How Old Is Too Old for RV Tires? Reading the DOT Date Code

RV tires often wear out from age before they wear out from miles. An RV may sit for months between trips, so its tread can look fine while the rubber has aged. That makes the date code one of the first things to check on a rental or a used RV.

Why does tire age matter on an RV?

NHTSA’s tire page lists RV owners among the people whose tires are at risk from aging, because tires on vehicles that sit unused can age without wearing their tread. Age doesn’t show on a pressure gauge or a tread check, so you have to read the date.

How do you read the date code?

Look on the sidewall for the letters “DOT” followed by the tire identification number (TIN). NHTSA says the last four digits are the week and year the tire was made. Its example: 0308 means the 3rd week of 2008. The full code may be on only one side of the tire, so check the inner sidewall too.

How old is too old?

NHTSA puts it this way: “Some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to 10 years old, regardless of treadwear.” There isn’t one federal age limit, so check the recommendation in your RV’s owner’s manual and from the tire maker, and have an older tire inspected by a tire professional.

How should you check tire pressure?

• Use the pressure on the vehicle’s tire information label or owner’s manual, not the maximum number molded on the tire, as NHTSA advises.
• Check when tires are cold. NHTSA defines that as not driven for at least three hours.
• Check at least once a month and before a long trip.
• On a motorhome with dual rear wheels, check the inner tire too.

When is the tread too worn?

NHTSA says tires should be replaced when tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. Tread-wear indicator bars molded into the grooves show when you’ve reached it.

What should you do at a rental pickup?

1. Read the four-digit date on every tire, including the spare if there is one.
2. Check cold pressure against the vehicle label.
3. Look for cracks, bulges and uneven wear.
4. Note the dates in your pickup photos and ask the owner about any tire that looks old.

Tires can also be recalled; see our recall guide and the full first-rental checklist. For passenger-car tire care, our sister site Car Care Decoded covers cars.

What is a quick tire checklist before a trip?

1. Find the tire pressure label on the RV (often near the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual).
2. Check pressure on every tire while cold, before driving, including the inner tires on dual rear wheels and the spare.
3. Read the date code on each tire and write it down with the tire’s position.
4. Look at the tread depth and at each sidewall for cuts, bulges or cracks.
5. Check the valve stems and caps.

Keep the list on your phone so the next check takes a few minutes.

Is there anything different for travel trailers?

The same date code, pressure and tread checks apply to trailer tires. Use the pressure on the trailer’s own label, and check the tow vehicle’s tires against its own label too. If the trailer sat in storage for months, check the tires before the first trip of the season.

What are the common mistakes?

• Inflating to the maximum number molded on the tire instead of the vehicle’s label.
• Checking pressure after driving, when tires are warm.
• Judging age by tread alone; a tire with deep tread can still be old.
• Forgetting the spare and the inner duals.

How do you keep tire records?

Make a simple table with each tire’s position, date code, the date you checked it, the cold pressure you found and the pressure you set. Add a row whenever a tire is replaced. When you sell the RV or return a rental, the record shows what you saw and when. For a rental, take a photo of each date code at pickup and keep it with your walk-around photos.