2012 Honda Odyssey Owner's Manual - Page 375

uu Checking and Maintaining Tires u DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles) 2012 Odyssey QRG ■ 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. 1 Traction 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 The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tires's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissispate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test whell. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temp erature 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 Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law. 1 Temperature Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure. TOC Maintenance Index Home 374