Page 251 of 276

DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )
Th e tire s o n you r vehicl e mee t al l
U.S . Federa l Safet y Requirements .
Al l tire s ar e als o grade d fo r
treadwear , traction , an d temperatur e
performanc e accordin g to
Departmen t o f Transportatio n
(DOT ) standards . Th e followin g
explain s thes e gradings .
Unifor m Tir e Qualit y Gradin g
Qualit y grade s ca n b e foun d wher e
applicabl e o n th e tir e sidewal l
betwee n th e trea d shoulde r an d th e
maximu m sectio n width . Fo r
example :
Treadwea r 20 0
Tractio n A A
Temperatur e A
DO T Qualit y Grade s
Al l passenge r ca r tire s mus t confor m
t o Federa l Safet y Requirement s in
additio n to thes e grades .
Treadwea
r
Th e treadwea r grad e is a compara -
tiv e ratin g base d o n th e wea r rat e o f
th e tir e whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d governmen t
tes t course . Fo r example , a tir e
grade d 15 0 woul d wea r on e an d one -
hal f ( 1 1/2 ) time s a s wel l o n th e
governmen t cours e a s a tir e grade d
100 . Th e relativ e performanc e o f
tire s depend s upo n th e actua l condi -
tion s o f thei r use , however , an d ma y
depar t significantl y fro m th e nor m
clu e t o variation s i n drivin g habits ,
servic e practice s an d difference s i n
roa d characteristic s an d climate .
Tractio
n — AA , A , B , C
Th e tractio n grades , fro m highes t t o
lowest , ar e AA , A , B , an d C . Thos e
grade s represen t th e tire' s abilit y t o
slo p o n we t pavemen t a s measure d
unde r controlle d condition s o n
specifie d governmen t tes t surface s
o f asphal t an d concrete . A tir e
marke d C ma y hav e poo r tractio n
performance .
Warning : Th e tractio n grade
assigne d t o thi s tir e is base d o n
straight-ahea d brakin g tractio n tests ,
an d doe s no t includ e acceleration ,
cornering , hydroplaning , o r pea k
tractio n characteristics .
Technica l Informatio n
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DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )
Temperatur e — A, B , C
Th e temperatur e grade s ar e A (th e
highest) , B , an d C , representin g th e
tire' s resistanc e to th e generatio n o f
hea t an d it s abilit y t o dissipat e hea t
whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d indoo r
laborator y tes t wheel . Sustaine d hig h
temperatur e ca n caus e th e materia l
o f th e tir e t o degenerat e an d reduc e
tir e life , an d excessiv e temperatur e
ca n lea d to sudde n tir e failure . Th e
grad e C correspond s t o a leve l o f
performanc e whic h al l passenge r ca r
tire s mus t mee t unde r th e Federa l
Moto r Vehicl e Safet y Standar d No .
109 . Grade s B an d A represen t
highe r level s o f performanc e o n th e
laborator y tes t whee l tha n th e
minimu m require d b y law .
Warning
: Th e temperatur e grad e fo r
thi s tir e is establishe d fo r a tir e tha t
i s properl y inflate d an d no t over -
loaded . Excessiv e speed , underinfla -
tion , o r excessiv e loading , eithe r
separatel y o r i n combination , ca n
caus e hea t buildu p an d possibl e tir e
failure .
Technical Informatio n
Page 270 of 276

Inde
x
Closin g th e Convertibl e Top... . 23 3
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 22 8
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ... . 23 0
Overheate d Engine.................. . 22 5
Emergenc y Brake........................... . 8 1
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 8 0
Emergenc y Trun k Opener............ . 6 7
Emission s Controls....................... . 25 2
Emission s Testing , Stat e ............. . 25 5
Engin e
Chec k Engin e Light........... .45 , 23 0
Compartment , Checkin g
i n the....................................... 118
Coolant....................................... . 12 0
Coolan t Temperatur e Gaug e .... . 4 7
Driv e Belt................................... . 18 4
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp................................ 45, 23 0
Oi l Pressur e Indicator........ . 44 , 22 8
Oil , Wha t Kin d t o Use.............. . 15 7
Overheating............................... . 22 5
Specifications............................ . 24 6
Spee d Limiter............................ . 13 4
Starting....................................... . 13 1
Engin e Cover , Openin g the......... . 11 8
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 25 0 Evaporativ
e Emissio n Controls... . 25 2
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 3 9
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 1 7
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 20 4
Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 20 8
Fan , Interior..................................... . 8 6
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 8 5
Fillin g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 11 7
Filter s
Oil................................................ 159
Flashers , Hazar d Warning............. . 8 0
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 21 5
Fluid s
Brake........................................... 170
Clutch.......................................... 171
Manua l Transmission.............. . 16 8
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 16 7
F M Stere o Radi o Reception........ . 10 3
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 25 1
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 8 0
Fuel..................................................
116
Fil l Doo r an d Cap...................... . 11 7
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenated............................... . 25 0
Reserv e Indicator........................ . 4 6
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
Fue l Mileage , Improving.............. . 12 1
Fue l Statio n Procedure s .............. . 11 7
Fuses , Checkin g the..................... . 23 5
Gasohol.......................................... . 25 0
Gasoline......................................... . 11 6
Fue l Reserv e Indicator............... . 4 6
Gauge........................................... . 4 8
Octan e Requirement................ . 11 6
Oxygenate d Fuels..................... . 25 0
Tank , Fillin g the........................ . 11 7
CONTINUED
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Inde
x
WARNING , Explanatio n of............. . i i
Warnin g Labels , Locatio n of......... . 4 0
Warrant y Coverages.................... . 26 1
Washer , Windshiel d
Checkin g th e Flui d Level........ . 16 7
Operation.................................... 54
Washing......................................... . 20 4
Waxin g an d Polishing.................. . 20 5
Wheels........................................... . 18 9
Alignmen t an d Balance............ . 18 8
Cleanin g Aluminu m Alloys...... . 20 6
Wrench...................................... . 21 5
Window s
Cleaning..................................... . 20 9
Operatin g th e Power.................. . 7 0
Windshiel d
Cleaning..................................... . 20 9
Defroster..................................... . 9 1
Washers....................................... . 5 4
Wipers , Windshiel d
Changin g Blades....................... . 18 0
Operation..................................... . 5 3
Wor n Tires.................................... . 18 7
Wrecker , Emergenc y Towing..... . 24 1