Icons and letters on tires: decoding of all symbols!

Determining the production date of a car tire is an important point that determines how long the product can be used without risk to road users. You can find out the year of manufacture of rubber by special markings on the side parts of the product. This indicator should influence the final choice of the consumer when purchasing tires, and the country of manufacture is also taken into account. 80% of retail outlets, when asked whether the age of a tire matters, answer that it does not. However, this is 100% deception. According to research by manufacturers Hankook, Continental and other global brands, a tire can be stored in proper conditions for up to 5 years from the date of production. Therefore, when asked: is this index important, the correct answer is yes.

There are differences in the service life and storage of different models. For example, Bridgestone-Blizak or Ice Cruiser 7000 tires, when properly stored, retain their properties for up to 5 years, and summer models can be stored for no more than 120 months.

By purchasing a fresh product, the motorist guarantees himself the necessary supply of time during which the rubber will retain optimal elasticity, strength and tenacity. If a tire is 3-4 years old or more, the likelihood of cracking increases critically and traction is lost. Winter options may completely lose their properties and become rough, which can increase the braking distance significantly.

Tire size

Dimension is a mystery for many. It seems that there are no problems in everyday life: what numbers are indicated on the sidewall of a standard tire, with these you need to buy a winter or summer one to replace the worn one. But what exactly do they mean? For example, let's take the index 225/50 R17 98 N on a Continental tire.

Continental PremiumContact 6

Continental PremiumContact 6

• 225
  — tread width in millimeters.

Manufacturer's Warranties and Mileage Standards

We found out where the year of manufacture is indicated on the tires and whether it is worth buying stale tires. It's time to talk in more detail about the manufacturer's warranty regarding wear and tear. After all, many car enthusiasts buy tires that have already been used.

Performance standards are set by the certifying body and depend on the type of vehicle the wheels are installed on. According to them, on cars, trucks and minibuses whose weight does not exceed two tons, the maximum mileage is 45 thousand kilometers.

If a heavy vehicle weighs from two to four tons, its critical mileage is set at 60 thousand kilometers, and for road trains with a large weight - up to 70 thousand. After this, the tires must be disposed of, because their further use is not safe.

Additional designations

Additional letters may be added to the tire model name. For example, SUV means focus on crossovers and SUVs (reinforced sidewall, high load capacity), C - on commercial vehicles (from the English cargo, “cargo”). It happens that a tire is welded specifically for a particular automaker and is intended for initial assembly on an assembly line or for sale through its official dealers. Thus, the Continental company reserves the indices A0 and R01 for Audi, J for Jaguar, N0, N1, N2 for Porsche, M0, M01 for Mercedes.

Summary

As it becomes clear, there are quite a few ways to find out the age of Michelin car tires. The most important thing is to try to determine the age as approximately as possible, since the exact age is very, very difficult to determine, especially if the car tires have already been used by some driver before.

The most important thing to pay attention to when determining age is determining the tread height of Michelin tires. To do this, it is enough to measure this value as accurately as possible and compare it with the standard value. If the difference between these values ​​is relatively small, then the age of such tires will also be small. As this value increases, the age of car tires will correspondingly increase.

The most important thing for drivers is to try to maintain the quality of the Michelin tires they use for as long as possible. To do this, it is enough to treat rubber products as carefully and carefully as possible.

Tired of paying fines? There is an exit!

Forget about fines from cameras! An absolutely legal new product - Traffic Police Camera Jammer, hides your license plates from the cameras that are installed in all cities. More details at the link.

• Absolutely legal (Article 12.2);
• Hides from photo and video recording;
• Suitable for all cars;
• Works through the cigarette lighter connector;
• Does not cause interference to radios and cell phones.

Order with a discount

Date of manufacture

One of the key parameters is the tire release date. You need to look at it when buying a new set, not to mention a used one. It is not recommended to drive on tires for more than five to six years from the date of issue, although it is not prohibited either by law or by the manufacturers themselves. The date of manufacture is indicated by four digits in an oval. The first two are a week, the second two are a year. For example, 3119 represents the "cooking" of the 31st week of 2022.

CONCLUSION

From all of the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• When buying new or used tires, pay attention to the year of manufacture of the product.
• You can find out the year of manufacture of the tire by the digital marking in the oval sector, after the DOT code.
• The guaranteed shelf life of tires should not exceed 5 years.
• Tires can be used after the expiration of the warranty storage period, but with mandatory diagnostics at least once a season.
• When choosing rubber within a 3-5 year shelf life, pay attention to the appearance of the product.

Reading time: 7 minutes

Car tires are one of the most important parts of a car, since the safety and comfort of the driver and his passengers depend on them. Therefore, these products must be subject to mandatory certification, which is preceded by various tests on laboratory benches or in specialized test sites. Depending on the design of the sole, side cords and other elements, markings are applied to the tire, from which the buyer can determine its size, seasonality, performance properties, as well as load, speed, temperature, wet grip and wear resistance indices. In addition, many companies often indicate the year and month of production of the product.

Wear indicators

The locations of critical tread wear marks on Continental tires are indicated by the letters TWI. On summer models they are supplemented with indicators with cross and drop marks. They signal that the tires have not yet reached the minimum tread height, but it is no longer enough to feel confident in the rain.

There are also VAI indicators on the tread. They are applied symmetrically in the left and right shoulder areas. If the wheels are installed correctly, they change exactly the same as the tires wear out. Discrepancies are a reason to visit the wheel alignment stand. So far, the technology is used only on truck tires.

Michelin tire lifespan

Determining the age of Michelin car tires is a fairly important undertaking for drivers, because it is always necessary to correctly assess the service life of the car tires used, the safety factor and all key performance characteristics. When determining age, drivers can also find out the approximate service life of purchased car tires from the French manufacturer Michelin, which will help drivers decide how long they will use a set of tires.

It is no secret that car tires from the French manufacturer Michelin have a fairly long service life. In general, the manufacturer claims that its products may not lose their best qualities for at least 3-4 seasons. This suggests that, in principle, these tires can be used for 5-6 years. In fact, this is quite a long period, which indicates a very large resource.

This is true - Michelin tires have a very serious margin of safety, which is manifested due to the fact that the manufacturer, in the manufacture of all modifications of its own products, used the optimal composition of the components that were included in the rubber compound of Michelin tires. These include absorbent gels, synthetic substances, and natural rubber. Together, the combination of these components made it possible to use tires of very high quality, which still delight a large number of drivers not only in Europe, but throughout the world.

New marking

In Russia, mandatory tire labeling is being introduced in order to combat “gray” supplies. The unique Data Matrix code is highly secure and can be read through several layers of packaging. It is declared that it cannot be falsified or copied, and the information embedded in it can be read even if partially damaged. The code can be deciphered by every buyer. To do this, you need to scan it with a special mobile application “Honest Sign”. After which, information about the manufacturer and importer, product characteristics, and the date of introduction into circulation in Russia will be displayed on the gadget’s screen.

Mandatory labeling will be introduced from November 1, 2022. From this day forward, the production, import into Russia, and purchase from manufacturers and importers of rubber without standard markings is prohibited. From December 15, all circulation of unmarked tires will be prohibited. Warehouse balances are allowed to be tagged until March 1, 2022.

Mandatory labeling will be introduced from November 1, 2022. From this day forward, the production, import into Russia, and purchase from manufacturers and importers of rubber without standard markings is prohibited. From December 15, all circulation of unmarked tires will be prohibited. Warehouse balances are allowed to be tagged until March 1, 2022.

The Continental concern was at the forefront of testing the technology in Russia and is fully ready for its implementation. During 2019, he, along with hundreds of other companies from different industries in our country, generated thousands of codes while refining the system. Moreover, on a global scale, the company has already prepared solutions for integrating electronic chips into tires, allowing them to monitor their condition, including the degree of wear.

Tire storage

If car tires have not worn out ahead of time, then their service life (maintaining the declared driving characteristics) should be no less than five years. This is guaranteed by all well-known manufacturers. In practice, with proper care and careful use, tires are quite capable of lasting much longer than the specified minimum. At the same time, they can maintain both performance characteristics, elasticity, and appearance.

The aging of tires primarily depends on its quality. But this parameter is significantly influenced by the operating and storage conditions of the wheels. Over time, tires lose elasticity and become harder. This process is accelerated by exposure to high temperatures, direct sunlight, and moisture. Therefore, during the off-season, it is better to store tires packed in special plastic bags that prevent direct contact of the rubber with the external environment and direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Beaded wheels should be stored inflated and hung on the walls of a dry and dark room (attic or garage), and tires removed from the rims should be stored in stacks or vertically. In the latter case, from time to time they need to be swapped or rotated. In addition, today many auto centers offer tire storage services, for which they have specialized premises equipped with special racks. With such storage and compliance with all rules, car tires can remain elastic for up to ten years.

Load Index

Speed ​​index

• What does a tire say about car problems? find out here.

Photo: Continental
Icons and letters on tires: deciphering all the symbols!