Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS)

An American tire information system consisting of a number and set of letters, For example 220AB.

The number specifies the treadwear rating, which offers an indication of the expected usable life of a tire compared to a standard tire with a rating of 100. For example, a tire rated 240 should last 240% longer than a standard tire. Treadwear grades typically range from 60 to over 500, in twenty point increments However, this system is not standardised, and many manufacturers tend to overstate the treadwear of their tires in an attempt to create the impression that their tires last a long time. Thus, an equivalent tire may be given a treadwear rating of 200 by one manufacturer and a rating of 240 by another. Thus treadwear number is most relevant when comparing tires by the same manufacturer.

The second part of the rating indicates wet traction and temperature resistance, respectively. The wet ratings are AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the best and C being the worst. A higher graded tire should allow a car to stop on wet roads in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade.

Temperature resistance ratings are A, B, and C, again with A being the best and C the worst. Temperature grades are an indication of a tire's resistance to heat. Sustained high temperature (for example, driving long distances in hot weather), can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation.