When you are replacing the tires on your current car, it’s wise to learn about the different lines and features.  There are hundreds of makes and models of tires from which to choose. Just like when you are buying a car, you want to make an educated choice.  Deciding on the right car means reading the safety statistics, matching your needs to car features, comparing prices, etc.  It’s the same process for buying tires.  How much you drive, your vehicle, your style of driving, and the types of your passengers or cargo, will all determine the best tires for you. Tire performance is a key factor in car accident prevention.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is one source for getting useful information  NHTSA has rated more than 2,400 tires, including most styles used on passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks.  The grading system it uses is the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS), and provides consumers with information based on three criteria.

1. Tire treadwear:  This measures a tire’s wear rate. A higher the treadwear number indicates it lasts longer. This is established by assigning a control tire a grade of 100. Test tires are compared to this control tire to see how long it takes for the tread to wear down.  So, for example, a tire with a grade of 200 should take twice as long to wear out as the control tire.
2. Traction performance:  This tests a tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher traction graded tire should allow a car to stop on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as “AA”, “A”, “B”, and “C”.
3. Temperature resistance:  This is a measure of a tire’s resistance to heat. When driving for long distance, or in hot weather, tires can increase in temperature, which can cause tread separation, blowouts and general deterioration. From highest to lowest, a tire’s resistance to heat is graded as “A”, “B”, or “C”.

For more information about tire safety and testing, or if you want to look up a specific brand or model of tire, go to http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Tires/Tires+Rating

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