افحص عمر إطاراتك
كل إطار يحمل رمز DOT محفوراً على جداره الجانبي. الأرقام الأربعة الأخيرة هي أسبوع وسنة التصنيع. أدخلها أدناه وسنخبرك ما إذا كان الإطار لا يزال قانونياً للاستخدام في الإمارات.
أين أجد رمز DOT؟
انظر إلى الجدار الجانبي الخارجي للإطار بحثاً عن الأحرف DOT متبوعة بسلسلة من الرموز. الأرقام الأربعة الأخيرة هي المطلوبة. إن لم تجدها على الجدار الخارجي، تحقق من الجدار الداخلي — إذ يُلزَم المصنعون بحفر الرمز الكامل على جانب واحد فقط.
DOT B3HR TWX 1219
The highlighted four digits are the ones you need.
The UAE five-year tyre rule, explained
Under ESMA and RTA regulation, a tyre may not be used on UAE roads more than 5 years after the date it was manufactured. This is separate from, and stricter than, the tread depth rule — a tyre with full tread that is six years old is illegal, while a tyre with 2mm of tread that is two years old is not.
The reason is chemistry rather than wear. Rubber oxidises and hardens over time whether the tyre is driven or not, and sustained heat accelerates that process considerably. In a climate where surface temperatures regularly exceed 60°C, a tyre ages faster than the same tyre would in Europe. As the compound hardens it grips less, and micro-cracks in the casing make a sudden failure at speed far more likely.
This is also why it is worth knowing the manufacture date of any tyre you are about to buy. A tyre that has sat in a warehouse for three years is already more than halfway through its legal life before it is fitted to your car — and unless the shop tells you, you have no way of knowing.
Common questions
How do I read a tyre DOT code?
Find the letters DOT on the tyre sidewall followed by a string of characters. The last four digits are the date: the first two are the week of the year and the last two are the year. So 1219 means the tyre was manufactured in the twelfth week of 2019.
How old can a tyre be in the UAE?
Five years from the date of manufacture. Beyond that a tyre may not legally be used, and the vehicle will fail its RTA inspection regardless of how much tread remains or how new the tyre looks. The rule is about the rubber degrading with age, not about wear.
What is the fine for driving on an expired tyre in the UAE?
AED 500, 4 black points and a 7-day vehicle impound. The vehicle will also fail its registration inspection, so the tyre has to be replaced before the car can legally be back on the road anyway.
Why do tyres expire if the tread is still good?
Rubber degrades chemically over time whether or not the tyre is used. Heat and UV accelerate it, which is why the rule matters so much here. The compound hardens and micro-cracks form in the casing, so an old tyre grips less and is far more likely to fail suddenly at speed.
Where is the DOT code on my tyre?
On the sidewall, usually near the rim. Manufacturers are only required to mould the full code on one side of the tyre, so if you cannot find the four-digit date on the outer wall, check the inner wall — it is often there instead.
Does the five-year rule apply to the spare tyre?
Yes. A spare ages at the same rate as the tyres in use, and it is the one most likely to be forgotten for a decade. It is worth checking, because a spare that has expired is of no use to you at the moment you actually need it.