DOT date codes

Tom Lins

Tom Lins

New member
Dec 30, 2005
939
0
1
Elkton, FL
I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
The date code seems to be C3J
Which does not seem to make any sense.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html

The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
See the picture below.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin
 
Sir: The numbers you are looking for are branded 4 numbers on one side of the tire only. First 2 numbers is week, second 2 numbers is year.
Usually for some aesthetic reason they are installed on the inside.

> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
> The date code seems to be C3J
> Which does not seem to make any sense.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html
>
> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
> See the picture below.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
Tom,
Tires are usually only date coded on one side. The photo you show is of the correct area, but wrong side. The other side will show show similar info, but will also contain the 4 digit date code.

Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'

>
> Sir: The numbers you are looking for are branded 4 numbers on one side of the tire only. First 2 numbers is week, second 2 numbers is year.
> Usually for some aesthetic reason they are installed on the inside.
>
>
>
>

>> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
>> The date code seems to be C3J
>> Which does not seem to make any sense.
>>
>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html
>>
>> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
>> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
>> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
>> See the picture below.
>>
>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html
>
>
> --
> C. Boyd
> 76 Crestmont
> East Tennessee
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Whenever you have tires installed, you SHOULD have them mounted with the date code showing. That MAY not be possible with white wall tires if you want the white to show.

D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Charles Boyd
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2017 17:27
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] DOT date codes

Sir: The numbers you are looking for are branded 4 numbers on one side of the tire only. First 2 numbers is week, second 2 numbers is year.
Usually for some aesthetic reason they are installed on the inside.

> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
> The date code seems to be C3J
> Which does not seem to make any sense.
>
> https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gmcmhphotos.com%2Fphotos%2Four-newest-gmc%2Fp64095-img-09563.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C45c550e742bb4f732dcf08d53dca3a16%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636482861117253812&sdata=Ai4tTv8VGHRW5esbXUQJpMHr1syOqofhK%2F2daKfD%2F9I%3D&reserved=0
>
> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
> See the picture below.
>
> https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gmcmhphotos.com%2Fphotos%2Four-newest-gmc%2Fp64096-img-09573.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C45c550e742bb4f732dcf08d53dca3a16%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636482861117253812&sdata=1LGd%2BDC%2F5mr30WdCA4PrNVZdrG%2F1hmeJyvGEz3o%2FmsQ%3D&reserved=0

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

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> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
> The date code seems to be C3J
> Which does not seem to make any sense.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html
>
> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
> See the picture below.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html

Tom,

That C3J is probably a plant code. Many manufactures use that as the tire tooling can get moved around.
That tire will have a date code. Sometimes they are hard to find.

That tread stripped out is scary.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Les Burt[1

> Tires are usually only date coded on one side. The photo you show is of the correct area, but wrong side. The other side will show show similar
> info, but will also contain the 4 digit date code.
>
> Les Burt
> Montreal
> '75 Eleganza 26'
>
>

> >
> > Sir: The numbers you are looking for are branded 4 numbers on one side of the tire only. First 2 numbers is week, second 2 numbers is year.
> >
> > Usually for some aesthetic reason they are installed on the inside.
> >
> >
> >
> >

> >> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
> >> The date code seems to be C3J
> >> Which does not seem to make any sense.
> >>
> >> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html
> >>
> >> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
> >> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
> >> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
> >> See the picture below.
> >>
> >> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html
> >
> >
> > --
> > C. Boyd
> > 76 Crestmont
> > East Tennessee
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

That is the correct side of the tires. The other side of the tires have the same information minus the C3J.
That is what has me confused, everything I have ever seen about the date codes say they are 3 characters prior to 2000
and after 2000 they are 4 characters but not letters only numbers.

I intend to call Cooper Tires tomorrow to see what they say. These are supposedly "new" tires

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin
 
Tom
Most tires will show the oval "mold lines" surrounding the production codes found on the sidewall. Looking at the photo of your defective tire, i can see an "empty" oval after the C3J, indicating the position where the date code is normally found. The opposing side should be identical, but including a 4 digit code in the last oval. If your tire doesn't have that date code, it might be a faulty batch where the plant FORGOT to add the date.

The local Goodyear tire plant used to sell cosmetic blems like this to their employees at a highly discounted price.

Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'

>
> Les Burt[1

>> Tires are usually only date coded on one side. The photo you show is of the correct area, but wrong side. The other side will show show similar
>> info, but will also contain the 4 digit date code.
>>
>> Les Burt
>> Montreal
>> '75 Eleganza 26'
>>
>>

>>>
>>> Sir: The numbers you are looking for are branded 4 numbers on one side of the tire only. First 2 numbers is week, second 2 numbers is year.
>>>
>>> Usually for some aesthetic reason they are installed on the inside.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>>> I have been trying to find out what date the tires on the GMC we just bought.
>>>> The date code seems to be C3J
>>>> Which does not seem to make any sense.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64095-img-09563.html
>>>>
>>>> The reason I ask is that one of the tires has developed a problem since we got home.
>>>> I could swear this tire was fine when we first got home yesterday.
>>>> Obviously it is getting replaced immediately but is it a defective newer tire or way too old tire.
>>>> See the picture below.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/our-newest-gmc/p64096-img-09573.html
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> C. Boyd
>>> 76 Crestmont
>>> East Tennessee
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
>
> That is the correct side of the tires. The other side of the tires have the same information minus the C3J.
> That is what has me confused, everything I have ever seen about the date codes say they are 3 characters prior to 2000
> and after 2000 they are 4 characters but not letters only numbers.
>
> I intend to call Cooper Tires tomorrow to see what they say. These are supposedly "new" tires
>
>
> --
> Tom Lins
> Elkton, FL
> 77 GM Rear Twin
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Any tire which does not have a 4 digit date code someplace close to the rim is far from new.

--johnny

--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
As someone said, no date code means it is an old tire, regardless of when the P.O. purchased and installed it(or them, check the others). I have seen
this type of failure many times in the tire shop, and several of my old tires have done this, even with very low mileage and excellent tread left to
burn. All were old, but 2 of mine were spare tires and one was stored inside and never used and separated while in the basement. One of a set of 4
used tires on the rear of the GMC did it too, but fortunately we were just out of the driveway and I was able to drive back home at 1 mph without
damaging anything. If it had happened at speed it would have taken out the inner fender and air lines at the least. Cost me $600 at once to replace
all four, but was well worth the price. The GMC is hard on those rear tires on sharp turns, as something has to give way to accomplish any change in
direction except reverse.
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
> That tire could be a factory "blem" where the date code was missed. I'm pretty sure the C3J is the plant code. Tires usually have the DOT then
> something like the UP11, then the plant code and then the date code. Looks to me like the date code is missing.
>
> http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4047/how-old-are-your-tires-15441034/

i have to apologize for not investigating more carefully, lying on ground in the rain made me hurry. I took the wheel off to get the tire replaced
that the tread had seperated and I found a date code on the back and it is 1705 so it appears the tire in question and probably the rest of them were
made around the same week in May of 2005.

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin
 
At an age of over 12 years, that tire was WAY BEYOND its claimed service life!

D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Tom Lins
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2017 09:41
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] DOT date codes

> That tire could be a factory "blem" where the date code was missed. I'm pretty sure the C3J is the plant code. Tires usually have the DOT then
> something like the UP11, then the plant code and then the date code. Looks to me like the date code is missing.
>
> https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popularmechanics.com%2Fcars%2Fa4047%2Fhow-old-are-your-tires-15441034%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C558914debdad4ab6899308d53e5256bc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636483445715583575&sdata=JSpDsaZO3dYikc2q4O7p1GBNzoFbd504FXakuSnKcrI%3D&reserved=0

i have to apologize for not investigating more carefully, lying on ground in the rain made me hurry. I took the wheel off to get the tire replaced
that the tread had seperated and I found a date code on the back and it is 1705 so it appears the tire in question and probably the rest of them were
made around the same week in May of 2005.

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin

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I have no idea what the C3J code is but it might be the factor code.
Here is how the read the data code. Some time have it on both sides
but most have it on one side.
https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Date-Code
JR WrightMichigan ( On location in Tucson)

-----------------------------------------From: "Tom Lins"
*
To:
Cc:
Sent: 08-Dec-2017 15:42:50 +0000
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] DOT date codes

> That tire could be a factory "blem" where the date code was missed.
I'm pretty sure the C3J is the plant code. Tires usually have the DOT
then
> something like the UP11, then the plant code and then the date
code. Looks to me like the date code is missing.
>
>
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4047/how-old-are-your-tires-15441034/
/>

i have to apologize for not investigating more carefully, lying on
ground in the rain made me hurry. I took the wheel off to get the tire
replaced
that the tread had seperated and I found a date code on the back and
it is 1705 so it appears the tire in question and probably the rest of
them were
made around the same week in May of 2005.

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin

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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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