1997 Chevrolet Suburban Owner's Manual - Page 328

grades, they must also conform to Federal safety requirements and additional General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) standards. Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. If you mix tiresof different sizesor types (radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not handle properly, and you could have a crash. Using tiresof different sizes may also cause damage to your vehicle. Be sureto use the same size and type tires on all wheels. 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 (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 may depart significantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate. Uniform Tire Quality Grading The following information relates to the system developed by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 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 sidewallsof most passenger car tires.The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does not applyto 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 Traction -- A, B, C The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt andconcrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tireis based on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction. 6-49