Land Rover Defender: Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course.

For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1½) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.

The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

The vehicle should be checked by a retailer/authorized repairer as soon as possible if treadwear is uneven across the tire, or a tire wears excessively.

When the tread has worn down to approximately 0.07 in (2 mm), wear indicators start to appear at the surface of the tread pattern. Wear indicators produce a continuous band of rubber across the tread, as a visual indicator.

Wear indicators show the minimum tread depth recommended by the manufacturers. Tires which have worn to this point will have reduced grip and poor water displacement characteristics.

Worn tires can lead to accidents, with the potential to cause serious injury or death.

Note: Local legislation may determine a greater minimum tread depth to that shown by the tire wear indicators. Making sure that the tread depth meets the local legal requirements remains the responsibility of the driver. Do not rely on the tread depth indicators alone.

TRACTION

The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. The grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.

Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking 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 controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.

The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 109.

Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

Warning: 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 failure.

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