SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE303
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 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 variations 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 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.
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 vehicle 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 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.WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is
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.
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......................................................... 37Ventilated.................................................... 37Security AlarmArm The System.......................................... 21Disarm The System..................................... 21Security System........................................ 21, 92Sentry Key (Immobilizer).................................. 17Sentry Key Replacement................................. 16Service Assistance......................................... 313Service Contract............................................ 314Service Manuals............................................ 315Shifting.......................................................... 104Automatic Transmission.................. 104, 105Shoulder Belts............................................... 198Signals, Turn..................................96, 234, 285Snow Chains (Tire Chains)............................. 300Snow Tires..................................................... 297Spare Tires................................. 240, 297, 298Speed ControlAccel/Decel............................................... 117Accel/Decel (ACC Only)............................. 122Cancel....................................................... 118Resume..................................................... 118Set............................................................. 117Speed Control (Cruise Control)... 116, 117, 118Starting............................................................ 99Button......................................................... 17Cold Weather............................................ 102Engine Fails To Start................................. 102Remote....................................................... 18
Starting And Operating..................................... 99Starting Procedures......................................... 99Steering........................................................... 26Power....................................................... 114Tilt Column.................................................. 26Wheel, Heated............................................. 27Wheel, Tilt.................................................... 26Steering Wheel Audio Controls..................... 181Steering Wheel Mounted Sound
System Controls............................................ 181Storage............................................................ 62Storage, Vehicle......................................61, 304Storing Your Vehicle...................................... 304Sun Roof................................................... 71, 72Sun Visor......................................................... 41Sunglasses Storage......................................... 63Sunshade Operation........................................ 72Sway Control, Trailer..................................... 187Symbol Glossary.............................................. 10Synthetic Engine Oil...................................... 263SystemVehicle Security........................................... 21System, Remote Starting................................. 18
T
Telescoping Steering Column.......................... 26Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC)............. 60Tie Down Hooks, Cargo.................................... 75Tilt Steering Column........................................ 26Tire And Loading Information Placard........... 290
Tire Markings................................................ 286Tire Safety Information.................................. 286Tires.................................. 233, 293, 297, 303Aging (Life Of Tires)................................... 295Air Pressure.............................................. 293Chains...................................................... 300Changing.................................................. 239Compact Spare......................................... 297General Information........................ 293, 297High Speed............................................... 294Inflation Pressure..................................... 293Life Of Tires.............................................. 295Load Capacity........................................... 290Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)........................................... 94, 193Quality Grading......................................... 303Radial....................................................... 294Replacement............................................ 296Rotation.................................................... 302Safety.............................................. 286, 293Sizes......................................................... 287Snow Tires................................................ 297Spare Tires.............................240, 297, 298Spinning................................................... 295Trailer Towing........................................... 145Tread Wear Indicators.............................. 295Wheel Nut Torque..................................... 307To Open Hood..................................................73Tongue Weight/Trailer Weight...................... 143Tow N Go....................................................... 112
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