Wheels and tires – FORD 2015 Focus Electric User Manual

Page 205

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U.S. Department of

Transportation-Tire quality

grades: The U.S. Department of

Transportation requires Ford

Motor Company to give you the
following information about tire
grades exactly as the government
has written it.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.

For example, a tire graded 150

would wear 1½ times as well on

the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative

performance of tires depends

upon the actual conditions of their

use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to

variations in driving habits, service

practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.

Traction AA A B C

WARNING

The traction grade assigned

to this tire is based on

straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include

acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning or peak traction
characteristics.

The traction grades, from highest

to lowest are AA, A, B, and C. The

grades represent the tire’s ability

to stop on wet pavement as

measured under controlled
conditions on specified
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.

Temperature A B C

WARNING

The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a

tire that is properly inflated and

not overloaded. Excessive speed,

under-inflation, or excessive

loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat

buildup and possible tire failure.

The temperature grades are A

(the highest), B and C,

representing the tire’s resistance

to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when

tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory

test wheel. Sustained high

temperature can cause the

material of the tire to degenerate

and reduce tire life, and excessive

temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C

corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the

202

Focus (CDH), enUSA, First Printing

Wheels and Tires

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