imported post
Nightrider 1, your tire seems to have been manufactured in March of 1998. [038]
Here is some info on pre2001 date codes:
DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be numbers or letters.
The first 2 digits are a code for the manufacturing plant.
The next 2 digits are a code for the tire size.
The next 3 or 4 digits are a code for the type of tire.
The last 3 or 4 digits are the date code. The format is week/week/year/year or week/week/year.
Starting in the year 2000, the date coding used is 4 digits. That means the highest number you should see for the year is 08. Before 1999 the format was 3 digits. 1999 and 2000 are transition years, so you will find both 3 and 4 digits.
Newer tires should have 4 digits e.g.[2307] = tire made the 23rd week of 2007.
For motorcycle use, tires should not be more than 6 years old, even if they are still on the shelf.