UTQG basics · guide
What does a tire treadwear rating mean?
How the number is produced
Treadwear is one of three Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) grades required by federal regulation, alongside traction and temperature. Each tire is graded “as a percentage of the NHTSA nominal treadwear value” and the grades “shall be expressed in multiples of 20 (for example, 80, 120, 160)” (49 CFR 575.104(d)).
The testing is done on a specific roadway course about 400 miles long, run in convoys; the candidate tire’s projected mileage is corrected using course-monitoring tires driven in the same convoy (49 CFR 575.104(e)). The regulation does not apply to deep-tread winter-type snow tires, space-saver spares or tires with rim diameters of 12 inches or less (575.104(c)).
NHTSA’s summary: “A control tire is assigned a grade of 100. Other tires are compared to the control tire. For example, a tire grade of 200 should wear twice as long as the control tire” (NHTSA TireWise).
What it does not tell you
- It is not miles. The Tire Industry Association describes treadwear as a comparative figure that is “not a direct indicator of actual tread mileage” because of driving style, road conditions and maintenance (TIA, Tire Replacement). It also says treadwear is “comparable only to other tires within a tire manufacturer’s line” and cannot “be accurately used to compare the projected tread life of one brand against another” (TIA, Reading a Tire Sidewall).
- Same grade range, very different results. In Michelin’s own published test, four tires with UTQG grades between 700 and 840 had estimated lives from 47,700 to 94,400 miles. That is one maker’s test, so treat it as an illustration, not a ruling; details in Treadwear vs. warranty mileage.
- It says nothing about grip. Traction and temperature are separate grades.
What values are typical?
NHTSA publishes the split for “current tires”; next to it is the split across every record in the NHTSA database we downloaded (7,625 records with a treadwear grade, pulled 2026-10-25). They differ noticeably. Our file carries no “currently sold” flag, so it also includes older and discontinued lines; don’t read it as market share.
| Treadwear grade | NHTSA “current tires” | All records in the NHTSA file (our count) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 or below | 15% | 6.4% (491) |
| 201–300 | 25% | 19.9% (1,514) |
| 301–400 | 32% | 22.6% (1,726) |
| 401–500 | 20% | 30.3% (2,307) |
| 501–600 | 6% | 12.1% (926) |
| Above 600 | 2% | 8.7% (661) |
Sources: NHTSA TireWise page for the first column; counts computed from the NHTSA ratings API for the second.
Across 3,020 rated lines the median line grade is 420; 431 lines (14.3%) have a median at 600 or above. Browse them by band: Under 200 · 200–299 · 300–399 · 400–499 · 500–599 · 600–699 · 700–799 · 800 and up.
A data quirk: although the rule requires multiples of 20, 77 of 7,625 records in NHTSA’s file (1%) carry grades that aren’t (for example 30, 130 or 601). We show them as filed.
How to use it
- Compare lines from the same maker, where the grade is most meaningful.
- Across makers, use treadwear to shortlist, then look at each maker’s mileage warranty.
- Never trade away the size, load index or speed rating your vehicle specifies; see how to read a sidewall.
- Look up your size to see every graded line side by side: 225/65R17, 235/55R19, 215/65R16.
FAQ
Is a treadwear rating of 600 good?
It is a high grade. In the NHTSA file, 14.3% of rated lines have a median treadwear of 600 or more, and NHTSA says only about 2% of current tires are rated above 600. High means slow wear relative to the control tire on the government course, not a specific mileage.
Does a higher treadwear number mean the tires last longer?
Within one maker’s lineup, generally yes: a higher grade means a slower wear rate against the control tire. Across makers it is a poor predictor, because the Tire Industry Association says treadwear cannot be accurately used to compare tread life between brands.
What is the treadwear grade of the control tire?
The government control tire is assigned a grade of 100, and other tires are graded relative to it (NHTSA TireWise).
Who assigns UTQG treadwear grades?
The regulation requires tire and vehicle manufacturers and brand name owners to provide the grading information (49 CFR 575.104(a)); each grade is based on testing under the conditions in the regulation.
Look up real ratings
- 225/65R17 tires ranked by treadwear35 graded lines
- 235/55R19 tires ranked by treadwear32 graded lines
- 215/65R16 tires ranked by treadwear33 graded lines
- Michelin Defender 2Treadwear 840 median
Sources
- 49 CFR § 575.104 Uniform tire quality grading standards, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- TireWise: Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness, NHTSA. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Tire Replacement, Tire Industry Association. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Reading a Tire Sidewall, Tire Industry Association. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Michelin launches Defender 2 tire (press release, Sept. 14, 2022), Michelin North America. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
NHTSA ratings are from the dataset we publish. Maker statements are the makers’ own claims. We make no price claims. Found an error? See About & corrections.
Keep reading
- Treadwear rating vs. mileage warrantyTreadwear vs. mileage
- Tire traction and temperature grades explainedUTQG basics
- How to find the longest-lasting tires for your sizeChoosing