Step 2
Example 1 Example 2
Number of peo-
ple in the vehi-
cle (driver and
occupants)
1 2
Weight of the
occupants
Occu-
pant 1:
175 lbs
(80 kg)
Occu-
pant 1:
175 lbs
(80 kg)
Occu-
pant 2:
195 lbs
(88 kg)
Gross weight
of all occu-
pants
175 lbs
(80 kg)
370 lbs
(168 kg)
Step 3
Example 1 Example 2
Permissible
load (maxi-
mum gross
vehicle weight
rating from
the Tire and
Loading Infor-
mation plac-
ard minus the
gross weight
of all occu-
pants)
1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò
175 lbs
(80 kg) =
1325 lbs
(600 kg)
1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò
370 lbs
(168 kg) =
1130 lbs
(512 kg)
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo
carefully, you should still make sure that the
gross vehicle weight rating and the gross axle
weight rating are not exceeded. Details can be
found on the vehicle identification plate on the
B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(Y page 280).
Permissible gross vehicle weight: the gross
weight of the vehicle, all passengers and the
load must not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): the maxi-
mum permissible weight that can be carried by
one axle (front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible values (gross vehi-
cle weight and maximum gross axle weight rat-
ing), have your loaded vehicle (including driver,
occupants and the load) weighed on asuitable
vehicle weighbridge.
All about wheelsand tires
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards
Overview of Tire Quality Grading
Standards
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. governmentspecifications. Their purpose
is to provide drivers with uniform reliable infor-
mation on tire performance data. Tire manu-
facturers have to grade tires using three per-
formancefactors: : tread wear grade, ;
traction grade and = temperature grade.
These regulations do not apply to Canada.
Nevertheless, all tires sold in North America
are provided with the correspondingquality
grading markings on the sidewallofthe tire.
Quality grades can be found, where applicable,
on the tire sidewallbetween tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
Example:
R
Treadwear grade: 200
R
Traction grade: AA
R
Temperaturegrade: A
All passenger car tires must conformtothe
statutory safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
282
All about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires
