Search:
NewArticleDaily your source of new articles posted everyday
Submit Articles | Member Login | Top Authors | Most Popular Articles | Submission Guidelines | Ezine Notifications | Article RSS Feeds

Home | Cars And Trucks

See Tire Ratings Before You Buy

By: Joe Trent

So old Betsy's in need of some new tires and you're not quite sure what kind of tire you should be looking for to replace the old worn out ones with. One important thing you need to know about is tire ratings, I'll tell you why in a moment.

You have 2 choices, go down to your local tire shop and take your chances with their recommendation, or do a little research first and be able to make an informed decision when buying locally or online.

Warning! The local tire shop may be pushing their "special of the week" tire that they're going to make the most profit selling you instead of the tire that is best for your situation. This is why you should get a little education on tire ratings before you decide to buy. I know, tire ratings is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But bare with me and you'll be in the know in just a few paragraphs and can then go take a nap or something.

Oh, why should you care? Let me tell you a little story about "Bob". Bob was so tight with a buck he used to squeak when he walked by. Bob would only buy the cheapest tires. Or so he thought. He never bothered to learn anything about tire ratings, he always bought the cheapest he could get. And Bob was always whining about how little mileage he would get out of a set of tires for his 63 Hupmobile.

Had Bob learned just a basic fact like a "700" rated tire lasts a whole lot longer than a "300" rated tire, Bob could have saved himself hundreds of dollars over the life of his vehicle on just tires alone.

Bob probably payed twice as much to go the same distance on his 2 sets of cheap tires as he would have gone if he would have pony'd up the dough for 1 set of top rated tires. "Pay top dollar and only cry once, buy cheap and cry all the time" is what a smart customer once told me. Don't be Bob.

OK, here we go...
The tire ratings information can be found on two places on a tire: a label affixed to the tread when new, and molded into the sidewalls.

The uniform tire quality grade (UTQG) is mandated by the federal government for tires sold in the U.S., This tire rating system allows folks to make basic comparisons between tire models and brands based on three things: tread wear, traction and temperature resistance. The UTQG doesn't apply to deep-tread, space-saver spares; winter-type snow tires; or tires with rim diameters of 12 inches or smaller.

All testing is performed by each tire manufacturer, using prescribed test tires and procedures. Kinda like the fox watching the hen house if you ask me. The UTQG is not a safety rating and not a guarantee that a tire will last for a certain number of miles.

* Tread wear The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions. For example, a tire graded 150 would perform over one and a half (1.5) times as well as a tire graded 100.

* Traction - AA, A, B, and C The traction grades from highest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. They represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.

* Temperature - A, B, and C The temperature grades from highest to lowest are A, B, and C. They represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions. C is the lowest standard allowed by federal law.

What does all this mean?

Use the tire rating numbers as a guide so you can make an informed decision of what the best tire to buy to meet your needs is and chances are you'll save money in the long run. Unlike our friend Bob.

Article Source: http://www.newarticledaily.com

A licensed mechanic, Joe Trent started out over 30 years ago in the tire business and has been ASE Certified in Suspension and Brakes for over 25 years. Joe currently works in the shop during the day and at night is the webmaster of Tire-Review-Expert.com where he gives unbiased tire ratings

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Cars and Trucks Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Cars And Trucks
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
New Stuff
About Us
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


© 2008 New Article Daily. All Rights Reserved.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

Powered by Article Dashboard