Mini 2004 Cooper User Manual

Page 92

TIRE CODING

Traction

The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C.

Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction per-
formance.

The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-

ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.

Temperature

The temperature grades are A, the highest,
B and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to a sudden flat tire. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.

The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly

inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.

RSC Run Flat tires

You will recognize Run Flat tires by a circu-
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on
the side of the tire, refer to page

M+S

Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter performance
properties than summer tires.