Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) allows consumers to compare tire treadwear, traction performance, and temperature resistance. The federal government requires tire manufacturers to grade their tires in these three areas and place the information
on the sidewall of the tire.
Tire Ratings - Treadwear
Treadwear grades are an indication of a tire's relative wear rate. The higher the treadwear number is, the longer it should take for the tread to wear down. A control tire is assigned a grade of 100. Other tires are compared to the control tire. For example, a tire grade of 200 should wear twice as long as the control tire. Of current tires:
- 15% are rated below 200
- 25% are rated 201 - 300
- 32% are rated 301 - 400
- 20% are rated 401 - 500
- 6% are rated 501 - 600
- 2% are rated above 600
Tire Ratings - Traction
Traction grades are an indication of a tire's ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher graded tire should allow a car to stop on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as "AA", "A", "B", and "C". Of current tires:
- 3% are rated AA
- 75% are rated A
- 22% are rated B
- only 1 line of tires rated C
Tire Ratings - Temperature
Temperature grades are an indication of a tire's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. From highest to lowest, a tire's resistance to heat is graded as A, B, or C. Of current tires:
- 27% are rated A
- 59% are rated B
- 11% are rated C
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