is Too Old for a Tyre?
There is no UK law setting a maximum age for car tyres. Instead, guidance comes from tyre and vehicle manufacturers, and it varies. A common approach is:
- from around five years old, have the tyres inspected regularly for signs of ageing, as well as tread depth;
- at ten years from manufacture, replace the tyre even if it looks fine and has legal tread;
- if your car’s handbook or the tyre maker gives a shorter limit, follow that.
Ten years is a ceiling, not a target. A tyre that has been under-inflated, overloaded, parked in strong sun or left standing for long periods can deteriorate well before then.
Signs of an Ageing Tyre
Rubber slowly hardens and breaks down over time, through heat, sunlight and ozone in the air. As it does, the tyre loses grip, particularly in the wet, and becomes more likely to fail. Look for:
- Fine cracks in the sidewall: often called crazing, a network of small surface cracks, usually first seen near the rim or in the sidewall lettering.
- Cracks at the base of the tread grooves: or between tread blocks, which can deepen with time.
- Hard, shiny or faded rubber: especially on tyres that have stood still outdoors.
- Bulges or distortion: a sign that the internal structure has separated. A tyre with a bulge needs replacing straight away; see our guide to a bulge in a tyre sidewall.
Shallow surface crazing does not always mean immediate danger, but cracks deep enough to reach the cords inside the tyre do. If you are unsure, have a fitter look. Our list of signs your tyre needs replacing covers other things to check at the same time.
Spare Wheels, Caravans and Cars That Sit Still
The tyres most likely to be dangerously old are the ones that hardly get used.
- Full-size spares: on an older car, the spare may be the original tyre from when the car was new. It can look perfect because it has never touched the road. Check its date code and pressure now, not when you are at the roadside with a flat.
- Caravans and trailers: these tyres often wear out through age long before the tread goes, because the caravan stands for months at a time and the tyres carry a heavy load in one position. Caravan organisations commonly advise replacing caravan tyres at around five years old regardless of tread, so check the date codes before each touring season.
- Second cars, classics and motorhomes: low mileage means the tread can last for many years, so age, not wear, usually decides when the tyres are replaced.
Should You Check the Date on New Tyres?
Tyres do not leave the factory and go straight onto cars. They are stored by distributors and retailers first, so a new tyre being a year or two old when fitted is normal. Correctly stored, unused tyres age far more slowly than tyres in service, and the manufacturer’s guarantee applies to new tyres regardless. If you are buying second-hand, though, the date code is one of the most useful things to check. Our article on part-worn tyres explains why.
The UK Rule for Older Tyres on Buses and Coaches
For context, the UK does have an age rule for some heavy vehicles. Since 1 February 2021, tyres aged ten years or more have been banned from the front axles of lorries, buses and coaches, and from all single-wheel positions on minibuses, and the date code must be legible. These rules do not apply to private cars, but they show how seriously tyre age is taken where a failure could have severe consequences.
Replacing Old Tyres
If your date codes show tyres that are older than you expected, or you have found cracking, our mobile tyre fitting service can replace them at your home, workplace or wherever the vehicle is parked, including the spare. We fit car, van and light commercial tyres, with free wheel balancing and old tyre disposal included.
Call 07989 606060, 24 hours a day, or send us your postcode and tyre size on WhatsApp. We cover England and Wales and aim to reach you within 60 minutes in most cases.
