1. Home
  2. /
  3. Tools
  4. /
  5. Tire date code decoder
  6. /
  7. 2003

Tires made in 2003: how old, still safe?

A DOT date code ending in 03 was manufactured in 2003. The first two digits are the week. 2603 means week 26 of 2003. A mid-year tire from 2003 is replace advised: Past most manufacturer limits regardless of tread

Week 1 of 2003

Made in week 1 of 2003

Dec 30, 2002 to Jan 5, 2003 (approx.)

23 years 9 months · Replace advised

Past most manufacturer limits regardless of tread

Open 0103 in the decoder

Week 26 of 2003

Made in week 26 of 2003

Jun 23 to Jun 29, 2003 (approx.)

23 years 3 months · Replace advised

Past most manufacturer limits regardless of tread

Open 2603 in the decoder

General guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

Check a 2003 DOT code

Enter the last 4 digits of the DOT code or the full code.

Read as

Made in week 26 of 2003

Jun 23 to Jun 29, 2003 (approx.)

Replace advised

23 years 3 months

Past most manufacturer limits regardless of tread

General guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

Format
Date code only

Segments

2603
  • Date
  • Week comes first. 2603 is week 26 of 2003, not week 3 of 2026.

Find used tires near you · Search junkyards for wheels

Where the DOT code sits on a tireA tire sidewall with the DOT code molded on the outer side. The date is the last four digits.DOTDOT 4B H7 JK2319Week 23, then year 2019The full code is often on one sidewall only.Check the other side if the date is missing.
The letters DOT certify the tire. They are not part of the identification number. The last four digits are the week and the year. Tires made before 2000 use three digits, and a triangle means the 1990s.

Week ranges use ISO weeks, Monday through Sunday, and are approximate. Tire makers count weeks on their own calendars. The regulation describes a Sunday-to-Saturday week. Plant names come from the free NHTSA vPIC list. 49 CFR 574.5

Plant data from NHTSA, updated October 13, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How old is a tire made in 2003?

A tire from week 26 of 2003 is 23 years 3 months old as of 2026-10-13. A tire from week 1 is 23 years 9 months. The exact age depends on the week in the DOT code.

Is a 2003 tire too old?

A mid-year 2003 tire is in the “Replace advised” range: Past most manufacturer limits regardless of tread. General guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

What DOT code means 2003?

The last two digits are the year. A code ending in 03, such as 2603, was made in week 26 of 2003. The first two digits are the week, from 01 to 53.

Tire size calculator · Junkyard directory · Find used tires near you