Lincoln 2014 MKZ Owner's Manual page 286

The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The 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 A B C
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.
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.
139. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
MKZ (CC9) , enUSA
Wheels and Tires
Glossary of Tire Terminology
• Tire label: A label showing the
original equipment tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.
• Tire Identification Number: A
number on the sidewall of each tire
providing information about the tire
brand and manufacturing plant, tire
size and date of manufacture. Also
referred to as DOT code.
• Inflation pressure: A measure of
the amount of air in a tire.
• Standard load: A class of P-metric
or Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at set pressure. For
example: For P-metric tires 35 psi
(2.4 bar) or 36 (2.5 bar) depending
on tire size and for Metric tires 36
psi (2.5 bar). Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this
pressure will not increase the tire's
load carrying capability.
• Extra load: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 42 psi
(2.9 bar). Increasing the inflation
pressure beyond this pressure will
not increase the tire's load carrying
capability.
• kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air
pressure.
• PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure.
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