DOT MFG Date?

[DoubleT]

My Goodyear Marathons came with my new to me used TM (2008 2619)
They are Chinese made and I CANNOT find the Manufacturer Date to determine how old these tires are. Only thing close is a DOT OHHB VLHR. Can anyone translate. There are no numbers in the sequence following the DOT.
HELP!!!!!!!

[Barb&Tim]

Did you look on both sides of the tires? Both of mine have the Dot codes #s on the back side and i had to crawl under to read them. The front side had the Dot alphabet code -- which i cannot decipher.

Tim

[countrygirl]

Tim is right. For my 2007 I had to slide under my TM to see the date on the inside of the tires.

Yeah, it's a sadist thing that all of us tire dealers do to customers by mounting the tires with the date codes on the inside. When we get together at tire conventions and such, we all laugh and tell stories of how we got customers to climb underneath their vehicles to find the date codes. The one with the best story get's his round of drinks bought for him. Every since I started using black epoxy, to cover over the date codes, I've won three years running.

Seriously (if I am ever), we talked about it in this forum:

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...0049#post40049

Originally Posted by Barb&Tim

The front side had the Dot alphabet code -- which i cannot decipher.

Tim

The first two digits of the code tell the plant manufacturing the tire. The next two digits tell the size of the tire. The next 3 or 4 digits are codes used by the specific manufacturer to identify other things, like whitewall, letters, brand, ply, etc.

Using Marks example of 0HHB (if my online sources are correct, as I'm not at the shop to confirm it with our printed books)

0H=Triangle Tire -Weihai, China
HB=215/75/14

http://www.harriger.com/tire1.htm
http://www.barrystiretech.com/rmadotcoding2009.pdf

[T and C]

When I bought my used TM I looked at the date codes on the tires to see how old they were. One had the date code, and one did not. The little oblong thingy they put the date code in was there, but it was empty.

I replaced the tires.

Tom

I have the same problem just took a 2009 3124KB off the dealer's lot (new never sold). I looked for the DOT code -no date code for these chinese babies. Must be almost 4 years old considering that the trailer was mfg in late 2008. anyone have any idea if domestically produced models now have the date code?

Originally Posted by Bob & Bonnie

I have the same problem just took a 2009 3124KB off the dealer's lot (new never sold). I looked for the DOT code -no date code for these chinese babies. Must be almost 4 years old considering that the trailer was mfg in late 2008. anyone have any idea if domestically produced models now have the date code?

Did you look on both sides of the tire? I feel it is on the opposite side. The date codes are going to be on one side, while sometimes a partial DOT code will be on the other (but not necessarily). Actually, you are not supposed to run any vehicle/trailer tire in the U.S. without a complete DOT number, including date.

Is there any way you can post pics of these tires and their incomplete DOT codes from both sides of the tire?

You might be in line for some replacement tires if there is no date code......as this is a condition for NHTSA to 'order' a recall on them (if the manufacturer doesn't issue a voluntary one), as they won't adhere to NHTSA tire labeling standards. If these tires are imported thru a distribution network, then the distributor becomes liable for the recall......if the Chinese manufacturer can't be forced to. This same scenario just happened several years ago with an importer called Foreign Tire Sales.

[DoubleT]

Found them on the inside 2007 time to replace before 3000 mile trip. How long should trailer tires last miles or years??

Almost no one wears out trailer tire due to miles. Figure 3-4 yrs from date of mfg to be safe. Be sure to check the date code on new tires before your dealer installs them. Insist one current tires only.