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6-1. Specifications
08_IS F_U_(L/O_0808)■
DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires must conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. 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
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 - 1 /2) 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 varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteris-
tics 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 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 braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) trac-
tion.
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6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
08_IS F_U_(L/O_0808)■
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 conditions 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 temperature can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels 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 termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pres-
sureTire 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 pres-
sureThe maximum cold inflated pressure to which a tire
may be inflated, shown on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation
pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a man-
ufacturer.
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those standard
items which may be replaced) of transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats,
radio and heater, to the extent that these items are
available as factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not)
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Alphabetical index
08_IS F_U_(L/O_0808)
Tachometer....................................................131
Tail lights
Switch ........................................................ 142
Talk switch*
Telephone switch*
Theft deterrent system
Alarm ...........................................................73
Engine immobilizer system ............... 71
Theft prevention labels .......................... 75
Tire inflation pressure ............................311
Tire information Glossary................................................... 421
Size ............................................................ 418
Tire identification number .............. 418
Uniform tire quality grading ...........419
Tires
Chains ...................................................... 184
Checking .............................................. 300
If you have a flat tire.......................... 379
Inflation pressure....................................311
Inflation pressure sensor............... 300
Information..............................................416
Replacing............................................... 379
Rotating tires ........................................305
Size ...............................................................411
Snow tires ............................................... 184
Tools ........................................................... 379
Total load capacity ................................ 183
Towing Dinghy towing .......................................187
Emergency towing ........................... 345
Trailer towing........................................ 186 TRAC ..........................................................169
Traction control.......................................169
Transmission shift switches....... 122, 124
Trip meter ................................................... 131
Trunk
Extending a space .............................249
Opener ........................................................41
Trunk light
Trunk light ................................................. 42
Wattage ................................................... 412
Turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs ....................... 338
Switch........................................................ 128
Wattage ................................................... 412
Vanity lights Vanity lights.......................................... 238
Wattage ................................................... 412
Vanity mirrors ........................................ 238
VDIM...........................................................169
Vehicle dynamics integrated management .........................................169
Vehicle identification number ......... 403
Vehicle stability control .......................169
VSC .............................................................169T
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