Most drivers check tread depth. Far fewer check how old their tyres are, yet in the UAE age matters as much as tread. Heat and sun break down rubber from the inside, and an old tyre can fail at motorway speed even when the tread looks fine.
How to read the date code
Look on the sidewall for the letters DOT followed by a series of characters. The last four digits are the manufacturing date: the first two are the week, the last two the year.
Example: "2324" means the tyre was made in the 23rd week of 2024.
The code may only be printed on one side of the tyre, so check the inner sidewall too if you can't see it.
The UAE five-year rule
UAE sources, including tyre retailers and earlier Gulf News reporting on tyre safety standards, consistently describe a limit of five years from the manufacturing date for tyres used on UAE roads, regardless of tread, and say tyre age is checked during vehicle inspections. Some sources say this also applies to spare tyres. Rules and enforcement can change and may differ between emirates, so check current RTA guidance, but as a practical rule: treat five years from the DOT date as the end of a tyre's life in the UAE.
Why heat makes age matter more
- UV and high temperatures dry out the rubber compounds and oils that keep a tyre flexible.
- Hot roads and high motorway speeds raise the tyre's internal temperature.
- Old rubber cracks, and the internal layers can separate, which can cause a sudden blowout.
"New" tyres can already be old
A tyre sitting in a warehouse still ages. When buying tyres, check the DOT code before fitting; tyres made only recently give you the most usable life. The age is counted from manufacture, not from when the tyre was fitted.
Other signs a tyre needs replacing
- Cracks in the sidewall or between tread blocks
- Bulges or bubbles on the sidewall (often from hitting a kerb or pothole)
- Low or uneven tread; wear on one edge points to alignment
- Repeated slow leaks
- Vibration at speed that balancing doesn't cure
Don't forget the spare
Many spares are never used and are often older than the car's other tyres. An old spare can fail just when you need it.
Looking after tyres in the UAE
- Check pressures cold every couple of weeks.
- Park in shade where possible.
- Have the alignment checked when you fit new tyres.
- Replace tyres in pairs on the same axle, with the same size and type.
Tyre age is one of the items we check in our free pre-RTA inspection, along with tread, damage and alignment. See also our RTA test checklist and wheel alignment.
Need a hand?
WhatsApp 052 296 5483 or call 058 821 2219. We are in Dubai Investment Park 2, open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 10 PM.
