Front and rear tyres - same speed rating needed?

james_joyce

Hi

I need to get some new front tyres on my car.

At present all 4 tyres are 'V' rating, but H would be cheaper and fine for me as I don't intend to drive that fast. Also my current tyres are budget ones and I plan to get a premium brand for the fronts.

Is it safe to have V rated tyres at the rear and H rated at the front? Or are they all supposed to be the same?

Thanks

PS: Sorry for multiple threads! Perhaps someone can delete the extra ones?

mchale

Do you realise tyres with incorrect speed rating for your model of car will invalidate your insurance

vaio

That should be “could invalidate your insurance if the incorrect rated tyres contributed to an accident”

OP tyre rating is not just speed related, it's also to do with the acceleration, braking & sideways forces the car can develop.

Frankly I'd stick to what ever the manufacturers recommend

.

Kilty_2

vaio wrote: »

could invalidate your insurance if the incorrect rated tyres contributed to an accident

So providing you don't have an accident in excess of 130 MPH it's fine?

EDIT - just saw the 2nd half of your post - fair enough.

OP - check what rating is actually specified for your car, it might have V rated because they were the cheapest at the time yet are beyond the spec required.

james_joyce

Thanks for the replies. I will check the manual and the current tyres and make sure I get the right ones (which will presumably be V as that is what I already have).

It's a bit scary that someone can just buy tyres online without the safety/insurance issue being clearly flagged up. Hopefully the fitting garages will be the last line of defence on this.

neilmcl

james_joyce wrote: »

Hopefully the fitting garages will be the last line of defence on this.

TBH, most wouldn't care less and will fit whatever you want them to, providing they fit the wheel that is.

mchale

vaio wrote: »

That should be “could invalidate your insurance if the incorrect rated tyres contributed to an accident”

OP tyre rating is not just speed related, it's also to do with the acceleration, braking & sideways forces the car can develop.

Frankly I'd stick to what ever the manufacturers recommend

.

I think you will find if car is in a accident, insurance company do not have to pay out if incorrect tyres are fitted whether or not the tyres caused the accident

also could you get done by the police for incorrect tyres for model of car???????????????????

vaio

mchale wrote: »

I think you will find if car is in a accident, insurance company do not have to pay out if incorrect tyres are fitted whether or not the tyres caused the accident

also could you get done by the police for incorrect tyres for model of car???????????????????

don't suppose you have any evidence for these assertions?

Rolandtheroadie

mchale wrote: »

I think you will find if car is in a accident, insurance company do not have to pay out if incorrect tyres are fitted whether or not the tyres caused the accident

also could you get done by the police for incorrect tyres for model of car???????????????????

How can you buy aftermarket alloys then? Say you put a set of 17 inch alloys on a car meant to have 16 inch steel wheels?
Obviously you would declare this to your insurer, but they could still decline a payout? And the police could do you as well?

AdrianHi

Best stick with the recommended speed rating even if your not going to do the maximum speeds rated for the tyre. It is general grip for the power level of the car that is part of the issue and you *might* have problems with insurers if your not using the right tyres for the wheels and car.

mchale

vaio wrote: »

don't suppose you have any evidence for these assertions?

http://www.midlandslotus.co.uk/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t3546.html

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/showthread.php?t=37456

could only find these 2 after 2 minutes on google, 3 post down 1st one, but i am sure the are more about