How old is my BFGoodrich tire?
Type the dot date code from the BFGoodrich label to see when it was built. BFGoodrich units are built by Michelin, so the serials follow that company's format.
Example
- DOTDOT: meets U.S. safety standards
- 1BFPlant: 1BF = Michelin North America, Inc, Woodburn, Indiana, United States
- ABCDEFManufacturer's code
- 05Week: 05 (February)
- 18Year: 18 = 2018
Built Week 5 of 2018 (around February)
8 years, 8 months old
In replacement window. Inside the usual 6 to 10 year lifespan, so replacement could come any time. Worth budgeting for it.
How this was read
- "DOT" means the tire meets U.S. federal safety standards. The tire identification number follows it.
- The first three symbols, 1BF, are the plant code. NHTSA lists it as Michelin North America, Inc, Woodburn, Indiana, United States.
- The plant list names the company that runs the factory. It may build tires sold under other brands.
- The next 6 symbols are the manufacturer's own code for size and type. They are not part of the date.
- The last four digits, 0518, are the date code.
- The first two, 05, are the week. The last two, 18, are the year: 2018.
- Week 5 of 2018 runs from Sunday, February 4, 2018 to Saturday, February 10, 2018.
Format: DOT date code, week and year. Sources: 49 CFR 574.5, tire identification requirements (eCFR), NHTSA: Tires (how to find the tire age), Federal Register, 2015 rule on three-symbol plant codes, NHTSA vPIC tire plant code list.
Reading a BFGoodrich serial number
BFGoodrich is a Michelin brand. Michelin advises a yearly check after five years and replacement ten years after the tire was made.
The date code is a week and year, like 2219 for week 22 of 2019. Read it on every tire, including the spare, since tires on one car often differ.
About BFGoodrich
- BFGoodrich made the first pneumatic car tires built in the U.S., in 1896.
- Michelin bought BFGoodrich’s tire business in 1990, after it had merged with Uniroyal.
- The example code 1BF belongs to Michelin’s plant in Woodburn, Indiana.
Sources: This Is Every Tire Brand Owned By Michelin, NHTSA vPIC: Get Equipment Plant Codes (tires, 2026)
DOT date code, week and year
Used july 2000 to today. Example: DOTU2LLLMLR5107
The date code is the last group of the DOT number on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week and the last two are the year, so 5107 means week 51 of 2007.
Worked example: DOT 1BF ABCDEF 0518 was built Week 5 of 2018 (around February), so it is 8 years, 8 months old as of October 2026.
Sources: 49 CFR 574.5, tire identification requirements (eCFR), NHTSA: Tires (how to find the tire age), Federal Register, 2015 rule on three-symbol plant codes, NHTSA vPIC tire plant code list
Pre-2000 DOT date code, week and year digit
Used before July 2000. Example: DOTMJL9ABC218
Tires made before 2000 end the DOT number with three digits: the week, then the last digit of the year. Many 1990s tires add a small triangle after the code.
Worked example: DOT MJ L9 ABC 218 fits Week 21 of 1988 (around May) or Week 21 of 1998 (around May). The page above explains how to tell which.
The full lookup tables are on the Bridgestone page, since BFGoodrich uses the same code.
Sources: Federal Register, 1999 rule moving to a four-digit date code, Vintage Tyres: reading tyre age codes, 49 CFR 574.5, tire identification requirements (eCFR)
Factories that make BFGoodrich tires
The two or three symbols right after "DOT" name the factory. These are the plant codes NHTSA lists for Michelin, which makes BFGoodrich tires. A code from this list on a BFGoodrich tire is a good sign it is genuine.
| Code | Location | Operator | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A1 (A1) | 86-Potiers, France | Pneumatics Michelin | Listed |
| 1HA (HA) | Aranda de Duero, Spain | Michelin Espana Portugal S.A. | Listed |
| 1AP (AP) | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | Michelin North America,Inc | Listed |
| 1FT (FT) | Bad Kreuznach, Germany | Michelin Reifenwerke, A.G. & Co. K.G.A.A | Listed |
| 1HJ (HJ) | Ballymena, Northern Ireland | Michelin Tyre PLC | Listed |
| 1FL (FL) | Blanzy, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 1B3 (B3) | Bridgewater, Canada | Michelin North America (Canada), Inc. | Listed |
| 1B4 (B4) | Budapest, Hungary | Michelin Hungarian Tyre Manufacture Ltd. | Listed |
| 1B8 (B8) | Campo Grande, Brazil | Sociedade Michelin de Participacoes, Industria E Comercio LTDA - Unidade Campo Grande | Listed |
| 1Y5 (Y5) | China | Shanghai Michelin Tire Co., Ltd. | Listed |
| 1FK (FK) | Cholet, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatics Michelin | Listed |
| 1FH (FH) | Clemont Ferrand, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatics Michelin | Listed |
| 1FF (FF) | Clermont Ferrand, France | Manufacutre Francaise Des Pneumatiques (Michelin) | Listed |
| 1FM (FM) | Clermont Ferrand, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 1FN (FN) | Clermont Ferrand, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 1L0 (L0) | Clermont Ferrand, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 16U (6U) | Clermont-Ferrand, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques MICHELIN | Listed |
| 1HD (HD) | Cuneo, Italy | Societa Per Azoni, Michelin Italiana | Listed |
| 122 (22) | Davidovo Village, Russia | LLC Michelin Russian Tyre Manufacturing Co. | Listed |
| 1K4 (K4) | De Queretarosantiago, Mexico | Industrias Michelin, S.A. de C.V. | Listed |
| 1B7 (B7) | Dothan, Alabama, United States | Michelin North America, Inc. | Listed |
| 1F1 (F1) | Dundee, Scotland | Michelin Tyre PLC | Listed |
| 1N4 (N4) | Floresti, Romania | Michelin Romania SA | Listed |
| 14M (4M) | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | Michelin North America, Inc. | Listed |
| 1M3 (M3) | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | Michelin North America, Inc. | Listed |
| 06R | Guarulhos, Brazil | Sociedade Michelin Participacoes, Industria e Comercio Ltda - Unidade Guarulhos | Listed |
| 1FU (FU) | Hallstadt, Germany | Michelin Reifenwerke, A.G. & Co. K.G.A.A | Listed |
| 1FV (FV) | Homburg-Saar, Germany | Michelin Reifenwerke, A.G. & Co. K.G.A.A | Listed |
| 13R (3R) | Itatiaia, Brazil | Sociedade Michelin de Participacoes Industria A E Comercio LTDA - Undidade Itatiaia | Listed |
| 1FW (FW) | Karlsruhe, Germany | Michelin Reifenwerke, A.G. & Co. K.G.A.A | Listed |
| 1FJ (FJ) | La Brede, France | Manufacture Francaise Des Pneumatics Michelin | Listed |
| 1HB (HB) | Lasarte-Oria, Spain | Michelin Espana Portugal S.A. | Listed |
| 15E (5E) | Le Puy En Velay, France | Manfacture Francaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 03L | Leon, Mexico | Industrias Michelin S.A. de C.V. | Listed |
| 1B9 (B9) | Lexington, South Carolina, United States | Michelin North America, Inc. | Listed |
| 06P | Manaus, Brazil | Sociedade Michelin de Participacoes, Industria e Comercio, Ltda. - Unidade Manaus | Listed |
| 1HE (HE) | Marengo (Alessandria), Italy | Societa Per Azioni, S.P.A. (Michelin Italiana) | Listed |
| 1HN (HN) | New Glasgow, Canada | Michelin North America (Canada), Inc. | Listed |
| 13L (3L) | Nongkae, Thailand | Michelin Siam Co., Ltd. | Listed |
| 261 (6I) | Nyiregyhaza, Hungary | Michelin Hungaria Tyre Manufacture Ltd. | Listed |
| 1B5 (B5) | Olsztvn, Poland | Michelin Polska S.A. | Listed |
| 1ED (ED) | Ota, Japan | Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd. | Listed |
| 1W8 (W8) | Prapradaeng, Thailand | Michelin Siam Co., Ltd. | Listed |
| 1HP (HP) | Saigon, Vietnam | Manfacture Saigonnaise Des Pneumatiques Michelin | Listed |
| 17V (7V) | Shenyang, China | Michelin Shenyang Tire Co., Ltd | Listed |
| 1V8 (V8) | Sipcot Industrialgummidipoondi Taluk Tiruvallur, India | Michelin India PVT. Ltd. | Listed |
| 1B6 (B6) | Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States | Michelin North America, Inc. | Listed |
| 10C (0C) | Sri Racha, Thailand | Michelin Siam Co., Ltd. | Listed |
| 1HM (HM) | Stoke-On-Trent, England | Michelin Tyre PLC | Listed |
| 1BE (BE) | Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States | Michelin North America, Inc | Listed |
| 1H1 (H1) | Valladolid, Spain | Michelin Espana Portugal S.A. | Listed |
| 1HC (HC) | Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain | Michelin Espana Portugal S.A. | Listed |
| 1M5 (M5) | Waterville, Canada | Michelin North America (Canada), Inc. | Listed |
| 1BF (BF) | Woodburn, Indiana, United States | Michelin North America, Inc | Listed |
| 1K0 (K0) | Yang San- Kun, South Korea | Michelin Korea Tire Company, Ltd. | Listed |
| 1FX (FX) | Leeuw-St. Pierre, Belgium | S.A. Belge Du Pneumatique Michelin | Closed |
| 1HH (HH) | Torino, Italy | Societa Per Azioni Michelin Italian | Closed |
Old two-symbol codes are in brackets. Source: NHTSA vPIC tire plant codes, checked October 2026.