Performance Tire Guide - Get A Grip!

UTQG Ratings
The government has established the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) system to help consumers choose their tires. The UTQG is a relative comparison system, and is not a safety rating, nor a guarantee that a tire will last for a specific number of miles. Under the UTQG system, "treadwear" is a comparative rating based on the wear of a tire when tested under laboratory test conditions. Under this scheme, a tire graded "400" should last twice as long as a tire graded "200." Nevertheless, another tire manufacturer may grade a comparable design "300," so a grade of "150" would last just half as long under its grading scheme. It is also common with R-compound tires for a manufacturer to assign a treadwear rating that is conservative for that tire, whereby a tire that could qualify for a "100" rating is actually given a "00" rating. (Theoretically at least, a tire with a "00" rating should last zero miles, but contrary to common belief, they do not disintegrate upon mounting!) The "Traction" rating is how well a tire brakes in a straight line on wet pavement. In the case of R-compound DOT-legal tires or UHP tires, which are seldom driven in wet conditions, a "C" rating means it passes minimum requirements for wet weather-the rating is not indicative of dry traction, nor is it an indication of turning or handling performance. The "Temperature" rating is a measure of how hot the tires run, not an indication of grip or safety.