Notes on reading the DOT number
The DOT number (Department of Transportation number) specifies the production date of the tire. The following examples explain how to read the DOT number.
DOT number 016 - here, three digit without additional mark (the 1980s) -01 specifies the calendar week in which the tire was manufactured. 6 specifies the year of manufacture, in this case 1986.
DOT number 128< - here with three digits and arrow mark (the 1990s) -12 specifies the calendar week in which the tire was manufactured. 8< specifies the year of manufacture, in this case 1998.
Tires after calendar week 01 in the year 2000 have a four-digit DOT number. DOT number 0100 (see Fig 1) specifies that the tires were manufactured in the 1st calendar week of 2000.