It’s important for drivers to learn and understand the ins and outs of their vehicle, especially the most crucial parts. That’s why automotive professionals recommend regular service and upkeep to make sure each part of your vehicle is fresh and working properly. In addition to service by professionals, you can also monitor some accuracy and safety elements on your own. For instance, here’s how you can tell how old your tires are.
Car tires should typically be replaced after an average of 25,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on the type of car you drive, the type of terrain you typically drive on, and how well you maintain your tires. But it’s also smart to know how old your tires actually are to determine if it’s time for them to be replaced.
It’s pretty simple to tell a tire’s age. For a tire produced after the year 2000, it’s age can be determined from the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number. Take a look at the side of your tire and make note of the string of numbers and letters that begins with DOT. The last four digits of the list of characters will inform you of the week and year the tire was produced.
For example, if you see “DOT CXLM AIK2505,” the number “25” refers to the 25th week of the year, and the number “05” refers to the year 2005. That means your vehicle’s tires were produced in June 2005. If you see a string of characters that seems incomplete and is missing the last four numbers, check the other side of the tire.
Tires that were produced before the year 2000 used a similar identification system, except only three digits. The first two numbers refer to the week, and the last digit determines the year. At the time, car makers assumed tires would only be working for ten years at a time, so they didn’t see the need to distinguish between decades. For instance, if your tire’s number ends in a nine, the tire could have been produced in 1999, 1989, or 1979, and so on. Although it’s unlikely your tires would have lasted that long, you might consider getting a new set.
Our professionals at Toyota Vacaville can help with that. Contact us to find out more about replacing your car’s tires and servicing your vehicle in other ways.