1998 Ford Contour Owner's Manual - Page 153
1998 Ford Contour Manual
Page 153 highlights
Maintenance and care 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 grade of 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire grade 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 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 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 braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction. 153