Every tyre carries a DOT code moulded into its sidewall. It shows where and when the tyre was made and is required on tyres sold in the United States. The most useful part for most people is the last four digits, the date code, which tells you the exact week and year the tyre was built. Enter your code in the decoder below to read it instantly, or read on to understand what each part means.
Enter your full DOT code or just the last four digits
The date code is the last four digits of the DOT code. The first two digits are the week of the year, from 01 to 53. The last two digits are the year. So a tyre marked 0926 was made in the ninth week of 2026. You will find the DOT code on the lower sidewall, near the rim. On many tyres the full code is on one side and a shorter version on the other, so check both sides if you cannot find the date.
Annotated Tire Identification Number
Ahead of the date code, the DOT code carries a few more groups. The letters DOT confirm the tyre meets United States safety standards. The next characters identify the factory that made it along with the tyre size and type. The whole string is called the Tire Identification Number, or TIN, and its purpose is traceability, so a specific batch can be found and recalled if a problem is ever discovered.
Many tyre makers and safety bodies suggest taking a closer look at tyres once they pass six years from the manufacture date, and replacing them by around ten years regardless of tread, because rubber ages even when a tyre is barely used. Use the date from the decoder above as your starting point, and have a professional check any tyre you are unsure about.
Under 6 years
Normal service
6 to 10 years
Professional inspection recommended
Over 10 years
Replacement recommended regardless of tread
If you manufacture tyres, a wrong or missing DOT code is a recall risk, and a first piece check is not enough because the week code changes every week. YAFE reads and validates the DOT code on every tyre inline, at full line speed, in about two seconds.
See DOT code validation