Get Tires, Wheels and Loading -> INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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• Narrower — to provide greater

maneuverability in tight spaces,

particularly in off-road use.

As a result of the above dimensional

differences, SUV’s and trucks often

will have a higher center of gravity

and a greater difference in center of

gravity between the loaded and

unloaded condition.

These differences that make your

vehicle so versatile also make it

handle differently than an ordinary

passenger car.

INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING

Tire Quality Grades apply to new

pneumatic passenger car tires. The

Quality grades can be found where

applicable on the tire sidewall

between tread shoulder and

maximum section width. For

example:

• Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A

These Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the United

States Department of Transportation has set.

Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic passenger car tires. They do

not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or

temporary use spare tires, light truck or “LT” type tires, tires with

nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production tires as

defined in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).

U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality grades: The U.S.

Department of Transportation requires Ford Motor Company to give you

the following information about tire grades exactly as the government

has written it.

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Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

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Tires, Wheels and Loading

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of

the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified

government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one

and one-half (1¹⁄

) times as well on the government course as a tire

graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual

conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the

norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and

differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction AA A B C

The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The

grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured

under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of

asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction

performance.

WARNING: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on

straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include

acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.

Temperature A B C

The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the

tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat

when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory

test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire

to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to

sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance

which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 139. Grades B and A represent higher levels of

performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by

law.

WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established

for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive

speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in

combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

TIRES

Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they

must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them.

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2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

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Tires, Wheels and Loading -> INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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