Car Tyres

Paradigm

Just found this....

"Most car and van tyres used in the UK have both a load and speed rating after the tyre size, e.g. 195/65R15 is usually followed by 91V. This means the tyres can carry their rated load upto a maximum non-stop speed of 240 kph. When replacing tyres it is important to ensure the new tyres, even if a different size, have the same or a higher speed rating. However, in the UK, with a national speed limit of 70 mph, it is quite safe and not illegal to fit a tyre with a lower speed rating, provided you do not exceed this reduced rating."

Here http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyrspeed.html

bigjl

I have read before that your speed rating needs only comply with the use you put your car to, but the load rating is different, this has to be up to spec, as the car still exerts the same force through the tyres.

The bit you quoted was a direct cut n paste from Blackcircles and i think it was just to avoid any liability issues.

I personally never skimp on tyres and brakes, even fitting uprated pads and discs when the first ones wear out, the way I have always looked at it is that I need to spend some money on it as a component has worn out, so I might as well fit the best that I can afford, though if the car is about to be sold I just fit the cheapest good quality parts I can source.

I think I got that habit from my dad, he once took his car, that he was trading in the next month for it's MOT, it needed 4 tyres due to some sidewall cracking, probably not a fail point but garages in my home town are extra strict and you have to use them or drive 100 miles to the next one. The result was my dad told them to replace with like, in other words four brand new Michelin XZX's, as my dad didn't want to feel responsible for cheap tyres causing a crash with the new owner, he always replaced the tyres with the ones they came with from the factory, or the upgraded model if they where superseeded.

This may well explain my anal retention when it comes to tyres and brakes, though I don't just blindly follow manufacturers recommendation as sometimes they fit whatever gives them the best deal financially, rather than the best performance. An example would be the Bridgestones fitted to my previous Subarus, the ones on the WRX where fine but those fitted to the Legacy where downright lethal in the wet. Only discovered after I swapped to my original tyres when waiting to upgrade to newer aftermarket alloys, I went round a roundabout in the wet at a speed similiar to that which was fine with my Toyo Proxes, but the Bridgestones had no grip whatsoever and some poo came out of me.