Is my 21 year old car still on its original tyres?
Is my 21 year old car still on its original tyres?
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Discussion

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,073 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Here's one for the tyre geeks:

My car left the factory in August 1991 (during week 34).

I am trying to ascertain how old its Goodyear Eagle tyres are.

I understand that you can work this out from the last figures of the DOT code.

The fronts (235/45 ZR17) read: DOT NJA5 2JK2 131
The rears (265/40 ZR17) read: DOT NJT3 2JP2 410

Does this means that the fronts were manufactured in week 13 of 1991 and the rears in week 41 of 1990? If so that's pretty amazing/scary!

davepoth

29,395 posts

222 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Yes, it seems that way. I would change them as soon as you can.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

186 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
A testament to Goodyears quality I suppose. See if they'll replace FOC wink

housen

2,366 posts

215 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
what car was it ?

i bought a vw golf 2007 last year from a vw dealer

when it got delivered it had its orignal tyres on it

wkers

lexusboy

1,101 posts

166 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
A dot code is 4 numbers long ie 2510 which means the 25th week of 2010.

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,073 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
lexusboy said:
A dot code is 4 numbers long ie 2510 which means the 25th week of 2010.
I think the 4 figure system only started in year 2000

Krikkit

27,838 posts

204 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Indeed so - 4 figures for post-2000, 3 for pre. So the OP's diagnosis of tyre age is correct. Think it might be time for some new. Amazing car btw. biggrin

jagnet

4,373 posts

225 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
LotusOmega375D said:
I think the 4 figure system only started in year 2000
yes that's my understanding. Pre 2000 it's a 3 digit code (wwy).

That's mighty impressive that they've lasted that long.

Zwolf

25,867 posts

229 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Wiki said:
In the United States, the DOT Code is an alphanumeric character sequence molded into the sidewall of the tire for purposes of tire identification. The DOT Code is mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT Code is useful in identifying tires in a product recall.

The DOT Code begins with the letters "DOT" followed by a plant code (two numbers or letters) that identifies where it was manufactured. The last four numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. A three-digit code was used for tires manufactured before 2000. For example, 178 means it was manufactured in the 17th week of 8th year of the decade. In this case it means 1988.

For tires manufactured in the 1990s, the same code holds true, but there is a little triangle (Δ) after the DOT code. Thus, a tire manufactured in the 17th week of 1998 would have the code 178Δ. In 2000, the code was switched to a 4-digit code. Same rules apply, so for example, 3003 means the tire was manufactured in the 30th week of 2003.

Triumph Man

9,455 posts

191 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
O/T OP, but your car is exactly the same age as me! Hope that doesn't make you feel too old wink

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,073 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Triumph Man said:
O/T OP, but your car is exactly the same age as me! Hope that doesn't make you feel too old wink
Haha. So it's not just my socks that are older than you, it's my tyres as well!

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

213 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
housen said:
what car was it ?

i bought a vw golf 2007 last year from a vw dealer

when it got delivered it had its orignal tyres on it

wkers
What are you on about?

cuprabob

18,181 posts

237 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
housen said:
what car was it ?

i bought a vw golf 2007 last year from a vw dealer

when it got delivered it had its orignal tyres on it

wkers
So what's the problem there, tyres just over 4 years old last year assuming they hadn't been lying around before being fitted at the factory?

rufusgti

2,572 posts

215 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Original tyres!

Nice car. Can I ask where you got it. I did some work for a guy many years ago who had an almost unused lotus Carlton tucked away. Just wondered if it's the same chap.

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,073 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
rufusgti said:
Original tyres!

Nice car. Can I ask where you got it. I did some work for a guy many years ago who had an almost unused lotus Carlton tucked away. Just wondered if it's the same chap.
This place:


Frances The Mute

1,816 posts

264 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
The four digit dot code has been in place since the year 2000.

A three digit dot code was in place in the 1990's, pre-fixed with the < symbol.

Prior to this, dot codes were just three digits, the first two (as they are now) denoting the week and the last digit denoting the year. If your tyres don't have the arrow, they will be from the 1980's.

stuart-b

3,651 posts

249 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
It had 265/40 profile tyres in 1990? Jesus. Mine has 255/35/19 in 2009, and they cost £370 each. Can't imagine how expensive it would have been in 1990, no wonder the tyres haven't been changed!!!!

LotusOmega375D

Original Poster:

9,073 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Frances The Mute said:
The four digit dot code has been in place since the year 2000.

A three digit dot code was in place in the 1990's, pre-fixed with the < symbol.

Prior to this, dot codes were just three digits, the first two (as they are now) denoting the week and the last digit denoting the year. If your tyres don't have the arrow, they will be from the 1980's.
Here's two photos of the code. Maybe the arrow is that triangle after the code or the one just above the code on the lower photo?




cuprabob

18,181 posts

237 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
Sidewalls look pretty good for 21 years old. I assume they haven't seen much sunlight

housen

2,366 posts

215 months

Thursday 9th August 2012
quotequote all
cuprabob said:
housen said:
what car was it ?

i bought a vw golf 2007 last year from a vw dealer

when it got delivered it had its orignal tyres on it

wkers
So what's the problem there, tyres just over 4 years old last year assuming they hadn't been lying around before being fitted at the factory?
they were craked and balding with dry rot