Joe Trent offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online
or in print.
Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or
forum.
-----------
PUBLICATION GUIDELINES
- You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the
Author" box is included in its entirety.
- Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains
hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity.
- Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by
email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only.
- If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure
that all URLs and email addresses are active links.
- Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to
[email protected]
- Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on
behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please
respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree
to these terms, please do not use this article.
-----------
Article Title: See Tire Ratings Before You Buy
Author: Joe Trent
Category:
Word Count: 687
Keywords: tire rating
Author's Email Address: [email protected]
Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
So old Betsy's in need of some new tires and you're not quite sure what kind of
tire you should be looking for to replace the old worn out ones with. One
important thing you need to know about is tire ratings, I'll tell you why in a
moment.
You have 2 choices, go down to your local tire shop and take your chances with
their recommendation, or do a little research first and be able to make an
informed decision when buying locally or online.
Warning! The local tire shop may be pushing their "special of the week" tire
that they're going to make the most profit selling you instead of the tire that
is best for your situation. This is why you should get a little education on
tire ratings before you decide to buy. I know, tire ratings is about as
exciting as watching paint dry. But bare with me and you'll be in the know in
just a few paragraphs and can then go take a nap or something.
Oh, why should you care? Let me tell you a little story about "Bob". Bob was so
tight with a buck he used to squeak when he walked by. Bob would only buy the
cheapest tires. Or so he thought. He never bothered to learn anything about
tire ratings, he always bought the cheapest he could get. And Bob was always
whining about how little mileage he would get out of a set of tires for his 63
Hupmobile.
Had Bob learned just a basic fact like a "700" rated tire lasts a whole lot
longer than a "300" rated tire, Bob could have saved himself hundreds of
dollars over the life of his vehicle on just tires alone.
Bob probably payed twice as much to go the same distance on his 2 sets of
cheap tires as he would have gone if he would have pony'd up the dough for 1
set of top rated tires. "Pay top dollar and only cry once, buy cheap and cry
all the time" is what a smart customer once told me. Don't be Bob.
OK, here we go...
The tire ratings information can be found on two places on a tire: a label
affixed to the tread when new, and molded into the sidewalls.
The uniform tire quality grade (UTQG) is mandated by the federal government for
tires sold in the U.S., This tire rating system allows folks to make basic
comparisons between tire models and brands based on three things: tread wear,
traction and temperature resistance. The UTQG doesn't apply to deep-tread,
space-saver spares; winter-type snow tires; or tires with rim diameters of 12
inches or smaller.
All testing is performed by each tire manufacturer, using prescribed test tires
and procedures. Kinda like the fox watching the hen house if you ask me. The
UTQG is not a safety rating and not a guarantee that a tire will last for a
certain number of miles.
* Tread wear The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions. For example, a
tire graded 150 would perform over one and a half (1.5) times as well as a tire
graded 100.
* Traction - AA, A, B, and C The traction grades from highest to lowest
are AA, A, B, and C. They represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
* Temperature - A, B, and C The temperature grades from highest to lowest
are A, B, and C. They represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat
and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions. C is
the lowest standard allowed by federal law.
What does all this mean?
Use the tire rating numbers as a guide so you can make an informed decision of
what the best tire to buy to meet your needs is and chances are you'll save
money in the long run. Unlike our friend Bob.
A licensed mechanic, Joe Trent started out over 30 years ago in the tire
business and has been ASE Certified in Suspension and Brakes for over 25 years.
Joe currently works in the shop during the day and at night is the webmaster of
http://Tire-Review-Expert.com where he gives unbiased tire ratings
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
