Honda 1994 Civic Owner's Manual page 195

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Tire Information
Tread wear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified
government test course. For exam-
ple, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one half (1-1/2) times as
well on the government course as a
tire graded 100. The relative per-
formance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices
and differences in road character-
istics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they
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
Technical Information
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marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade as-
signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests
and does not include cornering
(turning) traction.
Temperature
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 represent 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,
underinflation, or excessive loading
either separately or in combination,
can cause heat build-up and
possible tire failure.