Tyre Speed Rating Conundrum

AirCooledHeaven

Just looking to buy some new tyres and checking out my favourite tyre site www.blackcircles.com.

I can buy the correct H rated fitment for my car for £77 each, but they also sell the V rated version, same tyre, same size for £70 each. Now as V is a higher speed rating than H I assume I can fit these instead and save 14 quid ?

Am I missing something? Thanks

Lemonade_Pockets

See here, they are also pretty cheap for tyres

http://ssl.delti.com/mytires/Identifying.htm

vikingaero

What about the load rating?

AirCooledHeaven

vikingaero wrote: »

What about the load rating?

Load rating is the same on both the H rated and V rated...

almost_free_2

Hi

It would be perfectly safe to substitute the V rated tyre as it has a higher speed rating. Its likely however that the V rated tyre will not last as long as the H rated tyres you currently use. This will depend on the make etc though so the difference may be small. Higher speed rated tyres tend to be softer (more grippy, in the dry) compounds so scrub out a little faster. Hence the reason they are generally cheaper (as you'll be going back for more sooner!) It used to be the other way around however with the higher performance tyres costing more!!!

Hope that helps

photome

Agree with above on wear rates for higher spec (V) tyres. I have just had my Continental sport contacts 205/55/16 V replaced after 14500 miles on the front

xocbc

You will also find that if a manufacturer specifies V and you want H that many tyre fitting places will not fit them as they could be held liable if the tyre failed - in other words if Kwik-Fit for example fit a tyre that does not meet the manufacturers rating, and you have a load of heavy stuff in the back of the car and it blows out, Kwik-Fit could be in trouble.

Premier_2

xocbc wrote: »

You will also find that if a manufacturer specifies V and you want H that many tyre fitting places will not fit them as they could be held liable if the tyre failed - in other words if Kwik-Fit for example fit a tyre that does not meet the manufacturers rating, and you have a load of heavy stuff in the back of the car and it blows out, Kwik-Fit could be in trouble.

If a specific tyre centre doesn't wish to supply what you want, go elsewhere - there's lots of choice

There is no issue within the UK for a vehicle being driven legally.

Both H & V rated tyres are good for speeds upto 200kph+.
With a maximum UK speed limit of 70mph (112kph), either will be perfectly safe at any legal speed within the UK.

There is no legal requirement to keep to the original specified speed rating. As long as the item purchased is suitable for the declared intended purpose, then no product liability applies in this respect.

Do not confuse speed rating with load rating. It would be a violation of the construction & use regulations to fit tyres of a lower load rating than originally specified by the manufacturer.

jimbo_the_jetset

Premier wrote: »

There is no legal requirement to keep to the original specified speed rating. As long as the item purchased is suitable for the declared intended purpose, then no product liability applies in this respect.QUOTE]

It may however have insurance consequences and must not choose a speed rating based on the speed you drive. e.g. if you have a prang and the insurance company finds you have put on tyres that are a lower speed or load rating than as new then you could be up the swanny

AdrianHi

The load and speed ratings should be viewed as minimums.
As said there are consequences to going higher. For speed rating the wear rate could be different. For higher load ratings there is more rubber in the sidewall which can cause the ride to feel worse.

Friend of mine who owns one of the slower Porches fits the speed rating tyre for the faster cars as it improves grip and feel at legal speeds.