If you look closely at any tire, you can find an engraved DOT number. This number gives you valuable insights into the tires keeping you safe. However, it is not always clear to drivers what their DOT number is communicating. The local auto mechanics are here with the full breakdown of how to read a tire’s DOT number.
Every tire identification number begins with the letters DOT (Department of Transportation). It is a marker that verifies you are getting tires that meet the Department of Transportation’s guidelines. It also serves as a clear, universal starting point for a tire’s TIN (tire identification number).
The next group of numbers contains two characters that indicate your tire’s plant code. Every tire manufacturing plant has a unique two-character code, often made with one number and one letter. Why is this important? If there is a tire recall, safety issue, or another tire concern, it can be traced back to the plant that produced the tire(s) in question.
The next two numbers or letters are your tire size code. The tire size code is a little less straightforward than other markings. Originally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had a universal list of tire sizes and the two-digit codes that represented them. However, the DOT now lets manufacturers determine their own code for tire size, according to the US Federal Register. This change was intended to make it easy for manufacturers to produce new tires without requiring the NHTSA to update its code list. Unfortunately, it makes it challenging to translate the tire size on your tire’s DOT number. Thankfully, there is an easier way to tell your tire size (more on this below).
The third set of values indicates the manufacturer’s characteristics. It is essentially a space for manufacturers to provide tire distinction or other brand-specific insights. The US Federal Register states, “The third grouping may be used at the manufacturer’s option to provide any other significant characteristics of the tire.
Except for cases in which a tire is manufactured for a brand name owner, the third grouping is not required.” Manufacturers then submit their list of codes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Much like the tire size code, this grouping often does not provide valuable information for drivers. It is more so used for recalls, errors, and other official identification needs.
Without ever touching the road, a tire can go bad simply due to its age. After 5 years of age, tires begin experiencing thermo-oxidative degradation. This chemical reaction can severely impact tire safety on the road.
The final four digits on your DOT number will tell you the tire’s age. The first two numbers of this grouping indicate the week of the year your tire was manufactured. The final two digits indicate the year that your tire was manufactured. For example, if your final four DOT numbers are 3020, your tire was manufactured in the 30th week of 2020. You can find more information in our full guide to tire age here.
While DOT numbers are helpful, they might not tell you everything you need to know about your tires. As tire experts, we often have customers ask:
Many drivers expect to find the answers to these and other questions in their DOT number, but this is not the case. Tires brands often include additional insights on the face of the tire. However, it is frequently much easier to view tire information on your tire panel. If you open your driver’s-side door and turn to face the seat, you will find a sticker against your door frame with information about your tires. You can also find additional details in your owner’s manual.
When you are due for new tires, the mechanics at Chapel Hill Tire are here for you.
We proudly serve the greater Triangle area with our 10 locations across Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro. Our mechanics also commonly serve nearby areas, including Knightdale, Pittsboro, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Morrisville, and beyond. You can conveniently buy your new tires online using our Tire Finder tool. For all of your tire services, vehicle services, and car care needs, make an appointment today with your nearest Chapel Hill Tire.
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Are you having difficulties reading the DOT number of your tires? Do you want to know how to read tire date codes? If you have lost the receipt of your purchase, you might be having difficulties knowing the exact age of your tires. This issue is common and you can find the solution from your tires.
Just observe your tires, you will get the answer.
*Picture Copyright: UTires.com
How to Read Tire Date Codes?Whether you are financing your tires or purchasing them, it is important to understand how to read tire date codes. The numbers are present on tires only. You just need to know how to get them. You might have difficulties while reading codes on old tires. Keep reading to know how old your tire is.
Ways to Get Your Tires DOT NumberLook at all the sides of the tires. There are a bunch of numbers and letters. It might seem like a jumble. But this is helpful information about the tire. Find the number that starts with DOT and followed by ten to twelve series. This code will reveal a lot of things about your tires. You will know the tire size, year, and place of the manufacturing with the unique code of the manufacturer. You can also rent a wheel payments to know more about tires. Once you rent a tire payments, you will not have to be bothered about the manufacturing year.
They will take care of this. You just need to look for a rent a wheel return policy to make it more beneficial for you.
Remember that the last four digits of the code are the date the tire was manufactured. You can check the first two digits of the DOT code to know the week of the manufacturing. The last two digits will reveal the manufacturing year. For instance, when it was written in 0203, the manufacturing year was 2003. But it is a bit tricky to know the manufacturing year of tires manufactured before 2000.
Tires Manufactured Before 2000You need to check the last three digits of the DOT code. Check the first two digits to know the week. For instance, when the last three digits read 022, you should understand that the tire was manufactured in the 2nd week of that year. You might be thinking about how to know the year. The year is the 2nd year of that decade. It is easy to get confused to know the decade.
It might be harder to know the exact decade. There might be some other indications to know the year.
*Image Copyright from kilgoretirecenter.com
What About the Incomplete DOT NumbersIncomplete DOT numbers mean the current DOT regulations demand the complete number to be written on one sidewall only. When you find a few digits on the opposite sidewall, you can check the other sidewall to find the complete DOT number.
Reading DOT Tire NumbersNow you know how to read tire date codes. You can simply check at the sidewalls of tires to avoid any further confusion. Also, never lose your purchase receipt. If you do so, you might not get the warranty benefits. So, keep the receipts in a safe place and avoid any confusion by checking the DOT code. Whether you are interested in learning about wheel alignment or more about DOT numbers, our professionals here at Dan the Tire Man can answer your inquiries.
