How to Read Continental Tire Date Code: Step-by-Step Instructions

The Continental tire date code is the final four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN): the first two digits show the manufacturing week, and the last two show the year. For example, 3523 means the tire was made during the 35th week of 2023.

This article explains where to find that code, how to interpret it correctly, and what to do when the full marking is difficult to see. Timing matters because a tire can look nearly new while its rubber has already aged, and a rushed purchase or installation may overlook the manufacturing date, uneven wear, damage, or storage history.

You will also learn how the date code differs from Continental’s other sidewall numbers, why one side of the tire may show only a partial DOT marking, and when a professional inspection is more important than the date alone. By the end, you can determine the tire’s production week and year, compare its age with your intended use, and recognize when an old or damaged tire should not be placed on the road.

Find the DOT date code on a Continental

Start by looking on the tire sidewall for the letters DOT. The Tire Identification Number follows those letters and may include plant, size, and manufacturer-related information before the date portion.

The date code is normally the last four numbers in the complete TIN. It is often placed inside a small raised or recessed oval-like area at the end of the longer DOT string, although the exact sidewall layout can vary by tire model and production run.

Check both sides of the tire if you cannot find four ending digits. Many tires display the complete DOT TIN, including the date code, on only one sidewall. The opposite side may show an abbreviated TIN without the four-digit date section.

If the tire is mounted on a vehicle, the complete code may face inward toward the suspension or wheel. Do not remove the tire simply to read it; a tire shop can safely identify the full marking when the inner sidewall is inaccessible.

What the DOT marking means

“DOT” indicates that the tire carries a Tire Identification Number used for identification and regulatory purposes. The letters and numbers before the date code are not the age code, so do not treat the entire DOT string as a date.

On many tires, the earlier characters identify the manufacturing plant and provide size or manufacturer-related information. Those details can be useful for identification, but the age calculation comes from the final four digits.

Decode the final four digits

Read the four-digit date code as a two-part number:

• First two digits: the week of manufacture, numbered from 01 through 52 or 53.
• Last two digits: the year of manufacture.

For example, a code ending in 0819 indicates the eighth week of 2019. A code ending in 4721 indicates the 47th week of 2021.

The code identifies the week in which the tire was manufactured, not the week it was sold, installed, registered, or first driven. A tire made late in one year may not reach a retailer or vehicle until the following year.

Use the week number accurately

The first two digits should represent a valid production week. Codes such as 03, 18, or 49 are straightforward, while a code with an impossible week number may have been misread because of dirt, wear, glare, or a damaged sidewall.

Do not assume that “00” means the first week of a year. If the four digits are unclear or do not form a plausible week-and-year combination, have a tire professional inspect the marking rather than guessing.

Examples of Continental tire date codes

• 1224: manufactured during week 12 of 2024.
• 4022: manufactured during week 40 of 2022.
• 5100: manufactured during week 51 of 2000.
• 0625: manufactured during week 6 of 2025.

The date code does not provide the exact day of manufacture. It narrows production to a particular calendar week, which is sufficient for determining the tire’s approximate age.

Do not confuse the date code with other sidewall numbers

A Continental sidewall may contain several groups of letters and numbers, including the tire size, load index, speed rating, model name, construction markings, and service descriptions. These markings answer different questions from the DOT date code.

For example, a marking such as 225/60 R17 describes tire dimensions and wheel diameter. A code such as 98H communicates load and speed information. Neither one tells you when the tire was made.

The model name identifies the tire line, but it does not establish its age. Likewise, a stock number, barcode label, or retailer inventory marking should not replace the DOT date code when you are checking manufacturing age.

Look specifically for the final four digits attached to the DOT TIN. If you find several four-digit groups on the sidewall, trace each one back to its surrounding marking and confirm which group appears at the end of the DOT sequence.

What if the Continental tire has only three date digits?

A three-digit date code indicates an older tire manufactured before the current four-digit system was adopted. Three-digit codes can be difficult to interpret because the final digit identifies the year within a decade, and some older markings used a small symbol to indicate the decade.

For example, a three-digit code ending in 7 could refer to a year ending in 7, but the digits alone may not establish whether that means 1987 or 1997. A symbol following the code may provide additional decade information, but it can be missing, worn, or hard to distinguish.

A tire with a three-digit date code is extremely old by modern use standards and should not be treated like a current product. Do not install or drive on it based only on an uncertain interpretation; ask a qualified tire professional to identify it and assess whether it should be removed from service.

Check both sidewalls and inspect the tire’s condition

Reading the date is only one part of deciding whether a tire is suitable. The code tells you when the tire was produced, but it does not reveal how it was stored, overloaded, underinflated, repaired, or driven.

