Have you ever checked those DOT # on your tires?

[Rams]

When you buy new tires, do you ever look at the DOT number permanently embedded on the side wall. I don't or didn't until recently learning a hard lesson.  One of those times I should have known better.  

A few years ago, two to three, I purchased a new set of 10 ply Michelin tires for my truck. I really liked these tires. They were the same tires I got on the truck when it was new and gave me outstanding performance/mileage and were built to carry the loads my truck and trailer handled. Went to my local dealer and told him what I wanted and set up a time to get them replaced. I got a call before the appointment telling me that he (the tire dealer) was having a hard time finding a complete set. He had two but was not able to find the final two for the set. But would let me know when he had the two. After a couple of days, he called and gets me right in and I left happy with my new set of tires.

Fast forward two or three years. Actually, I think it was about 2 1/2 years and I'm returning from a transport to the north side of Chicago when I felt an explosion on the left rear of the truck. That tire had blown out. So, I proceeded to get to the side of the interstate and change the tire. The blow out was pretty severe. Resulted in a shredded tire and significant damage to my truck bed and fenders. So I got an estimate for repairs for my insurance company. All is well up to this point. I was asked if I wanted to hold the tire company responsible for the damages and I replied that I thought that was fair. This is when it got interesting and frustrating.

Now, to be honest, I couldn't find the receipt from the tire purchase but figured the tire store would have it in their records. I was wrong, their electronic records don't show me ever buying tires from there. I've purchased at least three sets of tires from them in the past five years for different vehicles. None of those purchases showed up in his records. So, we call Michelin Service Center about my problem, they want a full report which was provided. We take pictures of the ruined tire, the damage on the truck, put the truck on the lift and look at all the tires. The dealer starts writing down the DOT numbers off each tire. Well, I've seen them before but never paid much attention. This is where I went wrong 2 1/2 years ago.

I knew these were the tires that dealer put on but, he's found an issue. It seems that I have two tires that are almost three years old and two tires that are eight years old. As I am about to learn, federal regulations halt a tire manufacturers responsibility at six years from the date of manufacture. I assume that means they can not sell tires six years old. Regardless, the dealer says there is no way I sold you those tires. Well, I know better but that's an issue between he and I.

The reason I started this thread was to let you know how important it is to look at that DOT #. The last four numbers are very important. They represent the week and year the tire was produced. Had I known this, those two older tires would have never gotten near my truck. I suspect that I got sold a couple of tires that either were in some warehouse or, came off of a new vehicle that my guy bought at a discounted price and sold to me as new. I can't prove it and I know it but, I also know those four tires are the same tires that were put on at my local shop.

Never put on a set with out looking at that DOT number. That mistake just cost me over $5K. For an explanation of DOT numbers, Google DOT Tire numbers.  In that I have used my truck and trailer to transport my and other Valkyries, this is directly related to motorcycles but, more importantly, those same DOT numbers are found on our Valkyrie tires whether you're running dark side or MC tires.

[KSDragonRider]

They are also on your motorcycle tires.  I have bought tires off ebay that cracked out bad enough to leak in a year. Was pissed, went and checked the date, and they where 8 years old or better. Now i check them before i take the shipping label off. If they are more than 12 months old, I send them back.

The last two tires I put on the bike where dated 8 weeks before i got them... Thats fresh enough for me!

[MarkT]

When I buy tires I always insist on tires with manufacture stamp less than 2 years old.  Not a problem if you buy popular tires from a volume place like Jake Wilson or TireRack.  I did have some tires that failed years ago when Discount Tire put some too old ones on my Exploder.  I made them replace them.  Bought my Yokohama Advan not long ago and the guy called back and said the only one he had was over a year - I said OK & thanks for being honest, we'll go ahead with that. 

[cookiedough]

I'd agree with MarkT not allowing new tires on a cycle or car more than 2 years old even new and that is pushing it especially with me on a cycle a set of tires should last me 5 years at most. 

On my ATV though,  I have OEM tires on my 2000 and 2003 ATV's which are 13 and 10 years old with 25-40% tread left still going strong after 13 years and about 3,000 miles.  They are either under cover outside or in the garage so out of the sun for the most part.  Sidewalls are still pretty good shape and no cracks so hoping they last another 3-4 years but I know I am on borrowed time.  Luckily , with ATV tires I don't go over 40 mph so if they do fail most likely I can make it home.  I had one flat hairline cut recently and had to put an inside patch and tube inside and had to let ATV sit and ride double back to truck on other ATV to side road to load it up onto trailer.  Nice to have 3 wheels working on ATV vs. only one on a cycle, much easier.

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks for the reminder,
Blackrams!