By accessing/using The Crittenden Automotive Library/CarsAndRacingStuff.com, you signify your agreement with the Terms of Use on our Legal Information page. Our Privacy Policy is also available there.

How Old Are Your Tires?

How Old Are Your Tires?

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
August 19, 2008

Do you know how old the tires are on your vehicles?

Watch this ABC News broadcast that aired on July 24, 2008: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Next, go out to your car and find the code on each of your tires. Write down the numbers and then transcribe the code into the month and year of production. The first two digits indicate the week of the year in which your tires were manufactured. The last two digits indicate the year.

For example, "3605" is stamped on two of my tires. "36" denotes the 36th week of the year; "05" indicates the year, 2005. I bought my tires in December 2005, so I feel okay about the age of the tires. If your tires have only three digits, the third digit indicates the year in the 1990s when your tire was made.

Next, find your receipt for the tires. When did you buy them? Do you consider that the tires were new when you bought them?

Feel as safe on your tires now as you did before you checked? Ask your tire dealer about tire safety of old tires.

My other two tires? No numbers are stamped in the oval area for the manufacturing date on those tires. Hmmmmm.......maybe the numbers are on the sidewall visible from under the car.