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Tire date code decoder

Paste the last four digits of a DOT code, or the full code from the sidewall. See the manufacture week, year, and age, plus the plant when NHTSA has it. The decode runs in your browser.

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

Read as

Made in week 26 of 2015

Jun 22 to Jun 28, 2015 (approx.)

Replace advised

11 years 4 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

2615
  • Date
  • Week comes first. 2615 is week 26 of 2015, not week 15 of 2026.

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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.

Tires by year

See how old a tire from each year is, and what that age means before you buy a used set.

  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000

How to read the tire date code

  1. Find the DOT code molded into the sidewall. The full code, including the date, is often on one side only.
  2. Enter the last four digits, or the full code after DOT. Week comes first, then the year.
  3. Read the manufacture week, the approximate date range, and the age guidance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I read the tire date code?

The last four digits of the DOT code are the date. The first two are the week and the last two are the year. 2319 means week 23 of 2019. The letters before that are the plant and size codes. DOT itself is not part of the number.

How old is too old for a tire?

Under 3 years there is usually no age concern. From 3 to 6 years, inspect for cracks and have the tire checked yearly after 5. Many manufacturers recommend replacement from 6 to 10 years, and most advise against using a tire past 10 years regardless of tread. This is general guidance, not a safety inspection. Follow the tire and vehicle maker's recommendation.

What does a 3-digit DOT code mean?

Tires made before 2000 used three digits: two for the week and one for the year. 239 can mean week 23 of 1989 or 1999. A triangle after the code marks the 1990s. A tire from before 2000 is past common replacement guidelines.

Where is the DOT code on a tire?

It is molded into the sidewall, usually after the letters DOT. The full code, including the date, is often on only one side. The other side may show DOT and the beginning of the code without the date. Check both sidewalls.

Related converters

  • Tire size calculatorDecode 225/45R17 into width, sidewall height, and overall diameter. See close equivalent tire sizes that fit the same rim at a salvage yard.
  • Weeks between dates calculatorCalculate time between two dates in weeks, months and weeks, years, and exact days. Pick a past date and an event date to see every breakdown.
  • Free VIN decoderDecode a 17-character VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See year, make, model, engine, body, plant, and trim. Spec lookup only — not a title or theft check.

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