One of the most useful markings on your tire’s sidewall is the DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN). It looks technical at first glance, but once you know what each part means, you can quickly check when and where a tire was made—and confirm key details about it.
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Look for the letters “DOT” on the sidewall. The DOT designation appears on both sides of the tire: - One side shows the full DOT code, ending with the four‑digit date code (week and year of manufacture). - The other side may show only “DOT” and the manufacturer’s plant code.
The DOT code contains the manufacturer’s plant code, tire size, brand characteristics, and the date the tire was produced.
Example: “DOT CC9L XYZ 1023” - CC: Manufacturer’s plant code (which exact plant built the tire) - 9L: Tire size - XYZ: Brand characteristics (assigned by the manufacturer) - 1023: Tire date code (10th week of 2023). Tires made on or after January 1, 2000 use a four‑digit date code: first two digits = week, last two = year.
Now that you know how to read your DOT code, take a moment to register your tires.
Before 2000, the date code used three digits: - First two digits = week of production - Last digit = year of the decade
Example: “439” means the 43rd week of 1999.
Your tire’s age matters. We recommend considering tire replacement at six years of age. For your safety, we will not service tires that are 10 years or older. If you’re unsure about your tire’s age or condition, stop by any Discount Tire location and we’ll help you confirm what you have and what to do next.
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