Tires: tire identification, passenger car tire, rubber manufacturers association

Question
Barry--can you tell me what the following symbols mean on a Cooper passenger tire?

"DOT U9KC"  followed by another, apparently seperately stamped symbol:  "UB8037"  followed by another, apparently seperately stamped symbol: "H09R"  I'm particularly interested in whether the "H09R" stamp indicates a retread, and any further information about that stamp.  Thanks

Answer
John,

Some symbols on a tire are somewhat universal, and some are particular to the manufacturer.

For example, the TIN (Tire Identification Number) - also known the the DOT number, Dot Code, and the serial number.  It is the code that follows the letters DOT and it has the following coding structure:

DOT codes are 10 to 12 digits long.  BTW the digits can be numbers or letters.

The first 2 digits are a code for the manufacturing plant.  In your case the code is U9 and it means the tire was manufactured at the Cooper plant in Tupelo, MS.

The next 2 digits are a code for the tire size.  If Cooper is following the RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) coding structure, then the KC means the tire is a P205/70R14 if it is a Passenger car tire.

The next 3 or 4 digits are a code for the type of tire. That would be the UB* - and that would be unique to Cooper and only they could translate it.

The last 3 or 4 digits are the date code.  The format is week/week/year/year or week/week/year.  These are always numbers.

Starting in the year 2000, the date coding used was 4 digits.  That means the largest number you should see for the year is 09.  Before 1999 the format was 3 digits.  1999 and 2000 are transition years, so you will find both 3 and 4 digits.

The date code only has to be on one side – and it is permissible for there to be a partial DOT code, so long as one side has the complete code.

So the 037 means the tire was produced the 3rd week of either 1993, 1983, or 1973.  If there is a triangle that seems to point to the that number, that is the symbol that is commonly used to indicate the 1990's.  If it is not there, then the year could be any of the 3 I mentioned.

I do not know what the "H09R" means.

BUT, if the tire is a retread, there are regulations that apply to the tire and it requires that the retreader brand the letter "R" followed by the letters "DOT", followed by the DOT code in the same format as outlined above.

Based on this, I don't things those 4 letters mean the tire is a retread.

But taking an educated guess, I'll bet you had what is commonly known as a tread separation - which sometimes looks like a retread coming off.  If you can see the entire width of the steel belt, even if it is only for a portion of the tire, then that is what you have.

You should be aware that recent bulletins from the tire industry indicate that tires degrade simply due to time.  The age of a tire is important even if the tire is unused.  There some disagreement over how to best express this age limitation, but my take is:

If you live in a hot climate (AZ, CA, NV, TX, and FL) then the limit is six years.  If you live in a cold climate (MN, ND, WI, MT, etc), then the limit is 10 years.  States in between are  ..... ah ........ in between.

Based on the date code, your tire is over 12 years old, which is well beyond the age limitations.

If my guess is right, then I may be able to guide you further if I could get some more details.  For example, when did you buy the tire?  Do you still have the receipt?  Details like that may be useful in planning your next move.