7-60
Maintenance
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a compara
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a
half times (1 ) as well on the gov
ernment 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.
These grades are molded on the
side walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicle
may vary with respect to grade.
Traction AA, A, B & 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 measured
under controlled conditions on spec
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform
ance.
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 condi
tions 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. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of perform
ance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight ahead
braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, corner
ing, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
WARNING
