Tyre age plays an important role in your car’s maintenance needs. Knowing how old your tyres are lets you handle your vehicle with more care and provide the maintenance needed to keep working.
Many tyre brands imprint DOT code on the sidewall. The DOT code indicates the place and date of manufacture of the tyre. Some tyre brands, like tyres Thurmaston, imprint DOT codes to easily tell the age of the tyres and Mobile Tyre Fitting Leicester.
Let’s say you bought a used car for your daily use. What if we tell you that you can easily identify the age by looking at the tyre date code?
How Do I Determine the Tyre’s Age?
Whether you have a car or a bike, you need to know how to figure out your tyre age. I know it seems like a task for a technically minded person, but finding the manufacture date of your car tyres is a simple thing to do.
It doesn’t matter which tyre brand you choose; your car tyre has a few numbers and letters embossed on the sidewall. These characters, followed by DOT (Department of Transportation), represent the information you are looking for to know your tyre age.
Normally, you may find up to 13 alpha-numeric characters to help you know the tyre age code. These characters let vehicle owners and automobile experts learn more about how old the tyres are.
How Can You Tell Your Tyre Age?
The characters mentioned in your tyre sidewall mean several things, including the tyre manufacturer and age. Let’s gain a deeper understanding of their meaning.
For this example, we will cover the details of 13-character tyres because recent legislation has increased the number to thirteen characters.
The first three-digit tyre date code character shows the tyre factory or plant code.
The next six characters talk about the tyre’s size, type, and other characteristics.
The last four characters represent the manufacture date; these characters will tell you how you can tell the year of the tyre’s manufacture.
Let us understand how you can identify the tyre date code location in the last four characters. In general, the first two characters show the week, while the other two highlight the year.
What Are Tyre Age Limits, and Why Are They Important?
Knowing your tyre’s age is highly important. If you ignore the tyre’s age, you may be at a huge risk while driving your vehicle. Many vehicle owners ask how to know if the tyre age limits have been reached. Over time, the rubber on your car’s tyres wears off naturally.
As per the DOT tyre age laws, changing your car’s tyre every six years can prevent any tyre blowouts and damages. We have mentioned a few important signs below to help you know when you need to replace your tyres. Speeding up or down your vehicle can help you identify if the noise is coming from the tyre or other wheel components.
Uneven Surface
If your car’s tyres have an uneven surface, it’s a good idea to replace them as soon as possible to avoid any alignment problems. It doesn’t matter what the age of the tyre is; your tyre’s uneven surface indicates a replacement warning that you should not ignore.
Noisy Movement
When you drive your car at high speed, you may lower the music volume to notice if your tyre makes noisy contact with the road. Noisy tyres indicate the depletion of the tyre’s tread. Speeding up or down your vehicle can help you identify if the noise is coming from the tyre or other wheel components.
Bulges & Cracks
When the tyre nears or reaches its age limit, it often shows bulges and cracks on the tyre surface. You may take such indications as a warning to change your car’s tyre. If left ignored, those bulges and cracks may result in tyre blowouts.
Air Pressure Problems
If you notice air pressure issues in your car tyres too often, it may be a sign of poor tyre condition. When tyres become weak, the air pressure lowers because air is escaping from minor puncture holes. Low air pressure can often lead to serious accidents.
If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, you need to consult a tyre expert in your area to get your tyres replaced with new ones. Keep an eye on your tyre age limits, as it can save you from any tyre trouble.
How Do You Read Tyre Age Like a Pro?
If you’re wondering how you can read a tyre’s age like a professional, you can refer to the tyre’s DOT information and check the tyre’s age.
These professional tyre experts offer inspection and replacement services. They also teach drivers or vehicle owners how to read tyre manufacture dates to avoid any market scams.
When tyres become weak, the air pressure lowers because air is escaping from minor puncture holes. Low air pressure can often lead to serious accidents.
If you want a spare or Car Tyres Leicester that gives you sufficient miles at a lower price, then consider mobile tyre fitting. They are affordable and offer sufficient miles.
