Tyres - what did you get?

[HaywireTig]

I'll go have a look at the DOT later. Haha WTH is 'shooting blanks'.. I wldnt have asked if u didn't bring it up Matt haha

[Diesel_vert]

Yes fellas ... DOT is the 4 digit number on the sidewall that gives away the production date (i.e. age) of the tyre.

Here is how you interpret the DOT Tire Identification Number in full:

DOT AABB CCCC DDDD

DOT: United States Department of Transportation
A: Manufactuer's Identification Mark (typically denoting the factory and its location)
B: Tire Size
C: Tire Type Code (Optional)
D: Date of Manufacture


More information:
Tire Tech Information - Government Tire Approval Marks
Tire Tech Information - DOT Tire Identification Number
Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire

[HaywireTig]

Here's the picture of my new Conti's.

[HaywireTig]

So '4911' would mean 49th week of 2011... Meaning ard early Dec 2011?

[gecko2k]

seems plausible to me?!

[Diesel_vert]

So '4911' would mean 49th week of 2011... Meaning ard early Dec 2011?

Yes, that's correct.

[HaywireTig]

That's pretty decent DOT I'd assume?

[Diesel_vert]

That's pretty decent DOT I'd assume?

I assume you are referring to the date of manufacture, which forms part of the DOT code.

In which case, they're fine - only five months old.

[HaywireTig]

Yup that's wat I meant. Thanks!

[Aussiegman]

My Tig just has a new set of Nitto Innvo's fitted at Xmas and initial impressions are they are very good.

Other cars have the Yokohama AD08's and A050's, both of which are outstanding performance tyres.

Also have a set of Nitto NT-01's waiting for a run so no sure how they perform but reports are promising.

[aussietig]

Yup that's wat I meant. Thanks!

Back to my original question, do all your tyres have the same DOT (which we've now established as 4911)?

Ideally for people like me with an OCD, you'd want all your corners to be the same and therefore from the same batch.


And no ... please just google what "OCD" means.

[MGV]

After all this DOT discussion, i have another DOT related question or 2: How long could a set of tyres sit around unused for? Would they last longer stored with lowered pressure? Do they go 'stale' after a while?

Have just checked my original Pirelli's that i have in the garage for longer, more adventurous road trips. They were made at '1809', with about 18000k's on them.

[Diesel_vert]

Slightly puzzled by all the interest in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

I assume everyone is referring to the date of manufacture, that forms part of the DOT code.

How long could a set of tyres sit around unused for? Do they go 'stale' after a while?

All tyres age, but the rate at which they age depends on a million factors.

Tyre manufacturers generally recommend that new or unused tyres more than 6 years old not be put into service, and that tyres be taken out of service after 10 years from the date of manufacture, regardless of their external appearance and tread depth.

If the vehicle manufacturer recommends a shorter service life, then follow that.

Tyres that are still in service after 5 years should be inspected annually.

Would they last longer stored with lowered pressure?

Tyres that are mounted on wheels should be hanged or piled (do not stand them upright) and inflate them to 100 kPa (15 psi).

[MGV]

Thanks, D_v.
Yes, all queries re: date of manufacture answered!

[HaywireTig]

Just checked all the new tires. All are '4911' except for one which is '4711'. So there are pretty close in terms of date of manufacture.