Contrary to popular belief, you can't judge a tire by its cover. Researchers and most experts agree that along with tread depth and proper tire maintenance, tire age is also crucial to your safety on the road.
Aged tires have a higher potential for dramatic tread separation, which in many cases has led to tragic endings for unsuspecting motorists. The above graphic breaks down the various codes in the Department of Transportation's serial number for tires.
A cryptic code of four numbers at the end of the 12-digit DOT serial number can tell the consumer which week and year a tire was manufactured. According to experts like Sean Kane, who runs a private auto safety research firm, tires older than six years get increasingly more dangerous regardless of how long they've actually been on the road.
(ABC News)
