Tires are recalled on their own, separately from the car, and the recall is tied to the tire's DOT code, not your VIN. A VIN check will not always show it. Here is how to read the code and check.
Find the DOT code
Look on the sidewall for the DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN). NHTSA's tip: look on both sides, because the TIN may not be on both. It starts with "DOT" followed by letters and numbers.
Read the date
NHTSA explains that the last four digits of the TIN are the week and year the tire was made: a TIN ending 0308 was made in the third week of 2008. Tires age even when the tread looks fine; NHTSA notes that some tire makers recommend replacing tires six to ten years old regardless of tread, and that you cannot detect aging just by looking.
Check for recalls
Search tire recalls at NHTSA using the tire's brand, model and TIN, and report a tire safety problem there if you have one. Check the spare as well.
The free fix has a time limit for tires
US law gives owners 180 days to present a recalled tire for the free remedy, counted from the notice or from when replacements become available (49 U.S.C. 30120(b)). The free-remedy duty does not apply to a tire first sold more than 5 years before the recall notice (30120(g)). So act on a tire recall quickly.
In winter
Cold weather lowers tire pressure, so check monthly; the rest of the pre-winter check is in the winter car safety checklist. Tire recalls involving vehicles are listed in what failed: tires.
Quick answers
How do I check if my tires are recalled?
Find the DOT Tire Identification Number on the sidewall (check both sides), then search tire recalls at NHTSA with the brand, model and TIN. A vehicle VIN check may not show tire recalls.
How do I read a tire's date code?
The last four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number are the week and year of manufacture: 0308 means the third week of 2008.
Is a tire recall replacement free?
Yes, under US law, if you present the tire within the 180-day window and it was first sold no more than 5 years before the recall notice.
Related
Sources
- NHTSA: Tires
- 49 U.S.C. 30120: remedies for defects and noncompliance (Cornell LII)
- NHTSA: Safety issues and recalls, check by VIN
This page explains US federal rules in plain words. It is not legal advice; for a dispute, the statute and NHTSA are the authority, and a lawyer can advise on your case.
Published 7 November 2026 by A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus. CarsMultiverse is an independent site, not an authority.