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Treadwear
Temperature
--
A, B, C
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 a half
( 1 1/2) times as well on the governrnent course as a tire
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due
t o
variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
b
oraded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
Traction
--
A, B, C
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 marked C may have poor traction pelformance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this
tire
is
based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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 c a ~ w heat. buildup and possible tire failure.
6-47
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