How to Find UTQG Grades and the Date Code on a Tire

Where the UTQG grades are

Federal rules require UTQG grades to be molded into the sidewall, between the tread shoulder and the tire’s widest point (its “maximum section width”). Look for the three words in this order: TREADWEAR, TRACTION, TEMPERATURE. A typical marking reads like the rule’s own example:

Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A

New tire lines get a grace period: tires made in the first six months of a new line’s production don’t have to carry the molded grades yet. Replacement tires (not sold on a new car) must also carry a paper label on the tread with the grades and the official explanation, the “DOT Quality Grades”.

Some tires have no grades at all because the rule doesn’t cover them. That includes deep tread winter-type snow tires, temporary spares, tires for rims of 12 inches or less, and some limited-production tires.

Reading the grades

• Treadwear is a two- or three-digit number, in steps of 20. Higher means slower wear on the government test course. It is not a mileage figure. See treadwear vs. real-world mileage.
• Traction is AA, A, B or C, for straight-ahead wet braking. See traction grades.
• Temperature is A, B or C, for heat resistance on a lab test wheel. See temperature grades.

Once you have the brand and tire line name from the sidewall, you can look up its published grades on our brand pages.

The DOT code and tire age

The letters “DOT” on a sidewall certify that the tire conforms to the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. After DOT comes the Tire Identification Number (TIN). On a new tire it has 13 symbols in three groups:

1. a three-symbol plant code NHTSA assigns to the factory,
2. a six-symbol manufacturer’s code,
3. a four-digit date code at the end.

Tires made with an older two-symbol plant code (allowed until April 13, 2025) have shorter TINs, but the date code is the same.

Reading the date code

The first two digits of the date code are the week, the last two are the year. The rule’s example: 0109 means the first full calendar week of 2009 (Sunday, January 4 to Saturday, January 10, 2009). A code of 2324 would therefore mean the 23rd week of 2024.

On a new tire, the rule only requires the full TIN on one sidewall, so if you can’t find it, check the other side.

Other sidewall markings

Sidewalls also show the size, load and speed information and maximum pressure. We don’t cover those here. For the correct size and pressure for your car, use your vehicle maker’s information.

Sources

49 CFR 575.104 (UTQG) and 49 CFR 574.5 (tire identification).