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.
139. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
• Tire label: A label showing the
original equipment tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.
• Tire Identification Number: A
number on the sidewall of each tire
providing information about the tire
brand and manufacturing plant, tire
size and date of manufacture. Also
referred to as DOT code.
• Inflation pressure: A measure of
the amount of air in a tire.
• Standard load: A class of P-metric
or Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5
bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this
pressure will not increase the tire’s
load carrying capability.
• Extra load: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 41 psi [43
psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires].
Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure will not
increase the tire’s load carrying
capability.
• kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air
pressure.
• PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure.
• Cold inflation pressure: The tire
pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct
sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven
for 1 mile (1.6 km).
• Recommended inflation pressure:
The cold inflation pressure found
on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label (affixed to either
the door hinge pillar, door-latch
post, or the door edge that meets
the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or Tire
Label located on the B-Pillar or the
edge of the driver’s door.
• B-pillar: The structural member at
the side of the vehicle behind the
front door
• Bead area of the tire: Area of the
tire next to the rim.
• Sidewall of the tire: Area between
the bead area and the tread.
• Tread area of the tire: Area of the
perimeter of the tire that contacts
the road when mounted on the
vehicle.
• Rim: The metal support (wheel) for
a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are
seated.
284
MKZ (CC9)
Wheels and Tires
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