Where Is the Serial Number On A Bridgestone Tire?

Have you ever needed to locate the serial number of your Bridgestone tire and wondered where to find it? We can help you with that. We gathered information on Bridgestone tires, and here's what we learned.

Bridgestone tires have a series of numbers located at the outer sidewall above the rim. This series serves as a serial number.

This post will discuss how to decode the information on a Bridgestone tire. This is important information that every car owner should be aware of. Stay on this page as we dig deeper and discuss the relevance of the tire's serial number.

How To Locate The Serial Number On A Bridgestone Tire

The series of numbers that comprise the serial number for a Bridgestone tire is embossed or engraved on the outside sidewall just above the tire rim.

An easy way to locate these numbers is to scan along the tire's sidewall clockwise. You will then notice a group of letters and some numbers enclosed in a raised rectangular box located near the rim. 

The numbers can also be called the TIN (tire identification number). You will also see a DOT symbol. This signifies that Bridgestone complies with the safety standards set by the government, as regulated by DOT (Department of Transportation).

If you take a closer look, you will notice two sets of numbers or letters that give the most important information to look out for.

The first set gives the code where the tire was manufactured, plus the corresponding production batch code. The second set is the date code or the "birth date" of the tire.

The first set of numbers or letters is the manufacturing plant code. This serves as an identifier since Bridgestone manufacturing facilities are located in the US and other countries.

Information For Product Recalls

All of these numbers are important in case of a product recall. Although this rarely happens, a product recall is when the tire is already on the market, and it's requested for return to the plant facility.

The reason for a product recall is when defects are discovered after the sale. Product recall is a serious case related to product quality which compromises brand integrity. It is employed as a last resort by any manufacturer. 

When a product recall is announced, a quick lookup of the numbers will tell you if your tire is included. In some cases, a product recall will only entail maintenance issues.

DOT Number vs. Serial Number

Technically, a serial number is a sequence of alphanumeric characters assigned to each individual product. It should also be unique to identify the product from all others.

However, with the emergence of complex manufacturing processes, the serial number isn't only assigned per product. Instead, the serial number is assigned to a group of products of the same type. And this model is applied to Bridgestone tire manufacturing.

A Bridgestone tire's serial number indicates the batch production code of the tire category manufactured in a specific facility. The serial number serves as a document control.

Tire customers should know that the DOT number is a method to check the manufacturer's production batches. This reflects how the government puts emphasis on road safety standards.

Why The Date Code Is Important

The last four numbers indicate the date code, which signifies when the tire was manufactured. It follows the standard and straightforward format of WWYY. The first two numbers indicate the week manufactured, and the last two numbers indicate the year.

To cite an example, the date code is 0619. This tells you that the tire was manufactured in the sixth week of the year 2019. Therefore, you can assume that the tire was manufactured February 4–10, 2019.

The DOT implemented the date code for tires manufactured in 2000. The date code indicates the "birth date," equating to tire age, which can tell tons of information.

Why Tire Age Is Important

When shopping for tires, a customer should look for the serial number or the DOT number. This is because the DOT stamp indicates that the tire for sale is legitimate and approved for use in the United States. Aside from that, the customer should know the tire's age based on the stamped date code.

Tire age is important since it affects road performance. When car owners are certain of the age of their tire, they are able to maximize their safety. They will know the high wear rate and if the time comes when the tire will lose grip. This is because tire age can impact vehicle handling. 

For Bridgestone tires, with proper handling and storage, the shelf life is five years. This means that the tire is fit to be purchased within this period. Conversely, the tire can be displayed on the dealer's racks within such time.

Given normal usage, it is advised that tires should be replaced every three and a half years. This is way below the maximum tire life, which is 10 years.

Why Do Tires Degrade?

Certain factors can shorten a tire's serviceable life. Rubber is often used in tires and will degrade over time. Despite this, Bridgestone has maintained its niche to produce quality tires.

Aside from a quality manufacturing processes, the supply chain for Bridgestone tire has well-established logistics procedures from the moment the products leave the factory until they reach the dealers and end-users. 

If improper handling occurs during transport or shipment, it can hasten the degradation of newly manufactured tires. If this happens and the tires still reach the end users, wear and tear may be accelerated, which can affect road performance.

In a few instances, when a customer purchases new tires that become unusable, Bridgestone offers a limited warranty provided the defects are within their control.

What Additional Information Can Be Found On A Bridgestone Tire?

The tire's sidewall has other markings which provide a lot of information. This is important for car owners to know since it relates to the correct tire specifications for their vehicles.

The markings give valuable information about the tire size. Here's a rundown:

Detailed specifications can be typically read like this, as an example: P 225 / 70 R 16 91 S

• Tire type: P for passenger vehicles such as cars, minivans, SUVs, and light-duty trucks; LT for light trucks; T for temporary spare tires; and ST for special trailers
• Tire width should match the tire type
• Tire aspect ratio: 45, 55, and 70 series
• Tire construction: R for radial and D for diagonal or bias ply orientation
• Tire inside diameter to match rim size
• Tire load index tells the maximum weight in kilograms that the tire can carry.
• Speed rating: S is up to 180 km/hr; R is 170 km/hr; and V is 149 miles per hour.

The other technical information includes the treadwear indicators, tire ply composition, treadwear grade, traction grade, temperature grade, and the max cold inflation limit.

Car owners should know how to interpret the coded information on the tire sidewalls. They will have a big advantage while tire shopping since they can compare which tire best fits their vehicle while also considering their driving habits. Shoppers will be better able to take budgetary constraints into account.

Additionally, based on sidewall information, car owners will know the limitations of their tires, their proper maintenance, and how to maximize their use.

You can learn more about tire sizes from this post: Does Tire Sidewall Size Matter?

In Summary

Shopping for Bridgestone tires can be daunting, but if you know and understand the information printed on a tire, the process will be easier. The information includes the tire size, manufacturing information, and other technical specifics.

Understanding the sidewall markings gives you advantages when comparing tires of different types and models. It enables car owners to know which tire is right for their vehicle, their driving lifestyle, and their personal preferences, notwithstanding the budget.

Do you want to learn more about Bridgestone tires? We have additional posts for you:

Do Bridgestone Tires Make Noise?

Are Bridgestone Tires Regroovable?