Traction and Temperature Ratings: UTQG Grades Made Simple

What are the UTQG ratings?

The letters on your tire sidewall for traction and temperature come from the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) system, set by the U.S. government. Under 49 CFR § 575.104, all new pneumatic passenger car tires sold in the United States must display grades for treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance. The purpose is straightforward: to give you a consistent, comparable set of numbers and letters across different tire brands.

The UTQG rules apply to passenger car tires. They do not apply to deep-tread winter snow tires, temporary spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of 12 inches or less, or limited-production tires. So if you are shopping for a dedicated winter set, the traction and temperature letters may not be present on the sidewall at all; our guide to winter tires explains what to look for instead.

The three grades are molded into the sidewall in a standard block. Treadwear is a number (like 400 or 600), while traction and temperature each get a letter. This article focuses on the two letter grades, which are the quickest to read but often the most misunderstood.

Traction grade: how it is tested and what it means

The traction grade measures a tire's ability to stop on wet pavement. Under the federal standard, the tire is tested on both wet asphalt and wet concrete surfaces in a straight-line braking test, and the result is compared against a reference tire. The possible grades, from best to worst, are AA, A, B, and C. A tire labeled AA has demonstrated the highest level of wet braking performance in the test; a tire labeled C barely meets the minimum.

The grade is about longitudinal grip in a straight line; it does not quantify cornering grip on wet roads, nor does it say anything about dry-road performance. A tire with a B traction grade can still be a capable all-season tire, and a tire with an A grade can feel different in a turn than the letter suggests. Still, if wet-road braking is a priority, choosing a tire with an A or AA grade is a reasonable place to start; the all-season tire guide lists tires by category and intended use.

One important limit: the federal traction test is run on wet surfaces, but the results are most meaningful when comparing tires within the same category (for example, one all-season tire against another). Comparing a summer tire's traction grade with an all-terrain tire's grade is less meaningful because the design goals are completely different, and the summer tire guide can help you compare apples to apples.

Temperature grade: heat resistance explained

The temperature grade evaluates a tire's resistance to heat buildup when running at high speeds. In the federal test, the tire is run on a test wheel at increasing speeds while the load is kept constant, and the tire must survive the full high-speed procedure without showing tread, sidewall, ply, cord, innerliner, or bead separation, chunking, cracked cords, or open splices. The grades are A (highest), B, and C.

Heat is the main enemy of a tire's structural integrity. Sustained high speeds generate friction in the rubber and the casing, and a tire that dissipates heat poorly risks internal damage that appears only later, sometimes as a blowout or a separation. The temperature grade is therefore less about everyday comfort and more about the safety margin you hold in reserve when you drive fast on a highway for an hour or two.

For most drivers, temperature grade A or B is sufficient. Grade C is the minimum for street use and is rare on modern passenger tires except for some budget or specialty models. If you carry heavy loads, tow, or regularly drive at sustained highway speeds, favor an A grade for the extra margin; the light truck tire guide lists tires built for that kind of duty.

The temperature grade is independent of the speed rating, but the two work together. A tire with a high speed rating (like V or W) is designed for sustained high speeds, and you will usually find it paired with a temperature grade of A. You can read more about speed ratings in the speed rating guide.

How to use the two grades together

The two letters answer different questions. Traction tells you about wet stopping grip; temperature tells you about structural resilience under heat. A tire can have a high traction grade and a modest temperature grade, or the reverse. Neither replaces the other, and neither is a substitute for the tire's load index or speed rating, which appear elsewhere on the sidewall.

When you are comparing two tires for the same vehicle and same size, look at the two letters side by side. A combination of traction A and temperature A is what you will find on many premium all-season and touring tires. Traction AA and temperature A appears on some high-performance summer tires. Traction A or B with temperature B is still acceptable for gentle commuting, but the lower margin under heavy load or on long hot highway runs should be weighed carefully.

The sidewall markings guide explains where to find the UTQG block and how it sits alongside the DOT date code and the tire size, and the treadwear rating guide shows how the third UTQG number works.

When the grades do not apply

The federal UTQG regulation exempts several categories of tires. Snow tires with deep tread, temporary spare tires, tires with rim diameters of 12 inches or less, and limited-production tires do not have to carry traction and temperature grades. That does not make them unsafe; it just means the standardized comparison is not required for their specific designs.

For winter tires, the relevant mark is the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, which indicates that the tire meets the snow traction test standard under ASTM F1805. Many winter tires also carry a UTQG traction grade, but the snow test is separate and more relevant for cold-weather use. Our snow tire 3PMSF article goes into the details. If you run dedicated winter tires, the traction and temperature letters on your all-season set matter less in winter because the winter set is doing the work.

Another exception: the UTQG grades apply to tires for passenger cars and light vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. Light truck tires (LT-metric) have their own standard, though many LT tires still display UTQG grades voluntarily. You can read about the distinction in the load range article.

What should you pick?

For an everyday commuter car or family SUV, look for traction A or AA and temperature A or B. You will find those combinations on most reputable all-season tires, and the extra cost over a bare-minimum tire is usually justified by the wet-braking margin alone, even if temperature differences rarely show up in normal driving.

For a sports car or a car you drive aggressively on highways, temperature A becomes more important; it reflects a casing that can handle sustained fast running. Pair that with traction AA or A for wet-road confidence. The performance summer tire guide organizes options by category.

For trucks and SUVs that carry payload or tow, put more weight on the temperature grade, because heat builds faster under load. A temperature B tire may be fine for an empty SUV but marginal for one that is fully loaded on a hot interstate run. The all-terrain tire guide lists tires that combine off-road tread with a reasonable temperature grade.

Remember that UTQG grades are not a rating of your driving needs; they are a snapshot of one test at one set of conditions. The right tire for your vehicle still depends on the size, the season, and the way you drive. Use the tire size guide to confirm the size, then compare the grades within the category you need.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What does a traction rating of AA mean?

AA is the highest traction grade in the UTQG system. It means the tire demonstrated the best straight-line wet braking performance in the federal test on asphalt and concrete. It does not measure cornering grip or dry performance.

Is a temperature rating of B good enough?

For most daily driving, yes. B indicates a moderate heat resistance that passes the federal high-speed endurance test. If you drive at sustained high speeds, tow, or carry heavy loads, you will want an A for the extra margin.

Do winter tires have UTQG traction and temperature ratings?

Many winter tires do, but the federal rule does not require it. Deep-tread snow tires are exempt from the UTQG labeling regulation. The more important indicator for winter performance is the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.

Can I compare UTQG grades across different tire types?

The grades are most useful when comparing tires within the same category, such as one all-season tire against another. Comparing a summer tire's traction grade with an all-terrain tire's grade is less meaningful because their designs and test behaviors differ.

Where on the tire are the traction and temperature grades printed?

They appear in the UTQG block on the sidewall, typically together with the treadwear number, near the tire size and DOT code. The words TRACTION and TEMPERATURE are printed with the grade letter circled or adjacent.

Do LT (light truck) tires have UTQG grades?

LT tires are not required to carry UTQG grades, but many manufacturers choose to mold them on anyway. For LT tires, the load range and inflation pressure are the critical ratings; see the load range guide for details.