Tyre age checker
Enter the four-digit code from your sidewall and find out exactly how old the tyre is — and whether that age alone means it should be replaced.
Four digits on the sidewall, often inside an oval. The first two are the week, the last two the year — so 3419 is week 34 of 2019. It is moulded in full on one side only, so check both sidewalls.
Tread tells you about wear. The date tells you about ageing.
A tyre has two clocks running. One is mileage, which wears the tread away, and that is the one everybody checks. The other is time, which hardens the rubber compound and causes fine cracks in the sidewall, and it runs whether the tyre turns or not.
On a car that covers 12,000 miles a year the first clock usually wins — the tread is gone long before age becomes an issue. On anything that sits still, the second clock wins. Caravans, motorhomes, trailers, classic cars, second cars and spare wheels routinely reach eight or ten years old with most of their original tread intact and a sidewall that is no longer fit to carry load at speed.
That is the failure people do not see coming, because every visual check they know how to do says the tyre is fine.
Where to find the date on your tyre
- Look along the sidewall for the letters DOT followed by a string of characters. The final four digits are the date.
- The four digits are often set inside a small oval or rectangle to make them easier to spot.
- First two digits: the week, from 01 to 53.
- Last two digits: the year.
- The complete code is moulded onto one sidewall only. If you cannot find it, turn the wheel on full lock and check the inner face, or look at the other side of the tyre.
- Tyres made before 2000 used a three-digit code. If you find one, the tyre is at least twenty-six years old and should be replaced immediately.
Full detail on the rest of the sidewall is in our guide to tyre markings.
Five years, seven years, and what sits between
The guidance is clearer for towed vehicles than for cars, and it is worth knowing why.
- Under five years. Age alone is not a reason to replace. Judge the tyre on tread depth, damage and even wear.
- Five to seven years. The British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association advises replacing caravan tyres at five years. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says five; the Camping and Caravanning Club says seven. For a car in regular use, inspect the sidewalls carefully at this point for fine cracking.
- Over seven years. Industry guidance is not to use caravan or trailer tyres beyond seven years at all. For cars, most manufacturers recommend replacement somewhere between six and ten years regardless of tread.
Age is counted from the date of manufacture, not from when the tyre was fitted or when you bought the vehicle. A caravan sold new can carry tyres already a year or two old, and a used one can easily come with tyres older than the previous owner realised. If you tow, our caravan and motorhome checklist covers the rest of the pre-tow checks.
We come to you, anywhere in North Wales
If the checker says replace, you should not have to drive or tow on it to get that done. Our mobile tyre fitting service supplies, fits and balances at your home, on site or at the roadside. Give us the size and the date code when you call and we will bring the right tyre.
Call 07768 491888More guides and tools
Questions, answered
How do I find the age of my tyre?
Look on the sidewall for the letters DOT followed by a code. The final four digits are the manufacturing date: the first two are the week and the last two are the year. So 3419 means week 34 of 2019. The full code appears on one sidewall only, so check both sides if you cannot find it.
How old is too old for a tyre?
Guidance from the British Tyre Manufacturers' Association is that caravan and trailer tyres should be replaced at five years and never used beyond seven, regardless of tread depth. For cars, most manufacturers recommend replacement somewhere between six and ten years. Rubber hardens and cracks with age whether the tyre is used or not.
Does a tyre expire if it has never been used?
Yes. Ageing is caused by time, heat and ultraviolet light rather than mileage, so an unused spare or a tyre stored on a shelf still deteriorates. A spare wheel that has never touched the road can be unfit to use while looking brand new.
What if my tyre has a three-digit date code?
Three-digit codes were used before the year 2000, so any tyre carrying one is at least twenty-six years old. It should be replaced immediately regardless of appearance or tread depth.
Is it illegal to drive on old tyres in the UK?
There is no general age limit for cars, so an old tyre is not automatically illegal, though it must still meet the 1.6 mm tread requirement and be free from cuts and bulges. Age limits do apply to some commercial vehicles. Regardless of the law, tyres over seven years old are widely regarded as unfit for towing.
Where exactly is the date code on the sidewall?
It follows the DOT marking, usually as the last four digits of a longer code, and is often set inside a small oval. Because it is moulded in full on only one sidewall, you may need to turn the steering onto full lock to see the inner face of the tyre.