This question comes up a lot, usually right after someone blows a tire out and also removes their trailer fender.

To find out tire age, on one sidewall is an oval (5/8" x 3/4") with 4 numbers in it (pre 2000 is 3 digits).
First 2 digits are week of the year, second 2 are the year.

Good info... https://www.checktire.com/?lang=en

A code of 2212 is, 22nd week of 2012, thus about 11 years old.

Tires up to 3 years old can be sold as new.
Tires over 5 years old "should" be replaced.

When getting new tires, have them mount them so the date code is to the outside so you can read the date.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 5:48:46 AM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH, Pi & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> This question comes up a lot, usually right after someone blows a tire out and also removes their trailer fender.
>
> To find out tire age, on one sidewall is an oval (5/8" x 3/4") with 4 numbers in it (pre 2000 is 3 digits).
> First 2 digits are week of the year, second 2 are the year.
>
> Good info... https://www.checktire.com/?lang=en
>
> A code of 2212 is, 22nd week of 2012, thus about 11 years old.
>
> Tires up to 3 years old can be sold as new.
> Tires over 5 years old "should" be replaced.
>
> When getting new tires, have them mount them so the date code is to the outside so you can read the date.

You can't tell when to replace trailer tires by tread depth, the usual method of assessing tire age. Trailer tires age out before they wear out. The tires are age from exposure to their own compressed air which accelerates oxidation of the rubber. They are also exposed to UV exposure from the Sun. A general rule of thumb is to replace them at 7 years from the date of installation.

Tom 2G