SERVICE DESCRIPTION

Safety Rating is a combination of two values: Load Index and Speed Rating for P-Metric and Euro Metric tire sizes; and Load Range and Speed Rating in the case of heavy duty LT (light truck) sizes.

Speed Rating is based on the speed that the tire is designed to be driven at for extended periods of time. All tires in the in the U.S. are designed to maintain legal U.S. speed limits. The speed rating of tires must match the maximum driving speed of the vehicle.

Load Index is used on P metric and Euro Metric sized tires and denotes a tire's load-carrying capacity at a specified inflation pressure. The load index is represented by a number, the higher the Load Index Value the greater the load the tire can safely carry. Vehicle manufacturers recommend a maximum load capacity based on a recommended minimum load index.

TIRE CLASS

Tire Class reflects how the tire will be used. There are four major categories: All-Season, Max Performance, Summer-Only and Winter-Use.

All-Season tires are suitable for year-round driving in all weather conditions.

Summer-Only & Max Performance tires are specifically designed for high-performance driving. Tire compound, tread design and speed ratings all combine to hug the road and maintain grip. Summer tires by natur e are not ideal for winter driving due to lack of siding to grip winter roads.

Winter-Use tires have tread compounds and patterns that are specially designed for grip on s nowy or icy road surfaces. They are not suitable for year-round use. The rubber compound used will wear more quickly on dry, s ummer roads. It is recommended that winter tires are fitted as a complete set to avoid potential handling issues.

TREAD TYPE

Tread Type is an important consideration when choosing a tire. There are four main types: Passenger, Highway, All-Terrain and Mud-Terrain.

Passenger denotes a tread that is suitable for normal use, a good all-round tread for normal driving.

Highway is a tread type unique to SUV and truck tires. The tread is optimized for normal everyday driving on paved surfaces. These tires can be driven off pavement, but are not ideally suited for off road traction. Highway tread patterns deliver a quiet ride.

For light trucks and specialty vehicles, All-Terrain tread types provide better off-road traction than standard highway truck tires. There more aggressive tread tends to be less quiet on paved roads. All Terrain tires are suitable for everyday use.

Mud-Terrain treads are specifically designed with wider tread blocks and higher void ratios to gain traction in off-road conditions. Mud Terrain tires can generate higher noise levels and tend to carry lower mileage warranties than other tread designs.

UTQG - Uniform Tire Quality Grade

UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) is made up of three values: treadwear, traction and temperature.

Treadwear is a relative numeric score, based on manufacturer tests, showing how well a tire can be expected to wear compared to other tires. A higher score means a tire could be expected to wear better.

Traction measures the tire's ability to stop a vehicle on wet roads. It doesn't reflect a tire's acceleration, cornering, or hydroplaning performance. Traction grades range from AA (highest) to C (lowest).

Temperature grades the tire's ability to withstand heat build-up, with A being the highest grade and C the lowest.