2005 Dodge Stratus Owner Manual Coupe - Page 339

MAINTENANCE 339 EXAMPLE : DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504 DOT Department of Transportation This symbol certifies that the tire is in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation tire safety standards, and is approved for highway use. MA Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits) L9 Code representing the tire size. (2 digits) ABCD Code used by tire manufacturer. (1 to 4 digits) 15 Number representing the week in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits) 04 Number representing the year in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits) 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 government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. 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 Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Grades Traction 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 9