3805 identifies the manufacturing date. The first two digits represent the week, and the last two digits represent the year. Therefore, in this example, the tire was manufactured in the 38th week of 2005. As a general rule, you should never use tires that are more than 6 years old.

How do you read tire date codes?

The last four digits of this code tell you when your tire was manufactured. The first two numbers indicate what week of the year it was made (out of 52 weeks per year), and the second two numbers represent the year. For example, 5200 would reveal that a tire was manufactured during the 52nd week of the year 2000.

Where is the date stamp on a tire?

To determine the age of your tires, check the last four digits of the U.S. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number stamped on the tires sidewall contains a date code that identifies the age of your tires.

How long is a tires shelf life?

six years A large body of scientific evidence supports that most tires should be replaced six years from the date they are manufactured. This six-year expiration date begins from the day the tire was manufactured at the plant—not the date it was sold to a consumer or the date that it was installed on a vehicle.

Is it better to buy all 4 tires at once?

If so, most vehicle manufacturers and the Tire Industry Association (TIA) recommend that you always replace all four tires at the same time. Thats because the reduced diameter of the lower-tread tires causes them to spin faster than the new one.

Should I buy all 4 tires?

Some manufacturers of all-wheel-drive vehicles recommend that all four tires be replaced, not just one or two, because a new tire will have a larger overall diameter than the other tires. The best approach, though, is to replace all four if the tread on the old tires is significantly worn.