DOT tire identification number.

[CWtheMan]

Most RV trailer owners want to know where their tires were manufactured and when. That information is right on the tires sidewall. It just needs a good reference with explanations for the coded message.

In the first reference there is a highlighted DOT 12 character identification number.

http://www.irv2.com/photopost/showfull.php?photo=25393

In the picture the first two characters (B9) can be cross referenced in the following reference to determine that the tire was manufactured by Michelin of North America at their Lexington, SC Plant. The last four numbers in the tire ID code (5008) is in two parts. The 50 means the tire was manufactured during the 50th week of 2008 and - of course - the 08 is the year manufactured.

http://www.harriger.com/tire4.htm

CW

[Ken / Claudia]

Just so all know, I asked CW how to read a country/plant code on a tire. I was looking at new Hercules 14" tires I got for the boat trailer. They are different size than the Tow Max 15" on the keystone but, have the same tread pattern. Upon checking they are both made in China by Shandong at different plants. when you look at those codes, there sure are a lot of tires made in China, some people might think their tires are made else where because of the name printed on the side wall.
Ok, I agree I got to much free time. I just checked the lists of tires. About 880 plants making tires about 346 are in China on that list.

[jsmith948]

Great info- thanks CW. Do you know how current this list is? The plant code CH, for Pirreli/Armstrong, located in Hanford, CA? That plant has been closed for something like 10 or 12 years. All the machinery is gone - now used as a warehouse by the Del Monte cannery.

[bsmith0404]

I don't know how long plants stay on the list once they shut down, but I'm sure there are still tires out there with that code on them. If they removed codes when a plant shut down, you would not have any way of knowing where it was made.

[jsmith948]

Got it - good point!

Jack & Marty