Year of the tire. Deciphering the marking of tires

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

If it is necessary to replace old tires with new ones, all motorists have the question of how to find out their year of manufacture. It can be read on the rim of tires, because each manufacturer must indicate the date of manufacture without fail. But there are no uniform standards, so sometimes it can be difficult to do. You can read about where on the tires you can find the year of manufacture, about their service life and recommended operating conditions in this article.

Tire markings

On each tire you can find a set of signs and symbols. At first glance, it may seem that the parameters of the load, tire design or size are very complex. But in fact, any motorist can understand the marking and decoding of a tire. As a rule, the following characteristics can be found on tires:

• Tyre type - this designation identifies a tube or tubeless tire.
• Tire size - includes several values: width, profile height and size of the inner ring. Usually indicated in the format 210/55-18.
• Load index - shows the maximum permissible weight that wheels with maximum internal pressure can support.
• Manufacturer - this inscription is usually in large and noticeable letters. This indicator is the first thing that motorists pay attention to when choosing tires.
• Seasonality - The All Season designation indicates the possibility of year-round use of such wheels.
• Speed index - shows the maximum allowed speed.
• The date of manufacture is usually indicated by a four-digit code, by which you can find out in which month and year the tires were produced.
• Weather Conditions - If you see umbrella markings on tires, they are most likely designed for wet and rainy weather and have high hydroplaning protection.

Tire life

Most drivers know that there are two things you shouldn't skimp on in a car: brakes and wheels. Tires are a key element of your safety, because they provide traction and efficient braking. Both your he alth and the service life of the car depend on how high-quality and properly selected they are. Therefore, the issue of choosing tires should always be approached with special care.

Over time, tires wear out, so you need to have time to replace them in timefor new ones. It is better to do this a little earlier than to ride on tires that have worn down to the very base of the tread. What is the service life of tires? Of course, a lot depends on the operating conditions. But the maximum allowable period is considered to be a mark of 45 thousand kilometers. Experts do not recommend further delaying the change of wheels. Seasonality and careful driving help to prolong the life of the wheels.

Why know the date of manufacture of tires

So does it make sense to look at the date of manufacture of tires, because the number of kilometers on them is not displayed anyway? This parameter should be recognized when buying new tires. In this case, it is useful to know when they were made. Due to improper storage, they can deteriorate, and in this case, the newer the product, the better. With the right temperature conditions, tires can be safely stored for 3-5 years. But before buying such products, you need to carefully inspect the tires for cracks, wear and other traces. Ask the seller for a quality certificate to avoid unpleasant situations.

How to find out the year of manufacture of a tire

You can find out when the tire was produced by reading the corresponding marking. Where is the year of manufacture on the tires? Each batch of manufactured products has a four-digit code, in which the year of manufacture of a car tire is hidden. This date is usually located on the rubber rim. For convenience, they are often in an oval stamp, so finding these numbers is not difficult.

The date itself usually consists of three or four digits, whichindicate the month and year of manufacture. For example, the designation "0815" can be decoded as follows:

• 08 - the eighth week of the year, i.e. the end of February;
• 15 – year of issue.

Thus, reading this designation, you can immediately understand that the tire was released in August 2015. The four-digit designation was introduced in 2000, so when you see three numbers instead of four, you can immediately understand that such rubber was released in the last century.

Year of manufacture on Japanese tires

On Japanese tire brands, the expiration date is indicated in the same way as on all others. The year of manufacture on Nokian tires is indicated on the side surface, next to the DOT inscription. If you could not find the date of manufacture when buying used rubber, then it is better to postpone such an acquisition, because it is not known how long it has already “lived”. How to find out the years of manufacture of a tire if the date has been erased or is not visible? It is possible to determine the wear period of tires by eye. How can you recognize old tires?

• Loss of elasticity - if you start to bend the rubber, it will hardly give in. The newly released item can be easily bent, as the new tires are elastic and more durable.
• The appearance of cracks - the smallest of them may not be visible to the human eye. You can find them if you bend the tire a little. Such a product, most likely, has already been used and it is better not to buy it.
• The dark gray color of the tires can also indicate their long-term production.
• ViolationGeometry is one of the most noticeable signs of improper tire storage. It is also better to refuse such a product, because no one knows how long such “new” tires will last.

What else should I look for when buying tires?

When choosing a new "shoe" for your car, it is important to pay attention not only to the year of manufacture of tires. There are a number of signs by which you can understand that the goods were stored incorrectly:

• Swellings and hernias on the surface of the tire - indicate that the tires have already been used. In no case should you buy such tires, because such neoplasms cause tire imbalance, which cannot be removed in any tire shop.
• Microcracks on the sidewall - most likely, a product with such problems is no longer eligible for sale due to improper storage or expiration of the service life.
• Traces of welding or sealant - indicate that "restorers" have worked on the tire. Some tires can still be restored, there are even entire companies that do this. But often vulcanizing pastes that seal cuts and cracks are ineffective. The tires start to deflate, the car drives, in general, you definitely won’t get any pleasure from driving on such tires.

Even when buying used tires, carefully inspect them for the above signs. If you find at least one of them, postpone such a purchase for later.

Extend tire life

Tire life depends not only on the year of manufacture of the tire, but also on how you store it. After a seasonal replacement of wheels, many send them to gather dust in cold garages, or even worse - on the street. Such treatment reduces the life of tires by two or even three times. What rules do you need to follow in order for the rubber to serve you for a long time?

• Compliance with the temperature regime is the main condition for the safety of tires. At the same time, low temperatures are not as scary for them as elevated ones. Above 25 degrees, the rubber begins to deform at the molecular level, and this negatively affects its performance.
• Optimum humidity is also very important for maintaining all the qualities of tires. If the room is too humid, moisture will settle on the surface of the rubber. In such conditions, nothing critical will happen in a couple of months, but if the tires are stored in such a room from year to year, you will not have to count on their long service life.
• For tire storage, a vertical position is preferable. Do not dump tires "column" on top of each other. Rubber should also not be left in direct sunlight, because this may cause cracks on the surface.

Expert Tips

There is an opinion among motorists that it is best to buy all tires of the same year of manufacture, so the car's grip will be better. But tires of different batches are not easy to match with the same release dates, and is it necessary? Experts say that the year of manufacture of the tireabsolutely does not affect its parameters in any way, if the product was stored correctly and the deadlines were observed. Therefore, if you bought 5-6-year-old tires on sale at a discount, do not think that they will not last very long.

It is better to buy such tires from a well-known manufacturer than tires from an unknown brand that just rolled off the assembly line. Believe me, the former are more likely to work out their 5-7 years without problems. If you are determined to buy only the best tires, then it is better to look at the new products on the market. They will definitely be with the latest production date.

Results

When choosing new or used tires, be sure to pay attention to the date of manufacture. How to check the year of manufacture of a tire? It is necessary to pay attention to the color and the presence of cracks on the surface of the rubber. Old tires go from black to gray, and a scattering of cracks can be seen on their surface. If you come across such a product, ask to bring a product from a newer supply or refuse to purchase altogether. But don't forget about other parameters when choosing tires: evaluate the height of the profile, make sure that they exactly fit your car. Choose seasonal tires, store them properly, and then they will serve you for many years!