DOT tire date code decoder
Find the oval at the end of the DOT code on the sidewall — the last 4 digits are the week and year the tire was made.
How the date code works
- The tire identification number starts with DOT, then the plant code, size code and an optional manufacturer code. The last 4 digits are the date: week (01–53) and the last two digits of the year.
2319= 23rd week of 2019. - Week 01 is the first full calendar week of the year, starting on Sunday. Example from the regulation:
0109= the week of Sunday, January 4 to Saturday, January 10, 2009. - Tires made before 2000 have a 3-digit date code (week + one digit of the year), so the decade cannot be read from the code.
- The full date code is often molded on only one sidewall — check both sides.
How old is too old? US law sets no expiry date. Tire makers such as Michelin advise a yearly inspection by a professional after 5 years in service and replacing tires 10 years after the date of manufacture regardless of tread. Follow your tire and vehicle maker's guidance.
Source: 49 CFR 574.5 (Tire identification requirements), Michelin tire buying guide. Checked October 2026.