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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 manu-
facturer in each category is shown on the sidewall of the
tires on your vehicle.
All passenger vehicle 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 varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics 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 stopon wet pavement, as measured under controlled condi-
tions 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.
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 passen-
ger vehicle 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.
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Page 343 of 350
Instrument Panel Cover..................... .308
Instrument Panel Lens Cleaning ................308
Interior Appearance Care .....................306
Interior Lighting ............................85
Introduction ................................4
Jacking Instructions ........................ .261
Jack Location ............................ .258
Jack Operation ........................ .258, 261
Jump Starting ............................ .268
Key Fob Disarm The Alarm ........................12
Key Fob Battery Service (Remote Keyless Entry) .....15
Key-In Reminder ............................10
Key, Replacement ...........................11
Keys .....................................9
Key, Sentry (Immobilizer) ......................11
Lane Change Assist ..........................84
Lap/Shoulder Belts ..........................24
Latches ..................................63
Hood ..................................81
Lead Free Gasoline ........................ .239
Leaks, Fluid ...............................63 Life Of Tires
............................. .227
Liftgate (Sedan) .............................20
Light Bulbs ........................... .63, 316
Lights ............................. .63, 82, 83
AirBag ............................ .61, 118
Brake Assist Warning ..................... .209
Brake Warning ..........................119
Bulb Replacement ....................... .317
Cruise ............................ .136, 137
Engine Temperature Warning ................123
Exterior ................................63
Fog ................................. .131
High Beam ..............................83
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) ..........130
Park .............................. .83, 136
Passing ................................83
Seat Belt Reminder .......................118
Service ............................... .317
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) .............126
Traction Control ........................ .209
T
urn Signal ....................... .63, 84, 135
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) . . . .123, 135
Loading Vehicle Tires................................. .215
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Page 347 of 350
SteeringPower ............................... .199
Tilt Column .............................89
Wheel, Tilt ..............................89
Steering Wheel Audio Controls .................165
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System Controls . . . .165
Storage ................................. .315
Storage, Vehicle ........................... .178
Stuck, Freeing ............................ .271
Sun Roof .................................98
Supplemental Restraint System - Air Bag ...........32
Synthetic Engine Oil ....................... .285
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC) ...........177
Tilt Steering Column .........................89
Tire And Loading Information Placard ........215, 216
Tire Markings ............................ .210
Tires ...................... .63, 219, 223, 224, 231
Aging (Life Of Tires) ..................... .227
Air Pressure ........................... .219
Chains ............................... .229
Changing ............................. .258
Compact Spare ......................... .224
General Information ................219, 223, 224
High Speed ............................ .221Inflation Pressures
....................... .220
Jacking ............................... .258
Life Of Tires ........................... .227
Load Capacity ...................... .215, 216
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) .............232
Pressure Warning Light ....................126
Quality Grading ........................ .231
Radial ............................... .221
Replacement ........................... .228
Rotation .............................. .230
Safety ............................ .210, 219
Sizes .................................211
Snow Tires ............................ .223
Spare Tire ....................223,
224, 225, 226
Spinning .............................. .226
Tread Wear Indicators .....................226
Tire Safety Information ...................... .210
Tire Service Kit ............248, 249, 250, 252, 254, 255
To Open Hood .............................81
Towing ................................. .243
Disabled Vehicle ........................ .274
Recreational ........................... .244
Towing Vehicle Behind A Motorhome ............244
Traction ................................ .197
Traction Control .......................... .205
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INDEX 345