WASHINGTON (Feb. 13)—Twenty-two tire models have treadwear grades of 700, the current top treadwear rating, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's latest list of comparative Uniform Tire Quality Grading ratings for tires.
Of 2,200 tire models, 2 percent have ratings of 600 or more and 8 percent 500 or more, according to an agency news release. This compares with a high treadwear rating of 560 in January 1997; at that time, only 12 tires had that rating.
Although the agency has continued to update its list of tire grades annually, this is the first time in some years it has issued a release about the latest update. A NHTSA spokesman declined comment. The full list of UTQG tire grades can be seen and downloaded at www.safercar.gov.