Uniform Tire Quality Grading and TPC Label
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
The following information relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are molded on the
sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) system does 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 (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger cars and light trucks may vary with respect
to these grades, they must also conform to federal safety requirements and additional General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
All Passenger Car Tires Must Conform to Federal Safety Requirements In Addition To These
Grades.
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 a half (1½) 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 - AA, A, B, C
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 government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature - A, B, C
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 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
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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
The following information relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are molded on the
sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) system does 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 (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger cars and light trucks may vary with respect
to these grades, they must also conform to federal safety requirements and additional General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
All Passenger Car Tires Must Conform to Federal Safety Requirements In Addition To These
Grades.
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 a half (1½) 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 - AA, A, B, C
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 government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature - A, B, C
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 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
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Warning Lights
