rims AUDI S3 2010 Owners Manual

Seats and storage
-Plu g in ap plia n ce to be us ed.
The ou tlet may be used for 12-volt app liances with maximum
consumption of up to 100 watts, such as a flash light , smal l vacuum
cleaner, etc .
Before you purchase any accessories, always read and follow the
inf orm ati on i n
=> page 300, "Addi tiona l ac cess ories and parts
replacement" .
& WARNING
The outlet plu s any appliances plugged into it remain functional
even if the ignition is switched off or the ignition key is removed .
Ne ver leave children inside the vehicle without supervi sion .
0 Note
To avoid damaging the socket, only use p lugs that fit properly .
[ i ] Tips
When the engine is off and accessories are sti ll plugged in and are
on, the vehicle batte ry can sti ll be d rained .•
Storage
General overview
There are numer ous places to store items i n your ve hicle.
Storage in the center armrest
Storage in t he rea r armr est => page 80
Glove compart ment (A ir v enti lati on i n t he ::::> page 93
glove compartment*, CD changer *)
Cent er console
Compartments in the door trims
Sto ra ge in the f ootwe ll
=> page93
=> page 9 4
=> page94
Compartments in luggage compartment
=> page 95
Some of the s torage locations are only found on specific veh icle
models or are optional equ ipment .
& WARNING
• Always remove obje cts from the in strument panel. Any items
not put away could slide around inside the vehicle while driving or
when a ccelerating or when applying the bra kes or when driving
around a corner .
• When you are driving make sure that anything you may have
placed in the center console or other storage locations cannot fall
out into the footwells . In case of sudden bra king you would not be
able to brake , depress the clut ch or accelerate .
• Any pie ces of clothing that you have hung up mu st not interfere
with the driver's view. The coat hooks are designed only for light ­
weight clothing . Never hang any clothing with hard , pointed or
heavy objects in the pockets on the coat hooks . During sudden
bra king or in an accident -especially if the airbag is deployed -
these obje cts could in jure any passengers inside the vehicle. •

Seats and storage
Compartments in the door trims
There are storage compartments in the door trims.
& WARNING
Fig. 98 Storage
compartment in the
door trim
Always read and heed all WARNINGS => page 163, ulmportant
safety instructions on the side airbag system". •
Applies to vehicles: with storage net in footwe ll
Storage net in footwell
There is a storage net in the passenger's footwell.
Fig. 99 Storage net in
pas senger's footwell
[ i ] Tips
Do not keep any sharp or pointed objects in the storage net -they
are a personal injury risk.•
Appl ies to vehicles: with storage net in the front seatbac ks
Storage net in the seatbacks
There is a storage net behind both front seatbacks.
[ i ] Tips
Fig . 100 Storage net
on the driver's seat­
back
Do not keep any sharp or pointed objects in the storage net -this
increases the risk of personal injury .•

____________________________________________ _:C ::,: l~ e :,: a~ n:....:..:..: in~ g~ a~n .:.:d:!...! p~ r ~o~ te~ c~t ~io ~ n'....__lfll
•
T he best way to remove snow from windows and mirrors is to use a
brush . Use a non -abrasive
pla stic ice scraper -better still, a spray
deicer -to remove
ice from w indows and mirrors .
The windows must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax since
these can inter fere with the function of the w inds hie ld w iper blades
(chatter).
Oil, grease o r sil icone residue can be removed with
glass cleaner or
s ilicone remover . However, wax residue requires the use of a
spec ially fo rmulated so lvent . Please contac t your authorized Audi
dea ler for advice on safe products for wax removal.
Windows should also be c leaned on the inside at regular interva ls .
Never dry windows with the same chamois that you use to dry
painted surfaces . Wax residue on the chamois can impair vision
t hrough the windows .
& WARNING
• The windshield mu st not be treated with water -repellent mate ­
rials. T hey c an incre ase gl are under poor v isibility conditions such
a s wetne ss, darkne ss, or when the sun i s low on the hori zon. In
addition , they can cause the wind shield wipers to chatter .
• Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 204.
0 Note
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows a nd mirrors . This cou ld cause the glass to crack.
• T o prevent damage to the wires of the rear defogger, do not p lace
any adhesive stickers on the inside of the rear window over the
wires .
• T o he lp prevent dirt from scratching the window, always scrape
in a forward direction -pushing the scraper away from you -never
back and forth. •
Weatherstrips
Complete car car e includes the we atherst rip s as well .
App ly a suitable rubbe r con ditioner to the weatherstr ips
f ro m time to time.
To be able sea l properly, the weatherstrips around the hood, doors,
rear lid, etc . must remain pliabl e. Spray the weatherstrips with sili­
co ne or coat them w ith ta lcum powder or glycer ine to retain the
f lexibility of the rubber and to protect them against freezing in the
winte r.
& WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other information
~ page 204.
[ i ] Tip s
Keep si licone sprays off the windshield to avoid wiper smear in
ra in .•
Ap plies to veh icles : with s tee l w hee ls (e .g . if ref itt e d w ith w inter tires )
Steel wheels
The wheels also h ave to be cleaned.
- Alw ays in clu de the hu b caps and whee l rims when
washing yo ur vehi cle to remove road dir t, sal t sprays an d
b rake dust.
If necessary, use a commercial whee l cleaner to remove accumu ­
lated brake dust.
The wheel rims are eas ier to keep clean if they are reg ula rly coa ted
with l iquid wax . ..
Vehicle care I t •

___ C_ le_ a _ n_i_n ~g _ a_ n_ d __ p_r _o _t _e _c_ t_ i_o _n ___________________________________________ _
Paint scratches should be touched up as soon as possible to prevent
corrosion =>
page 208, "Touch -up pain t" .
& WARNING
• Moi sture and i ce on brak es may affect b raking efficiency -
=> page 191 , "Gene ral inform ation ". Te st the brakes caref ully a fter
e ac h veh icle was h.
• Alway s read and heed all WARNING S and t he infor mation
=> page 204 . •
A pp lies to vehi cles : w ith Cast a lloy whee ls
Cast (light) alloy wheels
Cast (light) alloy wheels require special care.
- Wash the wheels with a spo nge or hose brush every
o ther week .
- For deep cleaning afte rwards, use only a dedicated
a cid ­
free
cast alloy whee l cleaner.
- Rub a coat of
liquid wa x onto the rims every t hree month .
Be sure to reach and treat all parts of the rim.
To preserve the decorative appearance of the cast alloy wheels,
some special care is necessary. In addition to road dirt and salt, brake dust is also corrosive . If left on for too long, brake dust can
cause pitting.
Use on ly specia l
acid-free cleaners formu lated for a lloy rims . Safe
products are available at your authorized Audi dealer. Never leave
the cleaner on the rims longer than specified on the label. If not rinsed off promptly, the acid contained in some cleaners can attack
t he threads on the wheel bolts. Never use abrasive or metal polishing cleaning agents
. If the protec ­
t ive coating has been chipped, e.g . by kicked up road dirt, touch it
up as soon as possib le.
& WARNING
• Moisture a nd ice on br akes m ay affect braking efficien cy
=> page 191, " Gen eral inf or mation ". Te st the brake s carefully each
ti m e you w ash th e vehi cle .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and other informa tion
=> page 204 . •
Body cavity sealing
T he body cavity se aling does not need to be checked.
All body cavities which could be affected by corrosion have been
thorough ly protected a t the factory .
This sealing does not require any inspection or additional treat ­
ment . If any wax should seep out of the cavi ty when the amb ient
temperature is high, it can be removed with a p lastic scraper and a
suitable solvent .
& WARNING
Solvents can be dangerou s.
• Ben zin e is flamm able and to xic. If you use b en zi ne for re moving
the wax, keep spark s, flame and lighted cigarette s away . Never
dump ben zine on the ground , into open st ream s or do wn sewage
dr ain s.
