My spare is probably very old, no conforming DOT post 2000 stampings, only these numbers, Replacing it, just curious - any guesses?
At least it was made in the USA.

 

Is that the 12th week of 2009?

 

Did you flip the tire over? The DOT code is only on one side of the tire and I don't think that number is it.

 

^x2^
Tire date code begins w/ DOT

 

Date code is in an Oval Melted Rubber / Embossed thingy

Tire date codes for tires made before 2000 are three digits long. The first two digits indicate the week of the year, and the last digit indicates the year within the decade

 

Thanks guys I’ll flip it over tomorrow. Didn’t see anything like that on the raised white letter side.

 

Three digits located on the other side, 066. ‘96? ‘86? ‘76? Holy cow.

 

If you can't read it how can we read it? Clean it & post an image in focus.

 

If it was made in the USA, it's probably too old to use.

 

Perhaps my previous post wasn’t clear, forgive me. The three numbers (designating pre-2000 date of manufacture for tires in the United States) are 066. The sixth week of the sixth year, of whatever decade.

Apparently, thats why DOT went to four numbers, with the first two remaining as week of manufacture, and the second two being years, so there was no guesswork necessary versus the single digit representation year of manufacture.

 

Ah, OK. My bad. I didn't see the period after 066 then followed w/ your question as to which decade 96, 86 or 76. Gotcha.

 

No worries VC, appreciate the input. And yes Charlie, haven’t seen a tire made in the USA in quite some time.

 

My new to me 66 GTO had this tire in the trunk so I inflated it to 32 psi as the spare and a few months later it LOOKED LIKE THIS just sitting in the Trunk inflated - so ya old tires pre 2000 are NOT Safe lol

 

I had a trailer tire do that once. It wasn't that old. I reached with a pair of dykes and snipped the valve stem before I changed it. I cant believe it didn't explode.

 

Glad you found your answer. I still relegate the best tire out of the 4 old tires changed to spare duty when purchasing new ones.

 

First tire replacement for this vehicle, but absolutely agree, will typically put the best old one into the trunk as a spare, however, this time have a new one to replace it.
Did check frequently on this old spare, and kept it at about 15 psi with an inflator on standby if ever needed.

May have made it in an emergency a few miles - with no sun / visual damage seemed in fairly good shape, but ready to go to the dump.

Thanks again for the input.