edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I can’t believe I missed this thread.
A PSA About those tire TINS and date codes: Installers, It's Dates Out, for ALL tires.
- Thread starter Volvohead
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2021
- Messages
- 209
Hey Volvohead, how'd it go? Did you get the tire guy to flip your tires around? Did he do it for free?
I haven’t read through all the bickering here, but I get the gist of it.
Back in the 2000s when I was at a dealership, I did a lot of tires as I was one of the youngest and most fit, and capable of leaning the new road force technology, capable of doing low profiles, etc.
I always mounted the full DOT with date out, and if they were not marked for match mounting, I aligned the date with the valve stem. We did this mainly due to the idiot parts guys issuing tires without recording the DOT for the invoicing, then they’d be asking our help to get the DOT later in the day if we didn’t put the date in an obvious place for them to find when the car was back out and on the lot parked.
This isn’t possible with some asymmetrical, directional, white wall, etc tires. I can’t recall ever seeing a tire with the full DOT on both sidewalls, although maybe some do this now.
Like I said, this all dates back to the early 2000s and we did it for our parts guys sake, but it kind of serves the same purpose of making the full DOT visible for anyone who may need it down the road.
Back in the 2000s when I was at a dealership, I did a lot of tires as I was one of the youngest and most fit, and capable of leaning the new road force technology, capable of doing low profiles, etc.
I always mounted the full DOT with date out, and if they were not marked for match mounting, I aligned the date with the valve stem. We did this mainly due to the idiot parts guys issuing tires without recording the DOT for the invoicing, then they’d be asking our help to get the DOT later in the day if we didn’t put the date in an obvious place for them to find when the car was back out and on the lot parked.
This isn’t possible with some asymmetrical, directional, white wall, etc tires. I can’t recall ever seeing a tire with the full DOT on both sidewalls, although maybe some do this now.
Like I said, this all dates back to the early 2000s and we did it for our parts guys sake, but it kind of serves the same purpose of making the full DOT visible for anyone who may need it down the road.
Your input is always appreicated.
With regard to tire identification, has there been serious consideration to expanding and standardizing RFID, already used for internal management/tracking, and in racing, into something with a consumer-facing element?
Instead of getting dirty, and on hands and knees to read the TIN, if it's even properly facing outward, having that info conveyed through the TPMS receiver, and having it read out on the dash, or a handheld scanner?
Something like a basic version of the Pirelli Cyber Tire.
There has been work on both bar codes and RFID chips. In both cases, the problem seemed to be getting those to survive the curing process.
The bar codes are reasonably reliable within the manufacturing process, but the best spot is above the bead heel, but that of course gets covered up in service.
The RFID chips have been a bigger hurdle. I don't know where they are in the process, but I haven't seen any news that anyone is close so solving the issues.
Heck, I don't think they've even agreed on coding protocols. I'm looking to get an indication they are close when there are advertisements in the trade magazines of folks selling code readers.
Date code probably on both sides so it's moot. I suppose that's the real question. How many tire manufactures place the date code on both sides? My guess is most if not all.
I find on my directional snow tires they don't put the date code on both sides, and I don't seeing it on both sides my other tires either?
It seems every time I go to look for the date code I always find the blank side first! Its like buttered toast falling on the floor....
My guess would have been few, if any!
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
I think you're correct. Discount Tire mounts tires "according to what side the date code is on", so as stated in this thread that is the outside. I have purchased Goodyears for two vehicles, & both lines have a specific "inside" & "outside" stamped on the sidewall, as the outside is serrated & the inside is smooth. On the Weatherready, there is a unique tread design with a narrow band that goes on the outside edge of the tread, along with serrated sidewall & "inside" & "outside" stamped accordingly. Well Goodyear puts the date code on both sides of the tire, so invariably, there is at least 1 tire mounted incorrectly, usually 2 out of 4 so, ya, 50%. I take them back, & they correct it, no argument.
I would have never noticed if it wasn't for that unique Weatherready tread pattern. I was sitting looking at the front end when I noticed the band was on the left of both tires. I probably would have picked up on the mismatched sidewalls eventually.
Add to the idea that if there was a litigious reason for "must be mounted xyz" it would be well know by all commercial tire installers and checked by supervision! Belle Tire, Discount Tire etc do not want to be sued.
Also tires are manufactured in many countries and for many markets. I think its not widely known if there is or is not a mandate for having a number facing outward. Seems like a convenience issue....
Where does one look to see if a tire is part of a safety recall?
Also tires are manufactured in many countries and for many markets. I think its not widely known if there is or is not a mandate for having a number facing outward. Seems like a convenience issue....
Where does one look to see if a tire is part of a safety recall?
I was surprised, during my last purchase of new tires, the shop recorded each tire's code and placement on the vehicle. New record keeping required by the man (uncle sammy), soon each tire will have an RFID or bar code with a serial number on it as well.
garageman402
$100 Site Donor 2024
I hate to pop your conspiracy theory but it’s probably for warranty purposes. You didn’t say if you had a road hazard or mileage warranty, they will confirm those are actually the tires you bought if you had one.
I bought 2 tires from Discount Tire & got the “certificate” for lifetime free replacement. The other two tires, same brand & style do not have that warranty. I asked how they would know which ones are covered, he said by the date code. I’m sure there’s more recorded than just that.
There's an awful lot of discussion regarding the need to check codes. For the last 20 or more I've registered every single tire I've purchased on the manufacturers' websites. You enter the DOT codes (which have always been provided by the installer) and place of purchase on the site with your contact info...and guess what? You're all registered in case of recall and they provide a nice E-form as proof of registration, which you can FILE/SAVE to your PC. Works for the cheapest Douglas tires to the most expensive Pirellis.
So much tripe about something the owner can easily handle via appropriate recordkeeping. We really need more lawyers in this country!