• Be sure to ob serve all safet y and env ironment al regul atio ns .
Follow all in stru ction s on the c ont ainer .
• Always read and heed all WARNINGS and ot her info rm ation
=> page 204 . •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Tires and wheels
Tires
General notes
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts
of a motor vehicle.
Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts of a
motor vehicle. Tires are, however, one of the most important parts
of a vehicle, particu larly considering the comparatively small patch
of rubber on each tire that assures that all -important contact
between you, your vehic le and the road.
Maintaining the correct tire pressure, making sure that your vehicle
and its tires do not have to carry more weight than they can safely
handle, avoiding damage from road hazards and regularly inspecting tires for damage inc luding cuts, s lashes irregular wear
and overa ll condition are the most important things that you can do
to help avoid sudden tire failure including tread separation and
blowouts.
A vo iding d am age
If you have to drive over a curb or similar obstac le, drive very slowly
and as close as possible at a right angle to the curb.
A lways keep chemica ls including grease, oi l, gaso line and brake
fluid off the tires.
Inspect the ti res regu larly for damage (cuts, cracks or b listers, etc.l .
Remove any foreign bodies embedded in the treads.
Storing tir es
Mark tires when you remove them to indicate the direction of rota ­
t ion. This ensures you to be able to mount them correctly when you
reinstal l them. When removed, the wheels or tires shou
ld be stored in a coo l, dry
and preferably dark place.
S tore tires in a vertical pos it ion if they a re not mounted on r ims, in
a horizonta l position if they are mounted on rims.
New tir es
New tires have to be broken in=>&.
The tread depth of new ti res may vary, according to the type and
make of tire and the tread pattern.
H idd en damage
Damage to tires and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice
unusual vibration or the vehicle pu lls to one s ide, this may indicate
that one of the tires has been damaged . The tires must be checked
immediately by an authorized Audi dealer or qualified workshop .
Unidire cti ona l t ires
A unidirectional tire can be identif ied by arrows on the sidewa ll, that
point in the direction the tire is designed to rotate . You must fo llow
t he specified directio n of rotation . This is necessary s o that these
tires can develop their optimum characteristics regarding grip, road noise, wear and hydrop laning resistance . For more information
=>
page 277.
& WARNING
New t ires o r ti re s th at a re old , worn or d am aged cann ot pro vid e
maximum cont rol and braking ability .
• New tires te nd to be slippery and mu st be bro ken in . To redu ce
the ri sk o f lo sin g co ntro l, a collis ion and serious per sonal injurie s,
dri ve w ith special care f or the fi rst 350 m ile s ( 560 km l.
• Driving w ith w orn or damaged tire s can lead to lo ss of control ,
sudd en tir e fa ilure , inc ludi ng a blowout a nd sudden defl atio n, ..,_

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Engine Tire designation Tire pressur e front Tire pressure rear
(displace- normal load normal load
ment in full load
full load
liter) condition (up to
condition c
ondition (up
condition
3 o ccupants ) to 3 occupants)
PSI kPA PSI kPA kPA kPA
4-cylinder 205 /55 R16 91H All Season 36 250
39 270 3
0 210
36 250
2
.0 TDI (clean 225 /45 R17 94H XL All Season 38 260 41
280 32 220 38 260 diesel)
225/45 R17 94Y XL High Performance
35 240 38 260 30 2 10 3 5 24 0
225 /40 R18 92Y XL High Performan ce 35 240
38 260 30 210 38 260
Compact spare wheel T125
/70 R18 60 420
60 420
60 420
60 420
XL
= reinfo rced or ext ra load t ire . It may als o appea r as xi , EXTRA LOAD , or RF on the tire s idewall.
The correct t ire pressure for the
spare wheel is located on a label
either on the driver's side B-pillar or inside the fue l filler flap.
