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8
8
Maintenance Tires and wheels
7. Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire side
-
wall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width.
For example:
僅 Treadwear 200
僅Traction AA
僅Temperature A
Tires degrade over time, even
when they are not being used.
Regardless of the remaining
tread, we recommend that tires
be replaced after approximately
six (6) years of normal service.
Heat caused by hot climate or
frequent high loading conditions
can accelerate the aging process.
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a com
-
parative 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 (1½) as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual condi
-
tions of their use. Performance
may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and dif
-
ferences in road characteristics
and climate.
These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle
tires. The tires available as stan
-
dard 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
as measured under controlled
conditions on specified govern
-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
Temperature -A, B & C
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B and C represent
-
ing 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
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