Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
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 (1.5) 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 – 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 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 straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-77
CD Messages................................3-50, 3-60, 3-75
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-57
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-21
Certification/Tire Label.....................................4-46
Chains, Tires..................................................5-80
Charging System Light....................................3-27
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-30
Gages Warning Light...................................3-35
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-40
Checking Coolant............................................5-25
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking the Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level.................................................5-21
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-54
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-101
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat
Position..................................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position........................1-41Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-44
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-38
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-95
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-98
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-101
Weatherstrips..............................................5-98
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels............................5-100
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-98
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-95
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-97
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-97
Cleaning Leather............................................5-96
Cleaning the Mirror.........................................2-31
Cleaning the Photocells...................................2-31
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-97
Cleaning the Windshield and Wiper Blades.......5-100
Cleaning Tires..............................................5-100
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-96
Cleaning Wood Panels....................................5-97
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-94
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
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