What is the UTQG rating on a tire?

UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading. It is a system required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) that forces manufacturers to grade their tires on treadwear longevity, wet traction, and temperature resistance.

What does traction A and temperature A mean?

"Traction A" means the tire has very good stopping ability on wet asphalt and concrete. "Temperature A" means the tire is highly effective at dissipating heat at sustained highway speeds above 115 mph, reducing the risk of a blowout.

Is a higher UTQG treadwear rating better?

For longevity, yes. A tire with a 700 treadwear will last much longer than one with a 300. However, high treadwear tires use very hard rubber, which means they do not grip the road as well in corners or during aggressive braking.

Do winter tires have a UTQG rating?

No. By law, dedicated winter tires and deep-lug mud-terrain tires are exempt from UTQG grading requirements because the standard testing parameters do not accurately reflect their specialized use cases.

Where can I find the UTQG rating?

The UTQG rating is molded into the sidewall of the tire, usually explicitly preceded by the word "TREADWEAR" (e.g., TREADWEAR 400 TRACTION A TEMPERATURE A). It is also listed on the paper sticker when buying new tires.

UTQG Tire Rating Decoder

Understand your tire's official government-mandated Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature grades to gauge its overall quality.

Quick Answer

When you decode a UTQG rating of "600 A A", it means the tire should last 6 times longer than the DOT's baseline control tire (usually equating to 50,000–60,000 miles). It also has standard "A" ratings for both wet braking traction and high-speed heat dissipation, making it an excellent, long-lasting daily driving tire.

Enter UTQG string (e.g. 500 AA A)

Found on the tire sidewall as three values: treadwear number, traction grade, temperature grade

UTQG Traction and Temperature Grades Explained

Grade Letter	Traction Meaning (Wet Braking)	Temperature Meaning (Heat Resistance)
AA	Best possible wet stopping distance	N/A (Does not apply to Temperature)
A	Standard excellent wet stopping	Safely dissipates heat over 115 mph
B	Average wet stopping distance	Safely dissipates heat between 100–115 mph
C	Minimum acceptable stopping distance	Safely dissipates heat between 85–100 mph

UTQG Code Format

UTQG Code = [Treadwear Number] [Traction Letter] [Temperature Letter]

Treadwear = 100 to 800+; multiples of the DOT baseline control tire lifespan
Traction = AA, A, B, or C; AA is highest (best wet braking)
Temperature = A, B, or C; A is highest (best heat dissipation)
Example: "300 AA A" = fast wearing, incredible wet grip, excellent heat safety

Frequently Asked Questions

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