Tire DOT date codes: reading the week stamp before you mount 'new' tires
How to read tire DOT date codes, weigh warehouse age, and inspect an online order before mounting.
Edited by Nicole
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The DOT Tire Identification Number ends in four date digits: week, then year; 3525 means week 35 of 2025. Check all four tires and both sidewalls because the full number may appear on one side. NHTSA says aging reflects service, storage, and environmental conditions and cannot be detected simply by looking.
49 CFR 574.5 requires the manufacture date code but does not state a universal expiration age. We have not found a universal age limit in NHTSA guidance; that is our reading, not a quotation. NHTSA says some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacement at six to ten years regardless of treadwear. Follow exact maker guidance and consider condition, performance, use, and inspection rules.
An online listing may not state how long a set has been stored. Ask for the manufacture date before checkout and confirm that the return window covers inspection before mounting. Return eligibility can depend on the seller and mounting status. Photograph all four codes before mounting; ask about different years. Keep the invoice, verify the exact warranty terms, and check the spare.
For older inventory, age informs the decision rather than proving a tire unsafe. Compare the manufacture date, storage history if available, and maker guidance. Use the load range guide and seller return policies guide before checkout.
A current tread name can appear on older inventory, and the date code does not replace fitment. Verify tire size, wheel diameter, load range or index, speed rating, and quantity. Apply those checks to the Falken Wildpeak A/T4W or other options in wheel and tire clearance.
For the underlying rule and safety guidance, read NHTSA Tire Safety and the official 49 CFR 574.5 tire-identification requirement.
Common questions
Does a DOT tire date code create a legal expiration date?
Not under the federal marking rule. The code identifies manufacture week and year; it is not itself a universal expiration deadline. That is an inference from the rule and NHTSA guidance, not a statement about every state, inspection program, or vehicle use. Follow applicable maker guidance and jurisdiction-specific rules.
How old is too old for a truck tire?
No single age applies to every tire. NHTSA says some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacement at six to ten years regardless of treadwear. Follow the exact maker guidance and check condition and performance; consult a tire professional if either raises a concern.
Product pages to compare
- Tire size
- Load index or load range
- Manufacture date code
- Return terms
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