Useful Information About the Numbers and Letters Found on the Sidewalls of Your Nitto Terra Grapplers
Posted by Bobby Shell on 25th Feb 2015
In our last post, we were giving you useful information about the numbers and letters found on the sidewalls of your Nitto Terra Grapplers, the tires you love so much. We touched upon tire class, tire size and load index. In this article, we will cover tread wear, traction and temperature.
A tread wear rating is a measurement of a tire’s durability and not just the predicted tread life. keep in mind there are several factor involved in tread life including road conditions and driving habits. Tire manufacturers determine tread wear through independent testing and there is no industry nor government standard.
The traction rating is the tire’s ability to stop on a straight, wet surface in a controlled manner. This does not cover cornering ability or traction in the wet and snow. Traction grades range as follows; AA, A, B and C, with AA marking the highest grade.
The temperature rating is the measurement of a tire’s resistance to heat under normal operating conditions. Grades for temperature resistance range from A to C, with A being the highest rating.
The maximum load number is the maximum load carrying capability of the tire when it is fully inflated. This number is based on standards set by the National Highway traffic Safety Administration.
The maximum pressure number is the maximum recommended inflation pressure and does not indicate recommended tire pressure.
We hope you walk away from these articles better informed about your new tires and a better understanding about what all those letters and numbers mean.