UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading, a United States system that grades a tyre on three measures: treadwear, traction and temperature. The grades are moulded onto the sidewall, and while UTQG is a US requirement, it appears on many tyres sold worldwide, so UK drivers will see it too.
The three grades
A UTQG marking reads as a treadwear number followed by two letter grades, for example Treadwear 400, Traction A, Temperature A.
| Grade | What it measures | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Treadwear | Expected wear life, relative to a reference tyre | A number, e.g. 200, 400, 600 |
| Traction | Straight-line wet braking grip | AA, A, B, C |
| Temperature | Resistance to heat at sustained speed | A, B, C |
Treadwear: the number
The treadwear grade is a number such as 300 or 500, indicating how long a tyre is expected to last compared with a reference tyre. A higher number suggests a longer-wearing tyre. This is a measure of expected life, not the same as the tread wear indicators in the grooves, which show the legal minimum depth.
The important limitation is that manufacturers grade their own tyres, so the numbers are only reliable when comparing tyres from the same maker. A 500 from one brand is not directly comparable with a 500 from another, and the figure is not a promise of any particular mileage. It is a relative guide within a range, not an absolute measure.
Traction: the wet braking grade
The traction grade rates a tyre's grip in straight-line braking on wet surfaces, from AA (the best) down through A and B to C. It is a useful pointer, but a narrow one: it covers wet straight-line stopping only, and says nothing about cornering grip, dry performance or handling.
Temperature: heat resistance
The temperature grade rates how well a tyre resists and dissipates heat at sustained speed, from A (the best) down to C. Heat is what limits a tyre at speed, so this grade reflects a tyre's ability to run hot without trouble. Grade C is the minimum the US system allows.
How much it matters for UK drivers
Because UTQG is a US scheme, it is at most a rough extra data point for a UK buyer, with the treadwear figure in particular only meaningful within a single brand. For comparing tyres in the UK, the EU tyre label is the more relevant tool, as it grades wet grip, fuel efficiency and external noise on a common standard that applies across all brands.
Used together with care, UTQG can add a little context, but it is not the figure to lean on when choosing between tyres from different makers. For a UK buyer comparing tyres, the EU label is the more useful guide, and those grades are there to compare for any tyre in the size on Tyres.co.uk and other tyre-buying sites.
From the workshop: customers sometimes quote a high treadwear number as if it settles things, but it only holds up within one brand's range. For a fair comparison we point them to the EU label instead, because that is measured the same way for everyone.
Sources and accuracy. The UTQG grades and what they measure follow the published US Uniform Tire Quality Grading standard, and are given as a general guide. UTQG treadwear numbers are set by each manufacturer and are comparable only within a single brand. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
What does UTQG mean on a tyre?+
UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading, a US system that grades a tyre for treadwear, traction and temperature. The three grades are moulded onto the sidewall, for example Treadwear 400, Traction A, Temperature A.
What is a good UTQG treadwear rating?+
A higher treadwear number suggests longer expected wear, but it is only meaningful when comparing tyres from the same manufacturer, as makers test and rate their own tyres. It is not a guaranteed mileage figure.
What do the traction and temperature grades mean?+
Traction grades wet straight-line braking grip, from AA (best) down to C. Temperature grades a tyre's resistance to heat at speed, from A (best) to C. They describe specific tested properties, not overall tyre quality.
Does UTQG matter for UK drivers?+
It is a US requirement rather than a UK one, so it is a rough extra reference at best. For comparing tyres in the UK, the EU tyre label, which grades wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise, is the more relevant guide.