574
10-1. Specifications
tions in driving habits, service practices
and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
■ Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and they
represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor trac-
tion 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 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 tem-
perature can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of per-
formance which all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher lev-
els of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for
this tire are 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.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related term Meaning
Cold tire inflation
pressure
Tire pressure when
the vehicle has been
parked for three
hours or more, or
has not been driven
more than 1 mile or
1.5 km under that
condition
Maximum inflation
pressure
The maximum cold
inflated pressure to
which a tire may be
inflated, shown on
the sidewall of the
tire
Recommended
inflation pressure
Cold tire inflation
pressure recom-
mended by a manu-
facturer
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