5 min read · From the bay
Your tyre has a birthday. Here is how to find it.
Somewhere on the sidewall is a four digit code that says when your tyre was made. In Warri heat, it matters as much as the tread.
Find the oval
Look on the sidewall for the letters DOT followed by a string of characters. At the end, usually inside a small oval, are four digits. That is the date code. It may only be on one side, so check the inner wall too.
Read it as week and year
The first two digits are the week, the last two the year. A code of 1424 means week 14 of 2024. A tyre with only three digits was made before 2000 and has no place on a road today.
Check the spare. It is often the oldest tyre on the car.
Why age matters in heat
Rubber contains oils that keep it supple. Heat and sun drive them out, and the tyre slowly hardens and cracks, even sitting in a store. A hard tyre grips less in rain and is more likely to fail on a long run to Benin or Port Harcourt.
What we suggest
Replace tyres at six years old whatever the tread, and check the spare, which is often the oldest tyre on the car. When you buy, ask to see the date code; we show it on every tyre we fit.
Signs of an old tyre
Fine cracks in the sidewall or between tread blocks, a dull grey colour and a hard feel. If you see any of these, bring it in for a free check.
Written by the Treadwell fitters. General guidance; ask us about your own vehicle.