Are you just hearing about UTQG tire ratings for the first time and wondering if they matter? First designed to create a tire manufacturing standard for brands to follow, The UTQG tire ratings have been around since 1978. And today, many drivers still use the system as a helpful shopping tool that leads them to the right set of tires.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about the UTQG rating system and answer questions like:
UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading. Developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the UTQG tire ratings create a standard that drivers can use to figure out the estimated durability and longevity of a tire.
Tire UTQG ratings show the predicted tread life on tires, their durability in warm temperatures, and their braking capabilities. In other words, the treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings provide drivers with an estimate of a tire's quality. However, it’s important to note that UTQG ratings are manufacturer-specific. This means that a rating might not be as standardized across brands as one might assume.
The UTQG tire rating can be found on a tire’s sidewall. However, if you’re having trouble locating the uniform tire quality grading system on your tire, it’s possible your tires belong to a category that does not have it. UTQG markings are not required for deep-treaded light truck tires, winter/snow tires, temporary spare tires, trailer tires, and tires under 12 inches in diameter.
The tire UTQG rating shows the tire's tread wear grade, tire heat ratings, and tire traction ratings. These ratings help categorize tires for their quality.
However, it’s important to note that the UTQG tire rating system only gives you an estimate and often only gives a basis for tire quality comparisons. It’s a common belief that the highest UTQG rating indicates that the tires are better quality, but that is not always the case.
The treadwear rating on a tire is an estimation of how long the tire tread life will last. Unlike the tire hardness ratings and traction grades, the tire tread rating is expressed with a number. The treadwear rating number can be anywhere between 100-1000.
To best explain the treadwear rating, consider this simplified comparison: Models with a 400-tire tread rating will last twice as long as 200 treadwear tires.
This Tire Treadwear Rating Distribution Chart shows the frequency of each tread grade manufactured:
The best answer to "What is a good treadwear grade for tires?" largely depends on you and your driving frequency. While the UTQG system implies that the higher the treadwear rating, the better, that isn’t always the case.
For instance, drivers who don’t frequently use their vehicles shouldn’t need to worry about the UTQG treadwear rating scale when deciding which tires to purchase. But if your car is in frequent use, aiming for higher UTQG treadwear ratings would be beneficial.
The UTQG traction rating specifies the amount of traction a tire provides on wet roads. More simply put, it shows how good a tire’s braking capabilities and performance are in such conditions. Traction is measured by the force a tire needs to stop the vehicle on wet pavement while driving in a straight line.
Unlike the treadwear rating, both the tire traction and temperature ratings are portrayed by letters. Traction AA tires are considered the best on the UTQG tire rating scale, followed by A, B, and C.
It’s important to remember that traction varies with your tire condition, road surface, and driving habits. And just because a tire evaluation rates a model AA on the tire performance grade, outside factors can still lessen its braking capability.
The Traction Rating Chart shows the amount of wet traction g-Force each grade has on both asphalt and concrete:
The tire temperature rating, also known as the tire compound rating, can be described as a tire's ability to resist heat or pressure accumulation, which determines its speed durability.
UTQG temperature grades can range from A to C. Tires with a rating of A are able to perform at speeds above 115 mph, while B-rated tires are able to perform at speeds between 100-115 mph, and C-rated tires can perform between 85-100 mph. However, you won’t really need to worry about the temperature rating these days. Most passenger vehicles come with tires exceeding the temperature A tire speed requirement.
The Temperature Rating Chart showcases the speeds in mph each grade can safely perform at:
UTQG ratings may serve a good purpose in helping you determine the quality of a tire, but drivers shouldn’t always need the best UTQG rated tires.
The quality of the tire you decide to go with depends largely on your vehicle's needs. For example, high treadwear tires are perfect for commuters who drive a lot of miles each day. However, they would only be an exaggeration for weekend vehicles that are only used for a few miles at a time.
In other words, a good UTQG rating for you and your vehicle depends on several factors. Need help figuring out what tires would be best for your needs? Wonderland Tire is here to help! Just give us a call or talk to us in person at a Wonderland Tire location near you. Our tire experts are sure to help you find the perfect set of tires.
Wonderland Tire is committed to providing a level of service and care beyond what you would expect from your average tire center. From our friendly, customer-driven employees to our specialized services, we want to make sure you get the care you deserve so that you stay safe on the road.
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