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Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) is
a tire information system designed to help buyers
make relative comparisons among tires. The UTQGS
is not a safety rating and not a guarantee that a
tire will last for a prescribed number of miles or
perform in a certain way.
It simply gives tire buyers additional information
to combine with other considerations, such as
price, brand loyalty and dealer recommendations.
Under UTQGS, tires are graded by the manufacturers
in three area: treadwear, traction and temperature
resistance.
The UTQGS information is right where you need
it . . . on the tires. The grades can be found on two
places on the tire:
There is a paper label affixed to the tread, and
the grades are also molded into the sidewalls.
Additionally, brochures which explain the tire
grades are available at tire stores.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
carefully controlled conditions. For example, a
tire graded 200 should have its useful tread last
twice as long as a tire graded 100.
However, real world tire tread life, in miles,
depends on the actual conditions of their use.
Tire life is affected by variations in driving
habits, service practices . . . such as tire rotation,
wheel alignment and maintaining proper inflation
pressure...and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction
Traction grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on asphalt and concrete test surfaces.
The traction grades from highest to lowest, are
"AA," "A," "B" and "C". A tire graded "AA" may
have relatively better traction performance than a
tire graded "A," "B" or "C," based on straight
ahead braking tests. The grades do not reflect the
cornering or turning traction performance of the
tires.
Temperature Resistance
Temperature grades represent the tire's resistance
to heat and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled laboratory test
conditions. Sustained high temperature can cause
the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure.
The temperature grades from highest to lowest are
"A," "B" and "C." The grade "C" corresponds to the
minimum performance required by federal safety
standard. Grades "B" and "A" represent higher
levels of performance than the minimum required by
law. The temperature grade is for a tire that is
inflated properly and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under-inflation or excessive loading, either
separately on in combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible tire failure.
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