Because technica l changes may be made to vehicle equipment
during the mode l year, always compare the tire size designat ion on
the tire pressure la bel on y our vehicle with the tires on your vehicle.
Make sure tha t the t ire size information on the veh icle labe l is the
same as the size of the tires on the vehicle. This is especially impor ­
t ant if the vehicle belongs to someone e lse or you boug ht the
vehic le with different rims/tires or you bought the vehicle as a previ ­
ously owned vehicle.
Remember, your safety and that of your passengers a lso depends
on making su re tha t load limits a re not exceeded . Vehicle load
inc ludes everybody and everything in and on the vehicle. These load
limits are technically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating ("GVWR"). The Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is
the maximum load that can be applied at each of the vehicle's two
ax les. The Gross Vehicle We ight Rat ing and the Gross Ax le Weight
Rating are listed on the safety comp liance sticker labe l located
e it he r on the d river's side B-pillar o r on the i nside of the fuel f iller
flap. The tire pressure label on your Audi lists the maximum
combined we igh t of all o f th e occupa nts and luggage o r other cargo t
hat the vehic le can carry. For the location o f the tire pressure labe l
=> page 246, fig. 173.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehi cle can cause los s of vehicle control , a crash or
other accident, serious per sonal injury, and even death .
• Carrying more weight th an your vehicle was de signed to carry
will prevent the vehicle from handling properly and increase the
risk of a loss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance .
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded c an fail suddenly
cau sing loss of control and a crash .
• Alway s make sur e that the total load being tran sported -
including the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not make the vehicle heavier than the
vehicle 's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating . _.,

Tires a nd wh eels -
----------------
•
0
-
©
®
U.S. DOT tire identification number
Audi Original tire
Tire ply composition and materials used Maximum load rating
Treadwear, traction and temperature grades
@ Maximum permissible inflation pressure
The tires and rims are essential parts of the vehicle 's design. The
tires and rims approved by Audi are specially matched to the char­
acteristics of the vehicle and can make a major contribution to good
road hold ing and safe handling when in good cond ition and prop­
erly inflated =>& .
We recommend that a ll work on tires and wheels be performed by
an authorized Audi dealer. They are familiar with recommended
procedures and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old tires.
Authorized Audi dea lers have the necessary info rmation about tech ­
nical requirements for insta lling or changing tires and rims.
R epl ac ing tires and wheels
Tires shou ld be replaced at least in pairs and not individual ly (for
examp le both front tires or both rear tires together).
Be sure to read and heed the tire pressure monitoring sys tem*
information=>
page 256.
A lways buy replacement radial tires that have the same specifica ­
tions as the tires approved for your vehicle by Audi. Rep lacement
tires must always have the same load rating specification as the
origina l equipment or approved optional t ires listed in the table
=>
page 246.
Audi -appr oved spec ification tires are spec ially matched to your
vehicle and its load limits, and can contribute to the important road- holding, driving characteristics, and safety of the vehicle
. The table
( =>
page 246) lists specifications of the tires approved for the Audi
models covered by your Owner's Literature.
The tire pressure labe l located either on driver's side 8 -pi llar or
inside the fuel fi ller flap(=>
page 246, fig. 174) lists the specifica ­
tions of the original equipment tires installed on your vehicle at the
ti me it was manufactured.
Federa l law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized infor ­
mation on the sidewa ll of all tires =>
page 254, fig . 177. This informa ­
t ion identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics, the
qua lity grade of the ti re and also provides a tire identification
number for safety standard certificat ion and in case of a recal l.
Tire specificat ions
Knowledge of tire specifications makes it easier to choose the
co rrect t ires . Radial tires have the tire specifications marked on the
sidewall, for example :
P225 / 45 R 17 91H XL
This contains the fo llowing informa tion:
P Indicates the ti re is for passenger cars (where applicab le)
225 No minal tire width i n mm of the tire fro m sidewall edge to side -
wa ll edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire
45 Height/width ratio in percent (aspect ratio)
R Tire construction: Radial
17 Rim diameter code (in inches)
91 Load rating code
H Speed rating lette r code
XL (or "xi", "EX TRA LOA D" or "RF") indicates that the tire is "Rein­
forced" or an "Extra Load" ti re
M +S (o r "M/S") Indicates that the tire has some mud and snow capa ­
bility
The tires could a lso have the information of direct ion of rotation
=>
page 242.