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The Chestny ZNAK national labeling system has been operating in Russia since 2019. On some types of products, marking codes are applied, which contain data about the manufacturer and about the product itself. Consider how to check the authenticity of products by the marking code.
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Distributors must check labels when accepting goods from manufacturers and wholesalers. Verification of digital codes is mandatory. The recipient must make sure that the data from the electronic delivery note matches the product labels.
You need to report the situation to the supplier and make adjustments. The new owner must confirm that he received the goods whose identifiers are indicated on the invoice. If you sign the invoice without verifying the data, you can get a fine for sending incorrect information to Chestny ZNAK or for trading in counterfeit goods. The Federal Tax Service and Rospotrebnadzor have the right to issue fines for violations when working with labeling.
Retail stores, like distributors, must check codes when accepting bulk shipments. Cashiers must scan each marking code when selling goods at the checkout. Sold goods are automatically debited from the balance of the owner. OFD records the disposal of products and transfers information to the system.
The customer can check the code using a smartphone.
For a quick check, the Chestny ZNAK application is used. After scanning the label, the program will show information about the product. If the authenticity is not established, the buyer can leave a complaint against the store through the application.
At the beginning of 2022, Russia introduced mandatory labeling for 11 product categories:
From March 1, 2022, registration on the Chestny ZNAK website is open for participants in the circulation of nicotine-containing products. This category includes e-cigarette sticks and tobacco-free hookah mixes.
From March 15, 2022, when selling these goods, cashiers must scan the marking codes.
The marking code is a combination of numbers and letters. The number of characters depends on the product category. To automate accounting, it is customary to encrypt codes in the form of graphic images:
Manufacturers and importers have the right to apply marking codes to goods in any convenient way. The only requirement is that the labels must be contrasting and legible. The recommended order of application is determined during the experiment, which precedes the introduction of mandatory labeling of the product group.
The marking code is applied to the packaging or product. For example, when labeling bottled water and dairy products, labels are applied to caps.
Clothing and textile manufacturers can print them on labels. When marking tires and tires, identifiers can be applied to each element of the set. Duplicate labels are allowed if the information on them matches.
In transfer documents, the codes are indicated in text form. Access to the sequence of letters and numbers is available from distributors and retail stores. Buyers see only graphic codes on labels. A sequence of characters and a graphic code are equivalent means of identification.
Market participants receive marking codes on the Chestny ZNAK website. It is convenient to check the authenticity on the official website. This verification method is available to distributors and retail stores. You can check only goods that are on the balance sheet of the owner.
How to determine the authenticity of the product on the label:
Buyers cannot use the verification technology created for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. For individuals, a mobile application "Chestny ZNAK" has been developed. The program is available on Android and iOS smartphones. To verify the authenticity of the product, the customer must open the program and point the camera at the label.
Buyers have only one way to check information - the Chestny ZNAK application. Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs can use alternative options. With large deliveries, employees do not have time to manually check the code of each product.
Some online cash registers, for example, the SIGMA brand, have a built-in Marking module.
It allows you to automatically check the status of the identifier and information about the owner.
To check label information, 2D scanners must be used. What you should pay attention to when choosing scanners:
It is convenient to use a data collection terminal with special software for testing. We recommend installing Mobile Smarts, Data Mobile, or Allegrosoft software. Software for TSD allows you to identify the product by the label and keep track of labeled products.
When the check shows an error, contact the supplier. It is possible that the sender did not put the received labels into circulation. The presence of this problem is indicated by the status "Issued". After activating the labels, the problem will be fixed. But until activation is carried out, it is prohibited to sell goods.
Another common situation is a picking error. If the data from the transfer document does not match the labels of the goods, it is possible to agree on a replacement or return of the lot.
To correct the information, you need to generate an act of discrepancy for a document drawn up with an error and send it to the supplier. He must draw up a corrected transfer document for the primary invoice or send an adjustment document.
If the supplier does not get in touch for a long time or delays the process of correcting information, you should contact Rospotrebnadzor.
There will be no penalty in this case, but it is prohibited to sell products with incorrect labels.
Employees of the Federal Tax Service use the Chestny ZNAK GOS application. This software analyzes data arrays and monitors violations online. One of the signs of dishonest accounting is the presence of a large number of surpluses on the balance sheet.
Surplus or leftovers are the codes of goods that were sold, but according to the accounting, remain on the balance sheet of the store. The presence of a large number of balances on the balance sheet shows that the store does not transmit data on the disposal of products.
Possible reasons for excess:
You can check the availability of surplus manually in the personal account of "Chestny ZNAK". You can do this faster with the help of third-party software, for example, the TRIAR-KM program. This program allows you to find out the exact number of balances on the balance sheet and instantly write off the excess. To perform the check, you need to conduct an inventory, scan the labels of goods in stock.
At the beginning of 2022, 11 product groups are subject to labeling in Russia. Each item is assigned a unique code of letters and numbers. It is a confirmation of the authenticity of the goods. In documents, codes are indicated in text form. An image is applied to the labels, in which a number of characters are encrypted. For encryption, Data Matrix encoding is most often used.
Distributors and retailers should check IDs to avoid accidentally breaking the law and getting fined. It is advisable to carry out an inspection within a few days after the shipment of the goods.
