To help you buy tires, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has rated more than 2,200 lines of tires used on cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks.

This grading system, known as the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS), allows you to compare tire treadwear, traction performance, and temperature resistance when you are trying to decide on which tires to buy. The federal government requires tire manufacturers to grade their tires in these three areas and place the information on the sidewall (the part that does not have contact with the ground) of the tire.

Tags: nhtsa, nhtsa database lookup, uniform tire quality grading system, utqgs
Filed under: Cars