Tire question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Mechanicsville VA
St. Jude Donor '08
Tire question
Haven't used "search" for this. When buying tires should the date code on all 4 tires match? Would like to know if a years difference or two makes any difference. Thinking there may be some difference in the materials used. Thanks,
Gene
Gene
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: South Dakota
It is best to have the same date codes.
As you stated there may be some differences in material lots during manufacturing the tires. Usually the difference is so minimal that you can't tell any difference between lots. I prefer the same date codes, but I wouldn't be scared off by different date codes.
When you start talking about dates codes a couple of years apart there may be more than just manufacturing differences. Tires age. As they get older they usually get harder and stiffer, so when you compare tires a couple of years different the differences may be more noticeable than different material lots during manufacturing.
In most cases you will not notice a difference, especially if you are daily driving the car.
As you stated there may be some differences in material lots during manufacturing the tires. Usually the difference is so minimal that you can't tell any difference between lots. I prefer the same date codes, but I wouldn't be scared off by different date codes.
When you start talking about dates codes a couple of years apart there may be more than just manufacturing differences. Tires age. As they get older they usually get harder and stiffer, so when you compare tires a couple of years different the differences may be more noticeable than different material lots during manufacturing.
In most cases you will not notice a difference, especially if you are daily driving the car.
Team Owner
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I think you'll find if you go to a place like The Tire Rack and get tires, they sell so many that they won't have them laying around for a long time anyway. For a car like ours, getting production dates to be exact might not be possible, depending on how the company makes the tires. They may too up to run one size, then tool up to run another, etc. So by design, they could not be the same. I'm sure they don't make every size of tire every day, and there are a LOT of tire sizes out there.
I would not care about it unless I knew the tires would die of old age before dieing of wear. Mine don't. I typically get 3-4 years out of them and they're hoofed. If I expected them to be on in 10 years, I'd be more concerned.
I would not care about it unless I knew the tires would die of old age before dieing of wear. Mine don't. I typically get 3-4 years out of them and they're hoofed. If I expected them to be on in 10 years, I'd be more concerned.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 5
From: Mechanicsville VA
St. Jude Donor '08
Thanks for the info K-Spaz and QCVette. The tires will be used for the 3/4 track events I attend at VIR with some street use. I would prefer that the tires be made within several months of each other (backs vs. fronts). I would feel better knowing that I am running on equal tires and not 2 tires that may possibly have started to break down.
Gene
Gene
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I too would want tires that were manufactured within a couple of months of each other and not older than say 6 months or so from when you buy them. That's just my preference. And this of course is for new tires - used tires could obviously be older.
