Look at any tire sidewall and you'll find a small string like 'TREADWEAR 600 TRACTION A TEMPERATURE A.' That's the Uniform Tire Quality Grading — UTQG — a U.S. government-mandated rating system that's been around since the 1970s. Two of the three ratings are nearly useless. One actually helps.
Treadwear — the only useful number
The first rating is a three-digit number, usually between 200 and 800. It's a relative measure of expected tread life — higher means longer-lasting. A treadwear of 600 is roughly twice as durable as a treadwear of 300.
Rough mileage estimates:
- 200-300 — high-performance summer tire, 15,000-25,000 miles
- 400-500 — performance all-season, 35,000-45,000 miles
- 600-700 — touring all-season, 55,000-70,000 miles
- 800+ — long-haul touring or LT, 75,000-90,000+ miles
Treadwear is self-reported by the manufacturer and tested only relative to a control tire. It's not a precise mileage warranty. But within a manufacturer's lineup, it's a reliable comparison tool.
Traction — A, AA, B, or C
The traction grade measures wet-braking ability on asphalt and concrete. The grades are AA (best), A, B, C (lowest legal). The catch: almost every tire sold today is A or AA. The grade barely differentiates anything in the real market — wet traction varies far more by tire model than by UTQG letter.
Temperature — A, B, or C
The temperature grade measures heat resistance at high speed. A (best), B, C (lowest legal). Again, almost every modern tire is A. C-rated temperature tires are rare and generally won't pass DOT speed tests at modern highway speeds.
The bigger picture
UTQG is a 50-year-old system designed when tire technology was much less varied than today. Use treadwear to compare longevity within a manufacturer or class of tire. Ignore traction and temperature in favor of real-world tire reviews — they'll tell you more.
What UTQG does NOT measure
- Dry handling and grip
- Snow and ice traction (look for 3PMSF or M+S symbols instead)
- Noise level
- Ride comfort
- Wet traction beyond braking — cornering, hydroplaning, etc.
Use the treadwear number to compare longevity. Use real reviews for everything else.