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Tires made in 2018: how old, still safe?

A DOT date code ending in 18 was manufactured in 2018. The first two digits are the week. 2618 means week 26 of 2018. A mid-year tire from 2018 is old: Many manufacturers recommend replacement in this range

Week 1 of 2018

Made in week 1 of 2018

Jan 1 to Jan 7, 2018 (approx.)

8 years 9 months · Old

Many manufacturers recommend replacement in this range

Open 0118 in the decoder

Week 26 of 2018

Made in week 26 of 2018

Jun 25 to Jul 1, 2018 (approx.)

8 years 3 months · Old

Many manufacturers recommend replacement in this range

Open 2618 in the decoder

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

Check a 2018 DOT code

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

Read as

Made in week 26 of 2018

Jun 25 to Jul 1, 2018 (approx.)

Old

8 years 3 months

Many manufacturers recommend replacement in this range

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

Format
Date code only

Segments

2618
  • Date
  • Week comes first. 2618 is week 26 of 2018, not week 18 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 2018?

A tire from week 26 of 2018 is 8 years 3 months old as of 2026-10-13. A tire from week 1 is 8 years 9 months. The exact age depends on the week in the DOT code.

Is a 2018 tire too old?

A mid-year 2018 tire is in the “Old” range: Many manufacturers recommend replacement in this range. General guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

What DOT code means 2018?

The last two digits are the year. A code ending in 18, such as 2618, was made in week 26 of 2018. The first two digits are the week, from 01 to 53.

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