Maintenance ScheduleTyre age
How old is this tyre?
Read the four-digit DOT code on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week, the last two the year.
Read the DOT date code
The last four digits of the code are the week and year.
Result
Enter the code
What the code means
A four-digit code is the week and year of manufacture: 2321 is week 23 of 2021. The code is moulded into the sidewall, usually after the letters DOT. This calculator turns it into the week’s date range and the tyre’s age today.
Three-digit codes were used before 2000. They are explained on the page but not dated, because the year is ambiguous.
What the UK rule says
Since 1 February 2021 it is illegal to use tyres over 10 years old on the front axles of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches, and on single wheels of minibuses. The rule does not apply to cars. On other axles, older tyres are lawful but not recommended.
For a car, TyreSafe says to inspect the tyres at least monthly for cuts, bulges, cracking and other damage, and to follow the vehicle or tyre maker’s maximum-age guidance. That guidance varies; there is no single legal replacement age for car tyres.
When to replace a tyre
Replace a tyre when the tread reaches the legal minimum, when there is a cut, bulge or cracking, or when the maker’s age guidance says so. Age is one part of the decision, not the whole of it. A tyre that has plenty of tread but has been sitting in the sun can still be unsafe.
Tyre age questions
Where is the DOT code on a tyre?
On the sidewall, usually after the letters DOT. The last four digits are the week and year of manufacture. The code is only required on one side, so you may need to look under the car.
Does the 10-year rule apply to my car?
No. The UK rule bans tyres over 10 years old on the front axles of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches, and on single wheels of minibuses. It does not apply to cars. Tyre makers’ own maximum-age guidance still applies.
When should a car tyre be replaced?
Follow the vehicle or tyre maker’s guidance and have the tyre inspected at least monthly. Replace it if the tread is at the legal limit, or if there is a cut, bulge, cracking or other damage. Age alone is not a legal limit for cars.
What does a three-digit code mean?
Three-digit codes were used before 2000. They do not give a year this calculator can date. Treat the tyre as old and have a specialist check it.
Is a tyre’s age the same as its tread wear?
No. A tyre can have plenty of tread and still have aged rubber. The date code tells you when it was made; an inspection tells you about its condition.
Sources
The UK rule and the inspection advice are checked against these sources. This page is general information, not a tyre inspection.
- Tyre age restrictions for goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses. Department for Transport (GOV.UK).The 10-year rule applies to heavy vehicles, not cars; older tyres are lawful but not recommended on other axles. Checked 6 November 2026.
- Updated guidance: tyres over 10 years old. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).The start date of the 10-year rule for heavy vehicles. Checked 6 November 2026.
- Car tyres and your safety. TyreSafe.Monthly inspection, and following the vehicle or tyre maker’s maximum-age guidance. Checked 6 November 2026.