Have you ever wondered what the series of numbers and letters on the sidewall of your tire signifies? If you have ever taken a look at your tires you will notice that there is a series of letters and numbers on every tire sold in North America. This is called the DOT number, and if you know the tire DOT meaning, you can determine important information about your tires that will be helpful if you are planning on keeping or replacing them due to age or wear.
One of the most useful aspects about knowing the DOT number on tires is being able to pinpoint the exact date your tires were made. If you are wondering when a tire is too old to be safe, you can take into consideration the age of the tire, which many tire experts consider to be an important aspect in whether you should be thinking about replacing your tires.
How can I read the DOT code on my tire?
The DOT consists of eight to 13 letters and numbers that identify the tire size, the manufacturer’s code, where the tire was manufactured and – most importantly – the week and year the tire was manufactured. If you are concerned about what should be considered to be an old tire, then knowing how to read the DOT and determine the week and year that your tire was manufactured will be important to you, and help you understand when a tire is too old to be safe.
What is the tire DOT meaning?
DOT stands for the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States. The DOT number on tires certifies the tire manufacturer’s compliance with this organization’s safety standards. The DOT was introduced by the United States in 1971, and this number is used by tire manufacturers worldwide. The longer set of numbers appears on all tires manufactured after that 2000, and is the best way to understand detailed information about your tires, including the date and the location of manufacture. If you are wondering how to interpret the DOT on any tire, then please read on you can learn to read the DOT code on your tires.
If you are currently trying to figure out how to read the DOT code on tires, here are three tips:
- The first two digits of the code represent the week of production during the year (from 1 to 52)
- The second two digits represent the year of manufacture
- If your DOT code is a 3-digit number, it means your tire was produced before 2000
Why do I have to worry about the DOT date?
If you are wondering why do I have to worry about the DOT date, according to the tire experts at websites such as wheels.ca, blackcircles Canada and a number of well-known tire manufacturers, tires should be replaced regardless of the appearance of the tread after approximately six years. The Ministry of Transportation in Ontario suggests all tires should be replaced when they are 10 years old — or when the tread is less than 1.5 millimetres deep, or when the tread-wear indicators touch the road. It’s important to remember that tread on tires will wear out more quickly if you regularly tow a trailer, if you carry a lot of weight in your vehicle, or if your vehicle is an electric vehicle (due to the weight of the batteries).
When is a tire too old to be safe?
As noted above, various experts have somewhat differing guidelines on how to determine when a tire is too old to be considered safe. Generally, if your tires are six years or older, it is time to seriously consider replacing them for safety reasons. On the positive side, buying new tires can help create greater fuel efficiency for your vehicle, reduce in-cabin noise and vibration, and many of the newer tires are manufactured from more advanced materials that add to their longevity, durability, and are better for the environment.
If choosing new tires has you confused, then you just need to reach out to the tire experts at a company like blackcircles Canada. An online tire buying website, the experts at blackcircles can quickly help answer any questions you might have about buying the perfect set of tires for your vehicle, whether you are looking for all-season, winter or all-terrain tires. Blackcircles also features highly competitive pricing on all the brands of tires offered on the website, so no matter what your budget is, we can help. Please reach out to us using email, our online form, instant messenger or simply give us a call.
