Saturn 2009 VUE - Manual (Page 292)

Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The
examples below show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and a
compact spare tire sidewall.
(A) Tire Size : The tire size is a
combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire’s width, height,
aspect ratio, construction
type, and service description.
See the “Tire Size” illustration
later in this section for more
detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
: Original
equipment tires designed to
GM’s specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specifications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department
of Transportation)
: The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the
tire is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
: The letters and numbers
following DOT (Department
of Transportation) code is the
Tire Identification Number (TIN).
The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and
date the tire was manufactured.
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 5-60.
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
: Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support
that load.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
Example
5-44 Service and Appearance Care