Collector automobiles · Tire records
Record Tire Dates by Position Before a Collector-Car Handoff
Make a tire-by-tire record that separates manufacturing dates, installation paperwork and the questions a tire professional still needs to resolve.
Start with five locations, not one description
A listing that says new tires is too broad for a useful handoff record. Create separate entries for the left front, right front, left rear, right rear and any spare. Include the date of your review and the vehicle identifier in the private file. If the car has no spare, record that fact rather than leaving its row unexplained.
Photograph the actual tire at each position, then connect the close-up to a wider image showing its location. A folder of unlabelled sidewall photographs can become difficult to interpret after the car moves or the wheels are removed. This is an inventory method, not a remote safety assessment.
Read the date within its limits
NHTSA explains that the last four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number identify the manufacturing week and year. In a hypothetical example, 2423 means week 24 of 2023. The complete marking may be visible on only one side. Ask a tire professional to obtain any inaccessible information safely.
NHTSA flags collector cars and other infrequently driven vehicles as susceptible to tire aging. Appearance alone cannot reveal aging. The agency notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacement at six to ten years regardless of tread; follow the applicable manufacturers’ guidance, not a universal deadline inferred from this range.
For inflation, NHTSA directs owners to the vehicle label or manual rather than the pressure printed on the tire. It also recommends checking the spare. Tire age, specified inflation and visible tread answer different questions; this record does not certify roadworthiness.
Separate manufacture, purchase and installation
Use three columns for three events. The molded code concerns manufacture. A receipt concerns a purchase. An installation record may identify when a tire was fitted to this car. Preserve each source instead of replacing all three with a single year in the description.
A hypothetical file could show a 2023 manufacturing code, a 2024 invoice and a 2026 inspection. That sequence does not prove a fault or a complete service history. It tells the next reviewer which events are documented and where a question remains. If the invoice does not identify the fitted positions, do not assign them from memory.
Use a position-by-position worksheet
Copy this structure for the particular vehicle. Transcribe the full marking in the private file and keep the photograph filename beside it. Enter unreadable or not inspected where appropriate. Blank cells should not silently become confirmation that a check passed.
| Position | Sidewall record | Paperwork | Open question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left front | Brand, model, size, TIN and photo | Purchase / installation date and source | What still needs checking? |
| Right front | Record independently | Link its own supporting record | Do identifiers match the paperwork? |
| Left rear | Record independently | Note any position-specific invoice | Is the configuration documented? |
| Right rear | Record independently | Keep unknown dates unknown | Any unresolved observation? |
| Spare, if fitted | Record even if unused | Preserve available records | Has it been included in professional review? |
Give the reviewer questions they can answer
Send the completed inventory with the intended use of the car and any known wheel or tire changes. Ask the qualified tire service provider to document the specification checked, findings, recommendations and any limitations. Avoid instructing them to confirm a conclusion already written into the sale description.
If information conflicts, keep the original photograph and document together. A corrected transcription should explain what changed; it should not erase the earlier source. Record the professional response and the date on which an open item was resolved.
Carry the record into the handoff
The final package should connect each tire position to its photographed marking, available invoice and review outcome. Summarize outstanding work separately from completed work. A booking confirmation is evidence of an appointment, not a completed inspection or replacement.
This approach gives the next owner a clear starting point without describing every tire as new, original or safe on the strength of a brief advertisement. Add later changes as dated entries and keep the earlier baseline available for comparison.