UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
(if equipped)
Quality Grades: All passenger car tires must
conform to local safety requirements in addi-
tion to these grades.
TIRE PLACARD
TEMPERATURE A, B AND 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 local regulations.
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
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on
a
specified
Grades
B
and
A
represent higher levels of
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2)
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 signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
STI0494
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
The cold tire pressures are shown on the tire
placard affixed to the driver’s side center pillar.
WARNING:
AIR CONDITIONER SPECIFICATION LA-
BEL
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-in-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible tire failure.
TRACTION AA, A, B AND C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on spe-
cified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
traction performance.
A
tire marked
C
may have poor
JVT0274X
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.
Technical information 9-13
English 