Vehicle care I t •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Tire manuf acturin g date
The manufacturing date is a lso indicated on the tire sidewall
(possibly only on the
inner side of the wheel):
"DOT ... 2209 ... " means, for example, that the tire was produced in
the 22nd week of 2009.
Sp eed rating (l ett er code )
The speed rating letter code on the wheels indicates the maximum
permissible road speeds=>
& in "Winter tires" on page 259.
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
S upto110mph(180km/h)
T upto118mph(190km/h)
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (2 10 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)4>
Z over 149 mph (240 km/h)4>
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)41
Y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)4>
Your vehicle is normally factory equipped with tires, which possess
excellent driving characteristics and give your Audi optimum
driving comfort . An e lectronic speed limiter=>
page 21 will normally
prevent your vehicle from going faster than the t ire speed rating
=> & .
U.S . D OT T ire Identifi cation Number (TIN ) an d tire
m anuf actur e date
This is the tire's "seria l number" . It begins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards . The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufac-
41 For tires with a maximum speed capab il ity over 149 mph (240 km/h), tire
manufacturers sometimes use the letters "ZR."
ture. For example, the numbers 2209 mean that the tire was
produced in the 22nd week of 2009 . The other numbers are
marketing codes that may or may not be used by the tire manufac­
turer . This information is used to contact consumers if a tire defect
requires a recall.
Audi Original tire
T ires with the identification "AO" or "RO" have been specially
matched with your Audi . We recommend using o nly these tires
because they meet the highest standards regarding safety and
driving characteristics when used correctly. Your authorized Audi
dea ler will glad ly provide you with more information.
Maximu m Load Rating
This number indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds
that can be carried by the tire .
Tire qu alit y g ra di ng fo r tr eadw ear, tr ac tio n, and
temp era ture re sista n ce
Tread wear, traction and temperature grades=> page 258.
Max imum P ermi ssible Infl ation Pre ssure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever
be put in the tire under norma l driv ing condit ions.
Repl acin g tire s or rims on vehicl es e quipp ed with t ir e
pre ssure m onit orin g s yst em *
The wheels on your vehicle are equipped with a sensor which
constantly monitors the air pressure inside the tire, and then trans ­
mits this information to the tire pressure monitoring system* . If you
are going to replace the whee l rims on your vehicle, make sure the
new rims also have these sensors. The sensors must be compatible
with the tire pressure monitoring system* on your veh icle.
I f you install rims that do not have the sensors or have sensors
which are not compatible, then the tire pressure monitoring
system* wil l not work properly . In this case, the tire pressure moni-
~

________________________________________________ T_ i _r_e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e _ l_s __ !II
•
to ring s yst em * would not b e ab le to moni tor the tire pr essur e or
war n yo u if i t is nec essa ry.
• T he battery ins ide of the tire pressure s ensor has a l imited
service life.
• Always driv e with the va lv e stem caps s ecure ly m ounted. We
r e co mm end usi ng fact ory insta lled valve stem cap s. Ask y our a utho­
rized Audi d ealer to replac e lost valve stem caps .
T he installat ion of replacement tires with steel cord body plies in
t he ti re s id ew all m ay ca use ma lfun ction o f th e tire press ure m oni­
toring system *, and is not recommended (co rd mater ial information
i n mo lded on t he tire sid ewa ll).
Always check your t ire pressure mo nitoring system* indicator after
r eplaci ng o ne or more tir es o n you r veh ic le . If t he ti re p ressu re
mo nito ring syste m* in dicato r flashes o r is ill um in ated, your s ystem
is not working p rope rly . Yo ur replacement t ire might be inco mpat ­
i b le with you r tir e p ressure mon itori ng sys te m *, or so me comp o­
nent of the tire pressure monitoring system * may be damaged .
