Locations

Find Out the Age of Your Tires

Did you know tire age is an important factor to consider when determining whether you need new tires installed? Most motorists look at tread depth as the primary indicator of a tire’s useful road life. In reality, age should also be a part of the conversation. Today, some automotive manufacturers are recommending drivers should change tires every six years. Even if there’s a decent amount of tread remaining, the material that makes up the tire can lose effectiveness. A good analogy is a rubber band. Give a rubber band a few years and it will become brittle until it eventually hardens and breaks when stretched. Tires are similar. They last long but they can’t last forever.

If you’re curious about how old your tires are, check out the sidewall. You’ll want to look for the letters DOT followed by 10-12 characters. The last four digits tell you the week and year of manufacture. For example, 2210 would be the twenty-second week of 2010.

Tires made before 2000 only use three digits to indicate the date. Like newer model tires, you can discover the week the tire was manufactured by looking at the first two numbers. The last digit will indicate the year. For example, 306 would be the thirtieth week of 1996. One problem with tires made before 2000 is that the year doesn’t specify the decade. 306 might also mean your tire was created in 1986, etc.

When you’re in the market for new tires, stop by Gary's Auto Service in Florissant, MO. We offer a wide selection of passenger car and light truck tires from trusted names. Get started online now or visit us during our business hours. We’re happy to assist with your next tire search.

Find My Tires See All Tire Brands