What do you make of this tire date code?

[subzali]

Sorry it’s upside down.

13th week of 2015?

 

[DanTheMan]

March 2015? Going off the last 4 digits in that code: 1315. The 13th week of 2015.

 

[subzali]

That’s what weird. These tires have dry rot and cracking that looks pretty bad for only almost 4 years old. What would cause that? They also say Radial Mud Terrain on them how long has it been since they made those? Anyone know when they stopped putting “Radial” on them? Was only going to use for mock-up but was toying with using one as a spare. Now not so sure.

 

[DanTheMan]

 

[ToyodaTocco]

Possibly 31st week of 1995. It looks like a three digit DOT code.

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

Here's a description off of BFG's website...

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

So yeah, that's weird that there's all sorts of dry rot and cracking. Were they in the same spot for a long time with exposure to the sun?

 

[DaveInDenver]

Having a 4 digit DOT date code is only true of tires manufactured since 2000, so being from 1995 as @ToyodaTocco mentions could explain it.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

 

[LXBRADY]

WWBD........ I would replace them.

 

[subzali]

Having a 4 digit DOT date code is only true of tires manufactured since 2000, so being from 1995 as @ToyodaTocco mentions could explain it.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

It looks to me like it could be 4 digits?

I’m going to stick with the original plan and only use for mock-up.

 

[DaveInDenver]

It looks to me like it could be 4 digits?

I’m going to stick with the original plan and only use for mock-up.

Couldn't say. I read the code as "DOT BEP6 YJ1 315" but could certainly be "DOT BEP6 YJ 1315"

I think they were made at the BFG Tuscaloosa, AL, plant (digits BE) and the size code is "P6".

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

There's definitely a 1 between the J and the 3. Regardless, if there's obvious cracking it doesn't matter how old they are, they shouldn't be used. I say it doesn't matter, but if you bought them new I'd be speaking to BFG. The rule of thumb is 6 years and dry rot/cracking shouldn't really happen before that. Well, unless they've been sitting in direct sunlight, in the exact same spot for those 3ish years.

 

[ToyodaTocco]

Here is an article from 2001 on the switch from the BFG radial mud terrain to the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM
http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/47858-bfgoodrich-mud-terrain-ta-km/