New car tyres

gilbert_and_sullivan

Baffled_and_confused wrote: »

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

I wouldn't worry to much about H or V rated tyres, it's just a speed rating. Most tyres rating will be fine for use on normal roads, you only really need a higher rated tyre if you plan to travel over 100 MPH or more which, of coarse, is illegal on UK roads.

Here's a list of the speed ratings for you

Speed RatingMiles/HourKilometers/HourN87140P93150Q99160R106170S112180T118190Speed RatingMiles/HourKilometers/HourU124200H130210V149240Z150+240+W168270Y186300

I disagree with you on this, if for example your car is specified with and comes with V rated tyres as standard and you change them for H rated tyres, you stand a good chance of having your insurance cover declined should you be involved in an accident.

I've watched an insurance assessor check my Golf mk1 out after it was written off, the first thing he checked was the tyres, and not just the tread.

It makes no difference that you may never reach even the speed of the lower rated you have chosen, the higher speed tyre is capable of travelling for longer at proportionately higher speeds before disintegrating.

I wouldn't under any circumstances put lower performance than specified tyres on any vehicle.

Baffled_and_confused

I know what your saying but I think we're have to agree to disagree on that then. I'd imagine the assessor may have been checking the size rather than the speed rating...

I, personally, can't see the difference if you fit a V rated tyre on a car with W's originally and I've been in the motor trade or 25 years and testing/assessing cars for 20 years. I think long as you use a good quality tyre then there shouldn't be a problem.

Wig

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Baffled_and_confused wrote: »

I disagree with you on this, if for example your car is specified with and comes with V rated tyres as standard and you change them for H rated tyres, you stand a good chance of having your insurance cover declined should you be involved in an accident.

I've watched an insurance assessor check my Golf mk1 out after it was written off, the first thing he checked was the tyres, and not just the tread.

It makes no difference that you may never reach even the speed of the lower rated you have chosen, the higher speed tyre is capable of travelling for longer at proportionately higher speeds before disintegrating.

I wouldn't under any circumstances put lower performance than specified tyres on any vehicle.

I'd like to know how they decide that a lower (but perfectly safe and legal) rated tyre contributed to or caused the accident thus giving them the legal authority to withdraw cover?

Wig

Baffled_and_confused wrote: »

I know what your saying but I think we're have to agree to disagree on that then. I'd imagine the assessor may have been checking the size rather than the speed rating...

And / or the tread.

TiTheRev

And going from H to V is only improving the rating not visa versa

gilbert_and_sullivan

This is what Kleber have to say on the subject, i can find other's if you wish

http://www.klebertyres.co.uk/KleberUK/front/index.jsp?codeRubrique=8032005184616&codePage=KLEBER_PAG_CONSEIL2&lang=EN

Wig

I don't see how a vehicle manufacturer can "plan" for a vehicle to be driven in excess of the British speed limits. Whilst in use on British public roads.

But having said that, none of what you quoted mentions the ability of an insurer to withdraw cover, if the condition of the tyres did not contribute to the accident.

According to you (in ref to the article), my car should be uninsured because I have Michelin on one side and Continental on the other side.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying you're wrong. There are certainly IMHO many wrongs in British/European law which allow for crazy ideas to be enforced. I'm just not convinced this is necessarily one of them.

TiTheRev

Exactly, all it says is that they need to be the same brand/rating/load capacity...?

gilbert_and_sullivan

I quote from Kleber's website on this subject, if you want to risk all by saving a few quid on H instead of V rated tyres so be it..
[[[
Note however that it is always possible to fit a tyre with a higher speed rating. Consequently, since 1st January 1995 there has been a European directive 92-23 with a supplement 3.4 to article R 59 of the Highway Code which states :
"the fitting of tyres marked with a speed category symbol or a load rating lower than the maximum capacities planned by the vehicle manufacturer on motor vehicles and their trailers covered by section II of the Highway Code is prohibited". ]]]

That says enough for me.

TiTheRev

...and i think you'll find agrees with what we're saying about putting lower speed rated tyres on your car. Higher isn't an issue