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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories were established by
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The
specific grade rating assigned by the tire’s manufacturer
in each category is shown on the sidewall of the tires on
your vehicle.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
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 one-half
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 charac-
teristics and climate.
Traction Grades
The Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. These 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 perfor-
mance.
9
IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE 677
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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.
Temperature Grades
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 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. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
678 IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
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Headlights............................652
Headlights On Reminder..................224
High Beam Indicator.....................311
High Beam/Low Beam Select...............228
Illuminated Entry........................20
Interior..............................225
License..............................655
Lights On Reminder.....................224
Low Fuel.............................322
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine).........316
Oil Pressure...........................323
Park................................652
Passing..............................229
Reading..............................253
Rear Servicing.........................654
Rear Tail Lamps........................654
Seat Belt Reminder......................321
Security Alarm.........................319
Service...............................650
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . .316
Side Marker...........................654
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)............315
Traction Control........................490
Turn Signal...........................125
Voltage..............................323
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description)......311
Loading Vehicle..........................285
Capacities............................544
Ti re s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..502
Load Leveling System......................294
Locks..................................34
Door.................................34
Lubrication, Body.........................622
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack)...................294
Lug Nuts...............................573
Maintenance Free Battery....................618
Maintenance Procedures....................612
690 INDEX
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Quality Grading........................677
Radial...............................510
Replacement...........................518
Rotation..............................521
Safety...............................495
Sizes................................497
Snow Tires............................512
Spare Tire.............................576
Spinning.............................516
Trailer Towing.........................553
Tread Wear Indicators....................516
Tire Safety Information.....................495
Tire Service Kit...........................562
Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight................550
Torque Converter Clutch....................474
Towing................................545
24-Hour Towing Assistance................162
Disabled Vehicle........................601
Guide...............................549
Recreational...........................557
Weight...............................549
Towing Assistance.........................162
Towing Vehicle Behind a Motorhome...........557
Traction................................475
Traction Control..........................485
Traction Control Switch.....................485
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)..................491
Trailer Towing...........................545
Cooling System Tips.....................557
Hitches..............................548
Minimum Requirements..................551
Ti p s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..556
Trailer and Tongue Weight.................550
Wiring...............................554
Trailer Towing Guide.......................549
Trailer Weight............................549
Transmission............................633
Automatic............................46210
INDEX 697