Thanks to the tyre bible.
Key Description
A Manufacturers or brand name, and commercial name or identity.
B Tyre size, construction and speed rating designations. Tubeless designates a tyre which requires no inner tube. See tyre sizes and speed ratings below. DIN-type marking also has the load index encoded in it. These go from a load index of 50 (190kg) up to an index of 169 (5800kg).
C Denotes type of tyre construction.
D M&S denotes a tyre designed for mud and snow. Reinforced marking only where applicable. E Pressure marking requirement.
F ECE (not EEC) type approval mark and number.
G North American Dept of Transport compliance symbols and identification numbers.
H Country of manufacture.
As part of the DOT code (G above), there is a tyre manufacture date stamped on the sidewall. Take a look at yours - there will be a three- or four-digit code. This code denotes when the tyre was manufactured, and as a rule-of-thumb, you should never use tyres more than 6 years old. The rubber in tyres degrades over time, irrespective of whether the tyre is being used or not. When you get a tyre change, if you can, see if the tyre place will allow you to inspect the new tyres first. It's not uncommon for these shops to have stuff in stock which is more than 6 years old. The tyre might look brand new, but it will delaminate or have some other failure within weeks of being put on a vehicle.
It's a 4 digit code example 3 0 0 3 means the tyre was manufactured in the 30th week of 2003.
So 5206 would be one manufactured in the last week of december this year.
Last edited by yourfather; 23-11-2006 at 11:04 AM.
Originally Posted by ludecrs
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks