Motorists have to change the wheels twice a year. If you do not have a set of tires to prepare the car for the winter, you need to purchase it. You may need to buy used tires. In order not to make a mistake with the choice of the right wheels, you need to familiarize yourself with the code entries on the tires. Many people get the impression that they don’t matter. In fact, every sign means something. Let’s understand the values of the codes on the tires.
The code on tires in the U.S. is called DOT (Department of Transportation). It confirms the compliance of the tire with the requirements adopted by the organization that controls the safety of road traffic in the country. The code was introduced back in 1971 and has spread to cars all over the world. In 2000, the code was made longer by including additional tire data.
How to read a DOT number
The code is affixed to the side of the tyre. In the beginning, you see the word DOT. Then digits from 10 to 12 follow. They reveal important information about tires.
The code of the plant and the size of the tire
The initial characters symbolize the manufacturer’s code. The next 2 digits show the size of the tire. This information is important in cases where you have to recall defective products. With the help of this code, the manufacturer determines the plant at which the defect was allowed. This code also helps to inform the owners of such tires about the presence of defects. In addition, dealers are now required to take contact information from all buyers and register the dot numbers of manufacturers, in order to ensure universal safety.
Brand code
This code allows the manufacturer to track various modifications of the brand.
Release dates
If the tires are made before the year 2000, you need to look at the final three digits to check the week of manufacture. For example, the three-digit number 052 is shown. You have to understand that the tire is produced in the fifth week. It is problematic to know the year of release. The last digit indicates it. But on the tires designed before 2000 it is difficult to see the decade of release, since only a single-digit number is given. Therefore, to determine the exact year of release of the tire, you need to look at additional parameters.
Tires produced in 2000 and later have 13 characters. For the date of manufacture, the final 4 digits of the pillbox are responsible. You can’t go wrong here. The first two of the four numbers show the number of the week, the other two indicate the year of release. For example, the combination of the numbers 1205 makes it clear to us that the tire was produced in the 12th week of 2005.
Why should we know the date of manufacture
When we buy tires, we don’t know how long they’ve been in stock or in the store. Sometimes a motorist does not have the opportunity to buy new wheels. But paying money for very old tires is also unprofitable.
It is known that after two years of use, tires lose essential oils, on which their flexibility depends. Such products begin to crack, provide a weak grip on the road.
The tires you bought may look attractive. Maybe the size of the protectors meets the safety requirements. But you need to keep in mind that tires after six years need to be changed, regardless of appearance. So before you buy used tires, check the week and year of production.
Do not delay with the replacement of tires. Check the parameters of the pillbox, look at the condition of the protectors. Fresh tires will solve several tasks:
- reduce fuel overconsumption
- allow you to purchase products made of more durable modern materials;
- reduce noise and vibration both in the cabin and in other parts of the car.
Try to follow these tips to make driving safe.