1. Home
  2. /
  3. Tools
  4. /
  5. Tire date code decoder
  6. /
  7. 2021

Tires made in 2021: how old, still safe?

A DOT date code ending in 21 was manufactured in 2021. The first two digits are the week. 2621 means week 26 of 2021. A mid-year tire from 2021 is check: Inspect for cracks, have it checked yearly after 5

Week 1 of 2021

Made in week 1 of 2021

Jan 4 to Jan 10, 2021 (approx.)

5 years 9 months · Check

Inspect for cracks, have it checked yearly after 5

Open 0121 in the decoder

Week 26 of 2021

Made in week 26 of 2021

Jun 28 to Jul 4, 2021 (approx.)

5 years 3 months · Check

Inspect for cracks, have it checked yearly after 5

Open 2621 in the decoder

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

Check a 2021 DOT code

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

Read as

Made in week 26 of 2021

Jun 28 to Jul 4, 2021 (approx.)

Check

5 years 3 months

Inspect for cracks, have it checked yearly after 5

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

Format
Date code only

Segments

2621
  • Date
  • Week comes first. 2621 is week 26 of 2021, not week 21 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 2021?

A tire from week 26 of 2021 is 5 years 3 months old as of 2026-10-22. A tire from week 1 is 5 years 9 months. The exact age depends on the week in the DOT code.

Is a 2021 tire too old?

A mid-year 2021 tire is in the “Check” range: Inspect for cracks, have it checked yearly after 5. General guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

What DOT code means 2021?

The last two digits are the year. A code ending in 21, such as 2621, was made in week 26 of 2021. The first two digits are the week, from 01 to 53.

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