American Clipper Owners Club

Tech Forum => Tech Forum => Topic started by: Anniepoo on August 03, 2011, 09:57:29 PM

Title: How to tell age of tires
Post by: Anniepoo on August 03, 2011, 09:57:29 PM
I'm wondering how old the tires on my 78 Clipper are.
I know it's dangerous driving around on old tires. Any way to check the age of mine?

Replacing them all 'just in case' they're old doesn't sound very appealing.

On the other hand, on my last RV I went into a restaurant one day, came out, and the spare had a huge blister and the tread had shredded. Fortunately I was right across the parking lot from a tire store, they deflated the tire for me.  Seeing the force behind that, I'm REALLY glad I wasn't doing 65 when it happened.


Title: Re: How to tell age of tires
Post by: LARRY RAY on August 06, 2011, 06:10:33 AM
I would really have to look at one right now, but there is a stamp on each tire the will be something like DOT 697  which would be June 1997. It will small and oval shaped to the best of my memory. Like I said, I would have to go outside and look and one. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: How to tell age of tires
Post by: Anniepoo on August 06, 2011, 10:54:17 AM
Doh!

I shoulda hunted around before asking.
After you replied, I realized of course it's probably stamped on the tire, and a bit of searching on the interwebs led me to
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

After 2000 tires have a 4 digit code

3107   would be the 31st week of 2007

Before 2000 it's a 3 digit code

317  would be the 31st week of 1997 - but you gotta guess the decade (presumably why they changed it).