By Neil G. Chirico
Have you tried to read those hieroglyphics on the sidewall of your car's tires? Do you know what size tire to ask for when you call a tire store to price some replacement rubber? Deciphering the information from a tire's sidewall can be a confusing exercise. For most of us, it ranks right up there with decoding the Egyptian markings on a mummy's tomb. Let's take a look at the markings on a tire and break them down.
DOT Markings
The U.S. Department of Transportation markings signify that the tire meets DOT tire-safety standards. The DOT markings help track the tire in the same way a lot number tracks a food product.
· The first two characters designate the tire manufacturer and plant code. This could be important if the tire receives a safety recall.
· Characters three and four denote tire size.
· The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth (optional) characters identify the brand as well as other characteristics important to the manufacturer.
· The final three numbers (four beginning in 2000) denote the date the tire was produced. The first two indicate the week, and the last numbers specify the year.