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Tire Tread Wear, Tire Traction

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Tires
  2. Tire Tread Wear, Tire Traction
  3. Tire Speed Rating, Studded Snow Tires
  4. Tire Reviews, Best All-Season Tires
  1. Best Snow Tires
  2. Tire Deals
  3. Discount Cheap Tires Features Comparison Table
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Tires Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System, or UTQG, to help consumers evaluate some basic features of all-season tires. The system rates tires on three criteria: tire tread wear, traction, and temperature resistance.
Note that grades are determined by the manufacturer, based on specific test criteria set by the Department of Transportation. The department has the right to review the test data and fine the manufacturer if the grades are inconsistent with the results. UTQG ratings are most helpful for comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of different all-season tires from the same manufacturer. They are not required for winter tires. You can look up the grade for a specific tire at safercar.gov. As for the tires on our list, General gives its Altimax RT (starting at $51, Amazon) a grade of 600-A-B, Falken gives the SN211 (starting at $54, Amazon) a 720-A-B, and Goodyear gives its Wrangler ST (starting at $73, Amazon) a 340-B-B. Below is a breakdown of what these grades mean.

Tire Tread Wear.

The number at the beginning of a UTQG grade is the tire tread-wear rating, which indicates how long you can expect a tire's treading to last in relation to the tread on other tires. For example, a tire with a tread-wear rating of 300 should be able to go twice as long as a tire with a rating of 150 before it needs to be replaced. However, the actual lifespan will depend on factors such as the type of driver you are, the climate you live in, and whether or not you keep your tires properly inflated. We can see that Falken has a lot of confidence in the tire tread wear of the SN211, giving it a rating of 720, and General gives the Altimax RT a rating of 600. Less than 10% of tires are rated that high, according to the NHTSA. The Goodyear Wrangler ST, on the other hand, carries a tire tread-wear rating of 340.

A tread-wear warranty is another indication of how long the manufacturer expects an all-season tire to last under optimal conditions. The General Altimax RT comes with a tread-wear warranty of 70,000 miles and the Falken SN211 is guaranteed for 80,000 miles. The Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (starting at $72) also has a limited tread-wear warranty -- unusual for a winter tire -- of 40,000 miles.

Tire Traction.

The next UTQG indicator, tire traction, rates the ability of a tire to stop on wet pavement. Tires are tested on straight-ahead braking only; the tire traction test does not take into account cornering, acceleration, or driving at high speeds. Tire traction is rated AA, A, B, or C. Tires with AA ratings are the best at stopping on wet pavement and models with C ratings have the worst tire traction. Both our picks for all-season tires are rated A, by far the most common rating for tire traction, while most sizes of Goodyear Wrangler ST tires are rated B.

Review continues below

Tire Temperature Rating.

The final UTQG indicator is the tire temperature rating. It reflects the ability of a tire to dissipate heat by assigning it an A, B, or C grade. Tires that can't handle the high temperatures generated from driving risk tread separation and blowouts. In the United States, all tires are required to have a tire temperature rating of at least C. The three all-season models on our list receive B ratings. The Nankang XR-611 performance tire (starting at $49, Amazon) has an A rating, indicating high manufacturer confidence in the tire's heat resistance. The Nankang XR-611 also gets an A for tire traction but trails our picks with a tread-wear rating of 520.

by Kara Reinhardt (Google+ Profile)

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Filed in: Autos, Cars, SUVs, Tires, Trucks, Winter

Best Cheap Tires

General Altimax RT

 Read why »
Where to buy

Michelin X-Ice Xi2

 Read why »
Where to buy

Good Cheap Tires

Falken SN211

 Read why »
Where to buy

General Altimax Arctic

 Read why »
Where to buy
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Tires

Goodyear Wrangler ST

Many consumers pan the all-season Goodyear Wrangler ST, describing it as risky or flat-out unsafe. Users especially warn against driving in the rain with these tires. The Wrangler ST has a UTQG rating of 340-B-B (340-A-B on some sizes). It is commonly sold as original equipment on light trucks and SUVs. Read more »

Hankook Icebear W300

While some drivers are impressed with the performance of the Hankook Icebear W300, many others are disappointed and some consider the tire dangerous. This studless winter tire is designed for high-performance cars, with a speed capacity of 130 mph. Read more »

 
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