{"id":23182,"date":"2026-08-09T02:40:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T02:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youragecalculator.com\/blog\/?p=23182"},"modified":"2026-08-09T02:40:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T02:40:42","slug":"tire-age-calculator-how-to-read-dot-code-know-when-tires-are-too-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youragecalculator.com\/blog\/tire-age-calculator-how-to-read-dot-code-know-when-tires-are-too-old\/","title":{"rendered":"Tire Age Calculator: How to Read the DOT Code and Know When Tires Are Too Old"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most drivers can tell you their tire size but almost none can tell you their tires’ birth date<\/strong>. That matters, because tires degrade from the inside out even when the tread looks fine \u2014 and age, not wear, is what makes old tires dangerous. Here is how to find your tire’s age in under a minute, why the date matters, and when it is time to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Find Your Tire’s Age: The DOT Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every tire sold in the US has a DOT code stamped on the sidewall \u2014 a sequence starting with \u201cDOT\u201d followed by letters and numbers. The last four characters are the date code. The first two are the week, the last two are the year. A tire stamped 3219<\/strong> was made in the 32nd week of 2019. A code with only three digits (e.g. 329<\/strong>) means the 32nd week of 1999 \u2014 a tire that old should be replaced immediately, no questions asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the sidewall is hard to read, check the inner side of the tire or use a flashlight \u2014 and remember the code is on every<\/em> tire, so check all four (and the spare). If you would rather not decode it manually, use our Tire Age Calculator<\/a> \u2014 enter the DOT code or the manufacture date and it tells you exactly how old the tire is in years and months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 6-Year and 10-Year Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n