Inspect the tire for cracks, bulges, cuts, punctures, exposed cords, uneven wear, and tread separation. Pay particular attention to the inner sidewall, where damage can be missed during a quick visual check.

Also check the tread for irregular wear patterns. Wear on one edge may indicate alignment or suspension problems, while cupping or scalloping can point to wheel balance or suspension issues. These conditions can make an otherwise acceptable-looking tire unsafe.

• Confirm that the full date code is readable and belongs to the tire being inspected.
• Look for sidewall cracking between tread blocks and around raised lettering.
• Check for bulges or localized distortions that may indicate internal damage.
• Inspect for repairs and ask whether the repair was performed according to accepted tire-repair procedures.
• Compare wear across all tires, especially when replacing only one or two.
• Verify that inflation pressure matches the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.

Tire age and physical condition should be considered together. A relatively young tire with impact damage requires attention, while an older tire with little visible wear may still have age-related deterioration that warrants professional evaluation.

How tire age affects a buying or replacement decision

Use the manufacturing week and year to estimate how long the tire has existed before purchase or installation. A tire that has spent years in storage is not the same as a newly manufactured tire, even if it has never been mounted.

Storage conditions can influence aging. Heat, sunlight, ozone, moisture, and contact with chemicals can affect rubber over time, while proper storage may reduce exposure to some of those conditions. The date code alone cannot reconstruct that history.

When buying new Continental tires, check the date before installation if possible. Ask the seller about the tire’s production date when a tire is significantly older than expected, and make sure the delivered tire matches the agreed size, model, load rating, and speed rating.

When replacing tires on a vehicle, consider the complete set rather than looking at one tire in isolation. Differences in tread depth, design, size, and age can affect handling, traction, and drivetrain requirements, particularly on vehicles that require closely matched tires.

Do not rely on remaining tread as the only replacement test. Rubber can age even when the grooves appear deep, and a tire may fail inspection because of cracking, deformation, impact damage, or other defects unrelated to tread depth.

Safety precautions when reading the code

Read the marking while the vehicle is parked on a stable surface, with the parking brake applied. Use a flashlight and clean the sidewall gently with mild soapy water if dirt obscures the numbers.

Never place any part of your body under a vehicle supported only by a jack. If you need access to an inner sidewall, use proper lifting equipment or have a tire shop inspect it.

Do not continue driving on a tire with a bulge, rapidly losing air, exposed cord, deep sidewall cut, or suspected separation. The date code cannot make a visibly damaged tire safe.

If the numbers are incomplete, the sidewall is badly weathered, or the code appears inconsistent, ask a tire professional to verify the identification. A shop can also examine the bead area, inner liner, repair history, and signs of mounting or impact damage that are not visible from outside.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the date code on a Continental tire?

It is the final four digits of the complete DOT Tire Identification Number. Look after the letters DOT on the sidewall, and check the opposite side if the visible marking does not end with four digits.

How do I read Continental tire date code numbers?

Read the first two digits as the production week and the final two as the production year. For instance, 2918 means the tire was manufactured during week 29 of 2018.

Is the Continental tire date code the same

No, the date code and tire size are separate markings. A size such as 245/45R18 describes dimensions and wheel fitment, while the four digits at the end of the DOT TIN identify the manufacturing week and year.

Why can I see the DOT letters but not

The complete TIN may be molded on only one sidewall. The outward-facing side can contain a partial DOT marking, while the full date code faces inward toward the vehicle.

Can the date code tell me when the tire was

No, it identifies the manufacturing week rather than the sale or installation date. Retail inventory time and storage conditions are not shown in the code, so the manufacturing date should be considered alongside the tire’s condition and purchase history.

What does a three-digit Continental tire date code mean?

It indicates a tire made under an older dating system and may not identify the decade clearly without an accompanying symbol. Because such a tire is very old, have it professionally identified and evaluated instead of relying on an uncertain date interpretation.

Does a newer date code guarantee that a tire is

No, a recent manufacturing date does not rule out damage or improper use. Inspect inflation, tread, sidewalls, repairs, wear patterns, and internal condition, and stop using any tire with serious damage or air-loss symptoms.

Conclusion: Verify the date, then inspect the tire

To read a Continental tire date code, find the DOT marking and decode its final four digits as production week plus year. The major limitation is that the code does not show storage history or current condition, so an old, damaged, cracked, or otherwise questionable tire needs professional evaluation before driving.

Photograph the complete code, compare it with the seller’s information, and ask a qualified tire technician to inspect any tire whose date is unclear or whose condition raises concern.