Tire Age Checker
Quick Answer: Enter the 4 digits of the DOT code on the sidewall. The first 2 digits are the week your tire was made and the last 2 are the year, so 2321 means week 23 of 2021. The checker turns that code into a date, an age in years and months, and a verdict: safe, inspect, or replace.
Check Your Tire Age
Find the DOT code on your tire sidewall and type the last 4 digits below. You can also paste the full DOT code, for example DOT 4B2K 1923, and the tool reads the date from the end. The result updates as you type. Nothing you enter leaves this page.
The first 2 digits are the week (01 to 53). The last 2 digits are the year. 2321 means week 23 of 2021.
Turns 6 years old: - | Turns 10 years old: -
Result copied.
Where to Find the DOT Code on the Tire Sidewall
How the Tire Age Checker Works
Every tire made since 2000 carries its birth date, molded into the sidewall as part of the DOT code. The last four digits of that code are the date code. The first two digits give the week of the year the tire was made, and the last two digits give the year. A code ending in 2321 means the tire was made in week 23 of 2021. Once you know that week, the math is simple: the age of the tire is the time from the start of that week to today.
Our tire age checker does that math for you. Type in the last four digits, or paste the full DOT code, and it shows the week and year of manufacture, the date that week began, the age in years and months, and the total months. It also shows when the tire turns six and ten. The verdict follows the guidance from NHTSA and the tire makers: under six years is safe, six to nine years means inspect, and ten years or more means replace.
The week start date follows the federal rule in 49 CFR 574.5. Week 01 is the first full calendar week of the year, running Sunday through Saturday. The age is counted from that Sunday, so the result is accurate to within a few days.
How to Use the Tire Age Checker
Using the tool takes less than a minute. You do not need to jack up the car or remove a wheel.
- Find the DOT code. Look at the sidewall of the tire for the letters DOT followed by letters and numbers. The code is molded in raised print near the rim. If you cannot see it on the outside, check the inside sidewall. The full code is only on one side.
- Read the last four digits. Ignore the plant code and maker code in the middle. Only the final four digits matter for age.
- Enter the code. Type the four digits into the box above. The result updates as you type.
- Read the verdict. Safe means keep driving and keep checking pressure and tread. Inspect means have a tire professional look at the tire at least once a year. Replace means the tire has reached the end of its safe life, even if the tread still looks deep.
- Check all five tires. Use the position buttons above to work through the left front, right front, left rear, right rear, and the spare. Tires on the same car are often different ages, and the spare is usually the oldest of all.
How to Read a DOT Code
The DOT code is the Tire Identification Number, or TIN. NHTSA requires it on every new tire sold in the United States. It has 13 symbols on a modern tire, split into four parts.
| Part | Length | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOT symbol | 3 letters | Certifies the tire meets federal safety standards | DOT |
| Plant code | 3 symbols | Identifies the factory that made the tire. NHTSA assigns it | 4B2 |
| Maker code | 6 symbols | Describes the tire or identifies the brand owner. The meaning is kept in the maker records | K3R7XD |
| Date code | 4 digits | Week and year of manufacture. Two digits for the week, two for the year | 2321 |
Only the date code tells you the age. If your tire was made before 2000, the date code has only three digits, and Bridgestone says it should be replaced due to age.
DOT Date Code Examples
Here are some real date codes and the weeks they decode to. The week-begin dates follow the Sunday-through-Saturday rule above.
| Date Code | Week | Year | Week Begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0126 | 1 | 2026 | Jan 4, 2026 |
| 0725 | 7 | 2025 | Feb 16, 2025 |
| 1725 | 17 | 2025 | Apr 27, 2025 |
| 2321 | 23 | 2021 | Jun 6, 2021 |
| 3619 | 36 | 2019 | Sep 1, 2019 |
| 4221 | 42 | 2021 | Oct 17, 2021 |
| 4720 | 47 | 2020 | Nov 22, 2020 |
What Manufacturers Say About Tire Age
There is no federal age limit for passenger car tires in the United States, and the makers do not all agree. NHTSA says some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to ten years old, regardless of treadwear. The table below shows who says what, based on NHTSA and maker pages and owner manuals.
| Tire Age | Source | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 years | No age limit reached | Bridgestone: if a tire is older than 6 years and shows aging, ask a tire expert |
| 6 to 9 years | Vehicle maker guidance | Ford (2025 F-150), Mazda (CX-5, CX-9, CX-30, Mazda3, MX-5), GMC (2025 Sierra), and Tesla (Model 3, Model Y): replace at about 6 years. Toyota and Lexus: a tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician. Audi: use tires over six years old only when absolutely necessary |
| 10 years or more | Tire maker guidance | Michelin: replace tires in service 10 years or more from manufacture, including spares, even if they appear serviceable. Bridgestone: remove its tires from service after ten years regardless of tread depth |
When the sources disagree, follow the most careful guidance that applies to your car. Your owner manual wins, and a tire professional who can see the tire in person wins over any online tool.
