Treadwear
The treadwear 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
(1
1/2)
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
due to variations
in
driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
--
A,
B,
C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
A,
B,
and
C,
and they 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.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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 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 temperature can lead
to
sudden tire failure.
The grade
C
corresponds
to
a
level
of
performance
which all passenger car 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.
Warning:
The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately
or
in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels
on
your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at
the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or
the
other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If
you
notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving
on
a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
6-44
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