The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing 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 (1 g) 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

The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.

The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-

ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.

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 repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.

The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly

inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.

RSC – Run-flat tires

You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, refer to page

175

M+S

Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.

Tire condition

Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.

Tire tread

The tread depth should not drop below
0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,