Why Tire Age Matters More Than Tread
Tread depth shows wear. Age shows something tread cannot show: the condition of the rubber itself. Tire rubber is a compound that ages from the day it is made. Oxygen, sunlight, heat, and ozone slowly harden it in a process called oxidation. As rubber hardens, grip falls, especially in wet weather, and small cracks can open. This happens to tires that are driven every day and to tires that sit in storage.
NHTSA explains that you cannot detect aging just by looking at a tire. A tire can have deep tread and be unsafe because the rubber has lost its grip. Aging hits hardest on cars that are not driven often, such as recreational vehicles and collector cars, and on tires in warm, sunny climates. Low-mileage cars are the most likely to have old tires with good tread, so check the age, not just the miles.
Heat speeds aging up. A tire that lives in Arizona or Texas ages faster than the same tire in Minnesota. Sunlight does the same. Garage parking and correct pressure slow aging down, but nothing stops it.
Signs of an Aging Tire
Age alone is a reason to replace a tire, but these visible signs mean the tire needs attention right away, whatever its age.
- Sidewall cracking: fine cracks, sometimes called dry rot, mean the rubber is drying out. Deep or spreading cracks are a warning.
- Cracks between the tread blocks: look in the grooves. Cracks there mean the rubber is breaking down where it flexes most.
- Bulges or blisters: a bulge on the sidewall means the inner structure is damaged. Do not drive on a bulging tire.
- Uneven wear: wear on one edge or in the center can mean wrong pressure or bad alignment.
Check tread depth too. NHTSA says tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. Use the penny test or a tread depth gauge, and check the pressure monthly.
Spare Tires Age Too
The spare is the tire most drivers forget, and it is usually the oldest tire on the car. NHTSA warns that spare tires are prone to aging because they are seldom replaced, and it recommends that a full-size spare not be used as a replacement for worn tires except in an emergency. Ford says to replace the spare when you replace the road tires or after six years. Michelin includes spares in its ten-year rule. Audi says to drive very carefully on a collapsible spare that is more than six years old.
Check the DOT code on your spare today. If it is ten years old, replace it before you need it on the side of a highway at night.
Check the Date Before You Buy New Tires
Always check the DOT code before a new tire is fitted, not after. A new tire can be one or two years old when you buy it, and that is normal, because tires are made in batches and spend time in warehouses and shops. But a tire that is already three years old has used up a large share of its safe life. Ask for a fresher tire if the one on offer is over three years old. When you buy a used car, check the DOT code on every tire as part of the inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read the DOT code to find my tire age?
Look for the letters DOT on the tire sidewall, then read the Tire Identification Number that follows it. The last four digits are the date code. The first two digits are the week of manufacture and the last two are the year. A code ending in 2321 means the tire was made in week 23 of 2021. Type those four digits into the checker above to get the exact date and age.
Where exactly is the DOT code on a tire?
The DOT code is molded into the sidewall of the tire, in raised letters and numbers near the rim. The full code is only on one side of the tire, so if you cannot see it, check the other side. On some cars the code faces inward, and you may need to turn the steering wheel or crouch down to read it.
How old is too old for a tire, even if the tread looks good?
There is no single legal age limit in the United States. NHTSA says some vehicle and tire makers recommend replacing tires that are six to ten years old, regardless of treadwear. Ford, Mazda, GMC, and Tesla manuals say about six years. Michelin and Bridgestone say ten years. A tire can look fine and still have hardened rubber, so age matters as much as tread.
What does a 3-digit DOT date code mean?
A three-digit date code means the tire was made before the year 2000, using the older week plus one-digit-year format. That makes the tire at least 26 years old today. Bridgestone says a tire with a three-digit date code should be replaced due to age, no matter how good it looks.
Do tires expire if they are never used?
Yes. Rubber hardens with age even when a tire sits unused, because oxygen, heat, and sunlight break it down. A spare tire that has never touched the road can still be too old to trust. Check the DOT code on your spare the same way you check the four tires on the ground.
Can I safely use 7 or 8 year old tires?
A tire at seven or eight years old falls in the inspect zone. Some makers say replace at about six years, while Michelin and Bridgestone set the limit at ten. Have a tire professional inspect the tire for cracks, bulging, and hardening, check your owner manual, and follow the most careful guidance that applies to your car.
Do tires have an expiry date printed on them?
No. Tires do not carry a printed expiry date. The DOT date code gives the manufacture date, and the age limits come from NHTSA guidance and the tire and vehicle makers. Use the checker above to turn the date code into an age, then compare it with the six-year and ten-year limits.
How old can a new tire be when I buy it?
A new tire can be one or two years old when you buy it, and that is normal. Tires are made in batches and spend time in warehouses and shops. Check the DOT code before the tire is fitted, and ask for a fresher one if the tire is already over three years old. A tire that is five years old before it is ever fitted has already used up half of its safe life.
Reviewed by the AutoFixr Editorial Team. Every fact in this guide was checked against NHTSA guidance and tire maker statements. Age limits vary by vehicle and tire maker. Always follow your owner manual and have your tires inspected by a qualified professional.