INFORMATION ABOUT UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
New vehicles are fitted
with tires that have a
rating on them called
Tire Quality Grades.
The Quality grades can
be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For example:
• Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
These Tire Quality Grades are determined by
standards that the United States Department of
Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for
use on passenger cars. They do not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or
temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation-Tire quality
grades: The U.S. Department of Transportation
requires Ford to give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the government has
written it.
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 (1 1/2) 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 climates.
Maintenance and Specifications
232