ESP MAZDA MODEL PROTÉGÉ 2001 (in English) User Guide

Cuslomer Informalion
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
System (UTQGS)
This information relates to the tiregradjng system developedby the U.S.
National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration for grading tires by treadwear, traction, and temperature
I ltead Wear
The tread wea.r grade is a comparative
nting based on $e wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified govemment test course.
For example, a tire graded I 50 would
wear one-and-a-half times as well on thegovemment course as a tire gmded l0o.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their us€,
howeve! and may depart significandy
from the nom because of valiations in
driving habits, service practices and dif-
ferences in rcad characteristics and cli-
I Tlacaion-AA, . B, C
'fte tracdon grades, from highest to low,
est, are AA, A, B. and C. These grades
9.8
r€present fte tire's abilily to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on sp€cified govemment test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A dre
marked C Inay have poor traction perfor-
WARNING:
The tructioi glade assigned to this tirc
is based o blaki g (slraight ahea.l)
tractio tests a d does not include
ac.elerudon co edne tunind,hJdropla i g, or peak trcction
I Temperature-A, B, C
The lemperature graales are A (the high-
est), B, and C, represent the tiret resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested un-
der conlrolled conditions on a specifi€d
indoor laboratory iest wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of lhe tire 1o degen€rate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperatures can lead
to sudden tire failure.
Grade C conesponds to alevel of
performance which all passenger vehicle
tires must me€t under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and A represenl higher levels of
perfoamance on the laboraiory test wheel
than $e minimum required by law.
WARNING:
The tenperulure srude for this tbe is
established fof a tie th4t B pfope rinlated and not ove oaded Excessive
speed, undefit Jlation, or excessive
Ioading, either separat b or in
combination, con cause heat buiuap
a .l possible tirc faiure.
These grades will be added to the side-
walls of passenger vehicle tires over the
next several years according to asched,
ule €stablished by the NHTSA and the
tire manufacturels.
The grade of tires available as standard or
optional equipment on Mazda vehicle
may vary with respect to grade.

Customer Information
To conlacl NHTSA. you may either call
the Auto safety Hodine toll,free at
1 (800) 424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
Washington, D.C. area) or wriie to:
NHTSA, U-S. Departmenl of
Transponation. Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obrain orher information
about motor vehicle safety from the
Hotline.
(Note)
Ifyou live in the U.S.A., all correspon-
dence to Mazda Motor Corporation
should be forwarded .o:
Mazda Nonh American Operalions
7755, Irvine CenterDrive
h v ine, C alif omia 926 1 a -2922
P.O. Box 19734
lNine. C A 92623-9734
Customer Assistance Center
or toll fr€e at I (800) 222-5500
lfyou live oubide of the U.S.A., please
contact fie nearest Mazda Dislributor
shown on page 9-5 in this bookler.
9-10