Consumer information and Reporting safety defects/Tire information
. Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger
vehicles, and trucks, that have a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
of 10,000 lbs (4,535 kg) or less.
. Ply
A layer of rubber-coated parallel
cords.
. Ply separation
A parting of rubber compound
between adjacent plies.
. Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric and steel or
other materials, that, when
mounted on an automotive wheel,
provides the traction and contains
the gas or fluid that sustains the
load.
. Production options weight
The combined weight of those
installed regular production options
weighing over 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) in
excess of those standard items
which they replace, not previously
considered in curb weight or acces-
sory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack,
heavy duty battery, and special
trim.
. Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply
cords that extend to the beads are
laid at substantially 90 degrees to
the centerline of the tread.
. Recommended inflation pres-
sure
The cold inflation pressure recommended by a vehicle manufacturer.
. Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher
loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding standard tire.
. Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire
and tube assembly upon which the
tire beads are seated.
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Consumer information and Reporting safety defects/Tire information
. Rim type designation
. Tread rib
The industry of manufacturer’s designation for a rim by style or code.
A tread section running circumferentially around a tire.
. Rim width
. Tread separation
Nominal distance between rim
flanges.
Pulling away of the tread from the
tire carcass.
. Section width
. Treadwear indicators (TWI)
The linear distance between the
exteriors of the sidewalls of an
inflated tire, excluding elevations
due to labeling, decoration, or
protective bands.
The projections within the principal
grooves designed to give a visual
indication of the degrees of wear of
the tread.
. Sidewall
The rated cargo and luggage load
plus 150 lbs (68 kg) times the
vehicle’s designated seating capacity.
That portion of a tire between the
tread and bead.
. Sidewall separation
The parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in
the sidewall.
. Test rim
. Rim diameter
The rim on which a tire is fitted for
testing, and it may be any rim listed
as appropriate for use with that tire.
Nominal diameter of the bead seat.
. Tread
. Rim size designation
That portion of a tire that comes
into contact with the road.
Rim diameter and width.
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. Vehicle capacity weight
. Vehicle maximum load on the
tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the maximum
loaded vehicle weight and dividing
by two.
. Vehicle normal load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with Table 1 that is appended to the end of this section)
and dividing by 2.
. Wheel-holding fixture
The fixture used to hold the wheel
and tire assembly securely during
testing.