TIRE CENTER · Damage, wear & replacement
Tire age & DOT date codes
Find when the tire was made
The road tire’s identification marking is its DOT/Tire Identification Number (TIN). The final four date digits give its manufacture week and year; the complete marking may be on the other sidewall.
Find the date, then enlarge it
Two events, different meanings
Tire age matters—even with tread remaining
Rubber and internal materials age even when the patterned tread is not worn out. Condition, cracking, damage, wear, storage, use or applicable manufacturer instructions can require replacement sooner. An age recommendation does not promise safe use until that age.
Speedy J’s recommends replacing trailer tires every 3 years from the tire’s manufacture date. A trailer tire may require replacement sooner because of tread wear, cracking/weathering, damage, impact, improper inflation, overloading, exposed cords, a structural bulge / impact break, abnormal wear or other condition/application concerns. Age alone does not make a trailer tire safe or serviceable until three years; applicable manufacturer and application requirements still apply.
Check all tires and their history
Check the spare as well as the tires in use, when safely accessible. Record the manufacture date and any installation/history information; ask about inspection or replacement when age or condition is uncertain.
Sources and Technical Notes
Technical concepts reviewed 2026-10-11. Actual application instructions remain controlling.
- Michelin: tire markings (opens in a new tab)
- Michelin: when to replace tires (opens in a new tab)
- Ford U.S. owner’s manual: tire replacement requirements and six-year age guidance (opens in a new tab)
- Michelin FAQs: precautionary ten-year replacement includes spare tires (opens in a new tab)
Application-specific details and scope
Michelin recommends thorough professional inspection at least annually after five years of service and precautionary replacement at ten years from manufacture, including spares. The cited Ford owner’s manual gives six-year replacement guidance regardless of tread, with earlier replacement in some conditions. These manufacturer-specific recommendations illustrate why the actual vehicle/tire instructions matter; they are not universal federal tire-expiration laws.
The three-year trailer replacement interval is Speedy J’s service recommendation, not a universal federal law or a claim that every tire manufacturer mandates the same interval.