Tyres age – even if they're hardly driven. Over time the rubber loses elasticity and becomes hard and cracked. The tyre age is printed right on the sidewall.
How to read the DOT code
Look for the letters DOT on the sidewall. At the end of the code there's a field with four digits:
- the first two digits are the production week,
- the last two digits the production year.
Example: 2524 means made in week 25 of 2024.
How old can a tyre be?
In Germany there is no legal age limit for car tyres. One exception is trailers approved for 100 km/h: their tyres must be less than six years old.
Regardless of that: from about six years, tyres should be checked regularly and carefully for cracks, hardening and deformation. Even a tyre with plenty of tread can be too old.
Stored properly, tyres age considerably more slowly. Read how in our article on tyre storage.
We take a look
When we change your tyres, we check the DOT code and the condition of your tyres – and let you know if a set should be replaced.
Rein Reifen GmbH · Mönchengladbach
