What does the manufacturing date (DOT) mean and why is it important?
When buying new tires at mantallanta.com, it's common to look at the brand, price, and tread. However, there's a "hidden" piece of information on the tire's sidewall that every smart buyer should know: the DOT code. This record tells you exactly when the tire was manufactured, a crucial factor for its performance and safety.
How to read the DOT code?
The DOT (Department of Transportation) code is a series of alphanumeric characters. To find out the age of the tire, you need to look for the last four digits which are usually enclosed in an oval:
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Example: DOT XXXX XXXX 1224
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The first two digits (12) indicate the manufacturing week.
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The last two digits (24) indicate the manufacturing year.
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Therefore, a tire with the code 1224 was manufactured in week 12 of 2024 (approximately at the end of March).
Do tires expire?
Unlike food, tires don't have an exact "expiration" date, but rubber is an organic material that degrades over time.
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In storage: A well-stored tire (indoors, out of direct sunlight, and at a controlled temperature) maintains its properties intact for several years.
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In use: Once installed, it's recommended to thoroughly check the tire's structure after 5 years of use, and a complete replacement is advised after 10 years from its manufacturing date, regardless of whether the tread still looks good.
Why is it dangerous to use very old tires?
Over time, the essential oils in the rubber evaporate, causing the tire to "crystallize" or dry out. A crystallized tire becomes rigid, loses grip (especially in wet conditions), and is much more prone to cracking and structural failure under pressure or extreme heat.
The guarantee of freshness in the digital environment
When buying physically, it's sometimes difficult to check the stock of each size. At mantallanta.com, we manage our inventory with high-rotation processes to ensure that you receive recently manufactured products, guaranteeing that the rubber retains all its flexibility and traction properties from the first kilometer.
Mantallanta Quality Commitment
At mantallanta.com, we want every customer to have complete and honest purchasing information. This information about the DOT code is provided transparently by mantallanta.com because we seek to educate and resolve technical doubts that others prefer to omit. At mantallanta.com, our priority is for you to make a safe investment, backed by fresh products and the highest technological quality on the market.