Tyre age: how to read the DOT code on the sidewall

Rubber hardens with age even in a garage, and the tread can still look almost new. The production date is hidden in the DOT code, and checking it takes a minute.

• Find the letters DOT on the sidewall and the group of characters after them. The full code is sometimes moulded on one side only, so check both.
• Look at the last four digits. They give the production date: the first two are the week, the second two are the year.
• Example: 2420 means week 24 of 2020. A three-digit code means the tyre was made before 2000, and it is definitely unfit for use.
• Inspect the sidewalls and tread for fine cracks, drying out and hardened rubber. These signs matter more than age in years.
• Check both tyres. Front and rear can be from different years, so read each date separately.
• If a tyre is older than 5 to 6 years or shows cracks, take it to a tyre shop and replace it. Also follow the tyre maker's guidance and your owner's manual.