1997 Nissan Maxima Owner's Manual - Page 205

1997 Nissan Maxima Manual

Page 205 highlights

UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to these grades. Treadwear Treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on tire wear rate when tested under controlled conditions on specified government test courses. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. However, relative tire performance depends on actual driving conditions, and may vary significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate. The traction grade assigned to your vehicle tires is based on straight line braking traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction. Temperature A, B and C Temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C. They represent a tire's resistance to heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause tire material to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure. Grade C corresponds to a performance level which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of performance on laboratory test wheels than the minimum required by law. 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 problems. Traction A, B and C Traction grades are A (the highest), B and C. They represent a 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 with a C may have poor traction performance. 9-18

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DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear
Treadwear
grade
is
a
comparative
rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified government
test courses. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. However, relative tire performance de-
pends on actual driving conditions, and may
vary significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction A, B and C
Traction grades are A (the highest), B and C.
They represent a tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled con-
ditions, on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked with a C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight line brak-
ing traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B and C
Temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire’s resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause tire mate-
rial to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive
temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a performance level
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of
performance on laboratory test wheels than
the minimum required by law.
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 combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and pos-
sible tire failure problems.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
9-18