UTQG treadwear ratings
04-28-2002, 01:57 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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UTQG treadwear ratings
Are Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) treadwear ratings an accurate indicator of the grip (hardness as measured by a durometer) of a tire?
<a href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/utqg.htm" target="_blank">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/utqg.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/utqg.htm" target="_blank">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/utqg.htm</a>
04-28-2002, 02:33 PM
#2
Race Car
The way I understand it, the ratings are somewhat subjective, in that each manufacturer comes up with it's own standard. Therefore IMHO, the ratings are of limited use. I would use these ratings to compare 2 tires from the same manufacturer , eg. brand x has tires rated 230 and 300, I might assume the 230 rated tire may have better dry traction. On the other hand, if you want to compare the brand x, 230 tire to brand y's 220 rated tire, all bets are off.
IIRC, there is also a traction rating on all tires. This may be a better place to start any comparison if traction is what you are looking for, but I think the same (above) information applies to these ratings too. HTH
IIRC, there is also a traction rating on all tires. This may be a better place to start any comparison if traction is what you are looking for, but I think the same (above) information applies to these ratings too. HTH
04-28-2002, 02:36 PM
#3
Race Car
You can't even really say that a lower treadwear from the same manufacturer equates to more grip. The SP Sport 9000's [280] grip a bit better than the SP Sport 8000's [200] probably due to updated carcass/sidewall construction.
04-28-2002, 04:45 PM
#4
Race Director
I think you can compare UTQG as long as they're significantly different. For example, my Yokohama A032Rs (spec tire for <a href="http://www.opentrackchallenge.com" target="_blank">OTC</a>) with treadwear 60 is significantl stickier than my street tires BFG CompTA-VR4 (treadwear 340). The difference come out to about 8 seconds/lap or about 4-seconds/1-minute lap.
However, the Kumho V700 Victoracers (UTQG-50) and Hoosier semi-slick tires (UTQG-00) are both about 0.5-second/1-minute lap faster than the Yokohamas despite grossly differnt UTQG ratings.
Another factor affecting grip is the age of the tire. A lot of of times you see great deal on previous-model tires as the new ones are introduced. However, these old models have been sitting around for a year or more.
Finally, the UTQG rating is a tread wear rate number. Not total mileage that you can expect.
However, the Kumho V700 Victoracers (UTQG-50) and Hoosier semi-slick tires (UTQG-00) are both about 0.5-second/1-minute lap faster than the Yokohamas despite grossly differnt UTQG ratings.
Another factor affecting grip is the age of the tire. A lot of of times you see great deal on previous-model tires as the new ones are introduced. However, these old models have been sitting around for a year or more.
Finally, the UTQG rating is a tread wear rate number. Not total mileage that you can expect.
