Saturn 2009 VUE Hybrid - Manual (Page 260)

The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although
only one side may have the date
of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material : The type
of cord and number of plies
in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
: Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction and temperature
resistance. For more information
see Uniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 5-54.
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
: Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
Tire Size
The following illustration
shows an example of a typical
passenger (p-metric) vehicle
tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric)
Tire
: The United States version
of a metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U. S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width : The three-digit
number indicates the tire
section width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio : A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code : A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter : Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description : These
characters represent the load
range and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carry capacity a tire is
certified to carry. The load index
can range from 1 to 279. The
speed rating is the maximum
speed a tire is certified to carry
a load. Speed ratings range
from A to Z.
5-40 Service and Appearance Care