If you need to find out how old your current tires are, start by reading its Tire Identification Number (often referred to as the tire’s serial number). Unlike vehicle identification numbers (VINs), Tire Identification Numbers are actually production codes that identify the week and year the tire was manufactured.
Since 2000, the week and year the tire was produced has been provided by the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number. The first two digits being used to identify the week, while the last two digits tell the year.
Example of a tire manufactured since 2000 with the current Tire Identification Number format:
Tire Identification Numbers for tires produced prior to 2000 were based on the assumption that tires would not be in service for ten years. While they were required to provide the same information as today’s tires, the week and year the tire was produced was contained in the last three digits. The first two digits were used to identify the week a tire was manufactured, immediately followed by a single digit to identify the year.
While a tire might look like it has quite a bit of life left in it based on a visual inspection of the sidewalls and tread depth, it's important to keep the age of the tire in mind when considering the best time to replace your tires. For help on determining when the right time is to start shopping for new tires, read "When Should I Replace My Tires?"