Uniform Tyre Quality Grading System (UTQGS)
An American tyre information system, sometimes found on tyres sold in the UK, consisting of a number and set of letters, For example 220AB.
The number specifies the treadwear rating, which offers an indication of the expected usable life of a tyre compared to a standard tyre with a rating of 100. For example, a tyre rated 240 should last 240% longer than a standard tyre. Treadwear grades typically range from 60 to over 500, in twenty point increments However, this system is not standardised, and many manufacturers tend to overstate the treadwear of their tyres in an attempt to create the impression that their tyres last a long time. Thus, an equivalent tyre may be given a treadwear rating of 200 by one manufacturer and a rating of 240 by another. Thus treadwear number is most relevant when comparing tyres by the same manufacturer.
The second part of the rating indicates wet traction and temperature resistance, respectively. The wet ratings are AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the best and C being the worst. A higher graded tyre should allow a car to stop on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tyre with a lower grade.
Temperature resistance ratings are A, B, and C, again with A being the best and C the worst. Temperature grades are an indication of a tyre's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tyre to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation.
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