362 6-1. Specifications
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government 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 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,
and they represent the tire’s ab ility to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled cond itions 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)
traction.
■ Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent-
ing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, a nd excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passen-
ger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
389
What to do if...
What to do if...
A tire puncturesP. 317If you have a flat tire
The engine does not start
P. 329If the engine will not start
P. 7 4Engine immobilizer system
P. 333If the vehicle battery is discharged
The shift lever cannot be
moved outP. 331If the shift lever cannot be shifted
from P
The engine coolant temperature
warning light flashes or comes on
Steam can be seen coming
from under the hood
P. 337If your vehicle overheats
The key is lostP. 332If you lose your keys
The battery runs outP. 333If the vehicle battery is discharged
The doors cannot be lockedP. 3 1Side doors
The horn begins to soundP. 7 6Alarm
The vehicle is stuck in
mud or sandP. 340If the vehicle becomes stuck
