Tire Recall Check: How to Use the DOT Number on Your Tires
Tire recalls are tracked by the code molded into the sidewall, not by your car's VIN. A few minutes with a flashlight tells you whether your set is affected.
To check whether your tires are recalled, read the Tire Identification Number (TIN) that starts with “DOT” on the sidewall, then search the brand and tire line under the Tire tab at nhtsa.gov/recalls and compare your TIN with the range in the recall notice. The tire industry’s free TIN lookup at recallinfo.ustires.org is a second check.
A car’s VIN search does not cover replacement tires. If you bought tires after the car left the factory, they need their own check.
Where is the TIN on a tire?
The TIN is a code molded into the sidewall that begins with the letters DOT, followed by a string of letters and numbers.
Federal rules in 49 CFR 574.5 require the full TIN on at least one sidewall. It may face inward on your car, so you might need to look at the inner sidewall with a flashlight or check the tire before it is mounted. Some tires show a partial code on the outer side and the full code on the inner side.
A new tire’s TIN has three parts:
| Part | Length | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Plant code | 3 characters (older tires: 2) | The factory that made the tire, assigned by NHTSA |
| Manufacturer’s code | Up to 6 characters | Size or other details chosen by the tire maker |
| Date code | 4 digits | Week and year of production; “2324” means week 23 of 2024 |
The date code matters most for recalls. Most tire recalls cover one plant and a range of production weeks, so two tires of the same model can differ: one inside the range and one outside it.
How do I search for a tire recall on nhtsa.gov?
Use the Tire tab on NHTSA’s recall page and search by brand and tire line, then match your TIN against the affected range.
- Write down the brand, the tire line name (for example the model name printed in large letters) and the full TIN from each tire.
- Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and choose the Tire tab.
- Type the brand and tire line into the search box and pick the matching result.
- Open any recall listed and read the affected sizes, plants and production dates.
- Compare each of your tires. If the plant code, size and date code fall inside the listed range, that tire is recalled.
The US Tire Manufacturers Association runs a Tire Recall Checker on ustires.org where you type the TIN itself. It covers recalls by the association’s member companies, so a tire from a smaller or non-member brand may not appear there. Use both checks, and call the tire maker if you are unsure.
Is a recalled tire replaced for free?
Yes, within limits set by federal law. The tire maker must remedy a recalled tire without charge if you present it within 180 days of receiving the recall notice, under 49 U.S.C. 30120.
If the maker chooses to replace the tire, the 180 days run from the later of the notice or the date you learn a replacement is available. When replacements are not ready during that window, the law gives a new 180-day period after you are told they are available.
There is also an age cutoff. The free-remedy duty does not apply to a tire the first buyer purchased more than 5 calendar years before the recall notice or order. That is much shorter than the 15-year limit for vehicle recalls, which our guide to who pays for recall repairs covers.
The recall letter explains where to take the tire, usually any authorized dealer of that brand. Ask whether mounting and balancing are included and get it in writing before work starts, because the letter sets what the remedy covers.
Should I keep driving on a recalled tire?
Follow the recall notice, and replace the tire as soon as you can. Tire defects such as tread separation or sidewall cracking can cause a sudden loss of air at highway speed.
If the notice describes a risk of failure and replacements are not ready, limit highway driving and check pressure often. A spare in good condition can cover a single affected tire for a short trip to the shop. If the car has a recalled original-equipment tire, the automaker’s VIN search may also list it, and our guide to checking car recalls by VIN explains how to read that result.
How does tire registration work?
Registration links your name and address to your tires’ TINs so the manufacturer can mail you a recall notice. Without it, the maker usually has no way to find you.
The rules in 49 CFR 574.8 depend on the seller:
- Independent dealers (not controlled by a tire maker) must either give you a registration form with the TINs already filled in, mail the completed form to the manufacturer within 30 days, or send the details electronically within 30 days and say so on your invoice.
- Dealers owned or controlled by a tire maker must send your details to the manufacturer themselves.
If you receive a paper card, fill it in and mail it, or register online on the tire maker’s website using the TINs. Keep the invoice with the TINs in your glove box. It helps if you need to prove which tires you bought and when.
What if I already paid to replace a recalled tire?
Contact the tire manufacturer with your receipt and ask about reimbursement. Federal law requires every recall remedy program to include a plan to reimburse owners who paid for the fix within a reasonable time before the recall notice, and the plan sets the dates and proof needed.
Keep the old tire if you still have it, or at least a photo of the full TIN. If you think a tire failed because of a defect that is not yet recalled, you can file a complaint with NHTSA. Our guide to reporting a vehicle safety problem walks through the form.
Bottom line
Read the DOT code on every tire, including the spare, and check it against NHTSA’s tire search and the USTMA lookup. Register new tires the day you buy them, and act on a recall notice quickly, because the free replacement window is 180 days and stops for tires bought more than 5 years before the recall.
FAQ
Does a VIN recall check include my tires?
Only sometimes. Original-equipment tires may be covered by an automaker’s recall, but replacement tires are recalled by the tire maker and are found by brand, tire line and TIN.
How do I read the tire’s age?
The last four digits of the TIN are the week and year it was made. A code ending in 1825 means week 18 of 2025.
Can a tire shop sell a recalled tire?
Under 49 U.S.C. 30120(i), a dealer may not sell new tires covered by a recall notice until they are remedied. If you find a recalled tire on a car you just bought, contact the seller and the tire maker.
Does the recall cover the full set of four?
The remedy covers each tire that falls inside the recalled range. If only two of your four tires match, the other two are not part of the recall.