& WARNING
• Using incorrect or unmatched tires and / or wheels or improper
tire and wheel combinations can lead to loss of control , collision
and serious personal injury .
• Always use tires , rims and wheel bolts that meet the specifica ­
tions of original factory-installed tires or other combinations that
have been specifically approved by the vehicle manufacturer .
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
espe cially at high speeds . Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
lower speeds.
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history. " Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
& WARNING (continued )
• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tires of the same type,
size {rolling circumference ) and the same tread pattern. Driving
with different tires reduces vehicle handling and can lead to a loss
of control.
• If the spare tire is not the same as the tires that are mounted
on the vehicle -for example with winter tires -only use the spare
tire for a short period of time and drive with extra care . Refit the
normal road wheel as soon as safely possible.
• Never drive faster than the maximum speed for which the tires
on your vehicle are rated because tires that are driven faster than
their rated speed can fail suddenly .
• Overloading tires cause heat build-up , sudden tire failure ,
including a blowout and sudden deflation and loss of control.
• Temperature grades apply to tires that are properly inflated and
not over or underinflated.
• For technical reasons it is not always possible to use wheels
from other vehicles -in some cases not even wheels from the
same vehicle model.
• If you install wheel trim discs on the vehicle wheels , make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not blocked . Reduced airflow to
the brakes can them to overheat , increasing stopping distances
and causing a collision .
• Run flat tires may only be used on vehicles that were equipped
with them at the factory . The vehicle must have a chassis designed
for run flat tires and a factory-installed tire pressure monitoring
system* that indicates a loss of tire pressure . Incorrect use of run
flat tires can lead to vehicle damage or accidents . Check with an
authorized Audi dealer or tire specialist to see if your vehicle can
be equipped with run flat tires . If run flat tires are used , they must
be installed on all four wheels . Mi xing tire types is not permitted. _,.
Vehicle care
I t •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
0 Note
• For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the
wheel rims from other vehicles. This can hold true for wheels of the
same vehicle type.
• If the spare tire is different from the tires that you have mounted
on your vehicle (for example winter tires or wide profile t ires), then
use the spare tire for a short period of time only and drive with extra
care. Replace the f lat tire with the tire matching the others on your
vehic le as soon as possib le.
• If you put different whee ls and tires on your vehic le (e .g. winter
whee ls and tires), you must be certain that the wheels and tires are
compatible with the tire pressure monitoring system*. Otherwise
the system will register a malfunction and a fault message wi ll be
displayed. For more information, contact your authorized Aud i
dea ler.
(D Note
• When installing new tires, be careful not to damage the valves or
tire pressure monitoring system* sensors.
• Never drive without the valve stem cap. The valves could get
damaged.
• If the sensors must be replaced, then the valve must also be
replaced at the same time.
<£> For th e sake of the environm ent
Dispose of o ld tires in accordance with the loca l requirements. •
Uniform tire quality grading
• Tread wear
• Traction AA A B C
• Temperature A B C Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire side wal
l
between tread shoulder and maximum section width~
page 254,
fig. 177 .
For exa mple: Tread wear 200, Traction AA , Temperature A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requ ire­
ments in addition to these grades.
T rea d w ear
The
tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled condit ions on a specified
government test course .
Fo r example, a tire graded 150 wou ld wear one and one hal f (1 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actua l condi ­
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differ ­
ences in road characteristics and climate .
Tr act ion
The
traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, Band C.
T hose grades represent the tire 's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under contro lled co nditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance
~ & .
Temp erature
T he
temperature grades are A (the highest), B , and C , represent ing
the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its abi lity to dissi ­
pate heat when tested under control led conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Susta ined high temperature can cause the mater ial of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure~& .
T he grade C corresponds to a leve l of performance which a ll
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle