Tires & DOT

[SH]

So...been dealing with tires and tire posts for many years and have a plethora of experience with them.

However I have a new challenge. Dealers seldom carry my tire in stock and they must be ordered either from the local tire guy or online. The issue is, they all say they have no say regarding DOT Date Codes when their suppliers send the tires. They are legal to sell as "new" up to four years after they are dated.

Ordering online is easy, reasonably priced and free shipping however...if they arrive with a four-year old date code I have to pay shipping to return which is very pricey on four Goodyear 614's.

I replace these tires every five years per DOT Code. I have been lucky over the past two purchases and got tires dated within a few months of install but I was able to select the tires onsite. This no longer seems possible.

What is the consensus regarding DOT Date versus "put in service" date on the integrity of a new tire?

Many thanks!

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
YOUR money, yes the suppliers and tire stores are making some money but especially in this day with a Country that's directly responsible for the deaths of so many people around the world I would not do so. Plenty of quality US made tires out there.

I agree, there are quality tires out there ,but please tell us what beats the Sailuns in the 16" & 17.5" G & H rated fifth wheel tires in price ,and reputation .

I know we have been over this China made thing several times, " Don't talk the talk unless you can Walk the Walk. Take a look around at what you have and say there are no items made in China in your household, if yes then go ahead ,and single out TIRES . Its pretty hypocritical if can't claim to buying made in China, its really that simple.

Yes ,you are correct MY money

[Cummins12V98]

YOUR money, yes the suppliers and tire stores are making some money but especially in this day with a Country that's directly responsible for the deaths of so many people around the world I would not do so. Plenty of quality US made tires out there.

[pcm1959]

This morning, I ordered 4 Sailun s637 17.5 tries from Walmart with free shipping to my home and arriving in 2 days!!! Price for 4 was $634.96 including tax.
I have no idea what the DOT date is so I will update when they arrive. If, current (hopefully 2020), I will take them to Discount Tire next week for installation. If they are "old", I'm returning them.

[pcm1959]

I can get 4 Sailun 17.5 inch tires from Amazon Prime, free delivery, taxes, etc., for $635 then take them to Discount Tire for mounting. However, there is no way to know the DOT until they arrive. A current Ebay listing has them with a DOT code of 2019 but no month. Annoys me the merchant would but the year and not the month.

[cummins2014]

laknox wrote:
FWIW, my brother just put a new set of tires on his F350. One of them was 18 months old. From Discount Tire...

Lyle

Discount tires ,Les Schwab , most all those chain stores, you get what they got. I deal with a smaller one here in Utah. always fresh tires, but thats what I ask for. 18 months is a bit old for me. Not so bad on a truck, where you most likely get them wore out a bit faster . Definitely too old for me on a fifth wheel. 6 months preferably less .

[laknox]

FWIW, my brother just put a new set of tires on his F350. One of them was 18 months old. From Discount Tire...

Lyle

[SH]

CapriRacer wrote:
Thanks for that - but at the risk of being pedantic, he said "industry standard", you said "legal".

Not a problem...some people are just that way!:)

[Cummins12V98]

SH wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
SH, give Ricky a call at Discount Tire in Bellingham. 360-392-2091

Just tried...he is off today, back tomorrow. Talked with Brandon about the issue and he is checking with warehouse people to see if they can locate "fresh" tires!

Thanks!


UPDATE:

I buy a lot of tires at Discount and always have had great service. Same today. They did call the warehouse about the GY 614's. They have several in stock but all with date codes up to 12 months old. Still better than the other options I tried.

Cool, if you want to order and get pricing and ask for best dates possible please call Ricky when he is in.

[CapriRacer]

SH wrote:



Not "implying" anything just repeating what the tech at SimpleTire sent me in an email...

Hello,

Thank you for your email to SimpleTire.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the details of DOT to the customers because warehouse won't be able to check the dates on Individual tires and we stock tires which are from 3 months to 4 years old from the date of manufacturing, which is within the industry standard and considered as new Tires.

Please do let us know if you need any more information and we will be more than happy to help you out.

Regards,
Vivek
Support Team SimpleTire

Thanks for that - but at the risk of being pedantic, he said "industry standard", you said "legal".

It's true that the industry thinks 4 year old tires are OK to sell as new (Heck, I think the industry thinks it's 6 years!), but to my knowledge there is no law or regulation.

[JIMNLIN]

What is the consensus regarding DOT Date versus "put in service" date on the integrity of a new tire?

Many thanks!

I'm just another RVer now and I tend to expect 6 months or newer LT tires date code on my trailers as I tend to keep them for 7+ years or so and around 50k-55k miles.

In my previous life hauling for a living DOT date didn't matter as most of my trailers would use two sets every 18 months or so at 50k + miles per set.

Discount Tire store nearest me is 43 miles away and its worth driving the extra miles. If I ask them for tires under a certain date code they will find them for me....or anyone.

[SH]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
SH, give Ricky a call at Discount Tire in Bellingham. 360-392-2091

Just tried...he is off today, back tomorrow. Talked with Brandon about the issue and he is checking with warehouse people to see if they can locate "fresh" tires!

Thanks!


UPDATE:

I buy a lot of tires at Discount and always have had great service. Same today. They did call the warehouse about the GY 614's. They have several in stock but all with date codes up to 12 months old. Still better than the other options I tried.

[Cummins12V98]

SH, give Ricky a call at Discount Tire in Bellingham. 360-392-2091

[SH]

CapriRacer wrote:

SH wrote:
…… They are legal to sell as "new" up to four years after they are dated. ……

That seems to imply that there is a law that says that they can NOT sell tires as "new" if they are older than 4 years - and that would be a new one for me. Can you cite a regulation?

SH wrote:
…… I replace these tires every five years per DOT Code. ……

I am hoping you mean that you use the tire's TIN (Tire Identification Number) aka DOT code, and not the regulations issued by the DOT. Because if it is the latter, I would like to know where I can find that regulation.

Not "implying" anything just repeating what the tech at SimpleTire sent me in an email...

Hello,

Thank you for your email to SimpleTire.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the details of DOT to the customers because warehouse won't be able to check the dates on Individual tires and we stock tires which are from 3 months to 4 years old from the date of manufacturing, which is within the industry standard and considered as new Tires.

Please do let us know if you need any more information and we will be more than happy to help you out.

Regards,
Vivek
Support Team SimpleTire

[CapriRacer]

SH wrote:
…… They are legal to sell as "new" up to four years after they are dated. ……

That seems to imply that there is a law that says that they can NOT sell tires as "new" if they are older than 4 years - and that would be a new one for me. Can you cite a regulation?

SH wrote:
…… I replace these tires every five years per DOT Code. ……

I am hoping you mean that you use the tire's TIN (Tire Identification Number) aka DOT code, and not the regulations issued by the DOT. Because if it is the latter, I would like to know where I can find that regulation.

[cummins2014]

SH wrote:
So...been dealing with tires and tire posts for many years and have a plethora of experience with them.

However I have a new challenge. Dealers seldom carry my tire in stock and they must be ordered either from the local tire guy or online. The issue is, they all say they have no say regarding DOT Date Codes when their suppliers send the tires. They are legal to sell as "new" up to four years after they are dated.

Ordering online is easy, reasonably priced and free shipping however...if they arrive with a four-year old date code I have to pay shipping to return which is very pricey on four Goodyear 614's.

I replace these tires every five years per DOT Code. I have been lucky over the past two purchases and got tires dated within a few months of install but I was able to select the tires onsite. This no longer seems possible.

What is the consensus regarding DOT Date versus "put in service" date on the integrity of a new tire?

Many thanks!

I buy tires from one dealer, and he will get me any tire that I want , so far. My last set of tires for a fifth wheel were the Sailuns, the best price I got a quote for out the door was Big O tires here in Utah. Their price was lower then Simpletire after all said ,and done. I took that price to the tire dealer I liked , and asked if he was willing to match prices, he would ,and did.

Most want your business, they ordered those Sailuns, I checked the date on them ,they were if I remember right at three months old. IMO most tire dealers can get you any fresh tire you want ,and match price. At least thats what I have found from the dealer I deal with . I would try a local tire dealer you like ,and give that a go ,long before I would order online ,and hope they were fresh tires.

Tires start aging the minute they are manufactured regardless whether they are on a fifth wheel or sitting in a warehouse, granted the process speeds up when mounted ,and being ran ,and in direct sunlight. No way would I want a new RV tire that was two years old , and sitting on a rack or warehouse for that long . IMO thats two years off of its live span . 6 months max, preferably 2-3 .