Tread Wear; Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects; Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)- Page 240

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Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects

Form No. 8R09-EA-02G

Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)

This information relates to the tire grading system developed by the U.S. National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for grading tires by tread wear, traction, and 
temperature performance.

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Tread Wear

The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested 
under controlled conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one-and-a-half 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 significantly from the norm because of variations in driving habits, service 
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

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Traction-AA, A, B, C

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent 
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on 
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor 
traction performance.

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Temperature-A, B, C

The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent 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 temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.

Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger vehicle tires must meet 
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent 
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by 
law.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)

The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction 
tests and does not include acceleration cornering (turning), hydroplaning, or peak 
traction characteristics.

WARNING

J07R_8R09_EA_02G_Edition4.book  Page 12  Monday, February 3, 2003  1:16 PM