Query / Advice re: new tyre on Vauxhall Astra

charliedog000

Hi

Was hoping somebody might be able to advise me please.

I drive a Vauxhall Astra and it needs a new front tyre (driver's side)

On both rear tyres I have 215/50/R17 91W

However, on the front tyres I have 215/50/R17 91V

I know that the "V" and "W" relate to "Speed", but I'd have expected all four tyres to be uniform? As it's a new front tyre I need to get do you think I should now buy a 91W (to make it 3 the same and then get another W later on the front) or should I repalce like for like and buy a 91V on the front?

Not at all sure how important it is, hence asking for advice

Many Thanks

Charlie

arcon5

Personally i'd go for the cheapest

jbainbridge

Unless you plan to drive at 170mph ... Get the cheapest.

Stooby2

It doesn't matter if the tyre sppeds differ, so long as they are able to cope with the speeds the vehicle is capable of. According to the website below, V and W are for 149mph and 168mph respectively, so I'm guessing you're probably going to be ok!

http://www.ctyres.co.uk/tyre_info/Speed_ratings.html

AdrianC

"The cheapest" tyres are usually not only positively dangerous, but a false economy as they rarely last very long at all.

Out of this selection...
http://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s305p0
I'd probably go for the £83 Uniroyals. If the £75 Avons weren't XL rated, I'd go for those, but the extra load rating may make the ride harsher.

But I wouldn't worry too much about the difference between V (149mph) and W (168mph) speed rating. The car handbook will give a minimum acceptable rating, possibly H (130mph), possibly V.

marlot

charliedog000 wrote: »

I know that the "V" and "W" relate to "Speed", but I'd have expected all four tyres to be uniform?

There is slightly more to it than speed (though speed is the major factor)

The best advice is to look for the minimum speed rating that is allowed in the handbook. It may even be 'H'.

As long as the tyre is rated at the handbook rating or higher you will be fine.

Strider590

Hold on, I think your supposed to fit the same rating on the same axle.
The higher speed rating has a more reinforced sidewall, which improves handling at low speed and prevents the tyre collapsing in on itself in high speed corners.

If you have different ratings the car is going to drive like a bag of spanners......

My latest tyres (Falcon ze914 215, 55 R16) cost me 84 each regardless if speed rating.

Rodney_Trotter

Strider590 wrote: »

Hold on, I think your supposed to fit the same rating on the same axle.
The higher speed rating has a more reinforced sidewall, which improves handling at low speed and prevents the tyre collapsing in on itself in high speed corners.

If you have different ratings the car is going to drive like a bag of spanners......

My latest tyres (Falcon ze914 215, 55 R16) cost me 84 each regardless if speed rating.

I doubt even you would notice.

sinbad182

Lets be honest here - unless you're doing thousands of motorway miles a year and/or are a racing driver, you could stick the cheapest available tyre (from a reputable source) on your Astra and wouldnt notice the blindest difference.

AdrianC

sinbad182 wrote: »

Lets be honest here - unless you're doing thousands of motorway miles a year and/or are a racing driver, you could stick the cheapest available tyre (from a reputable source) on your Astra and wouldnt notice the blindest difference.

...until somebody steps out in front of you, and then you find that it just locks up...

There are some truly, truly horrible "budget" tyres out there - I've lobbed quite a few new and near-new off cars I've bought, transforming the way they drive.

As for "reputable source" - you ought to see the Chinese telfon/concrete rubbish (mismatched front/rear) that the main dealer put on my mother's car at service. When they said "new tyres" to her, she assumed they'd be the same brand as OEM. Uh-uh.

Rodney_Trotter

AdrianC wrote: »

...until somebody steps out in front of you, and then you find that it just locks up...

There are some truly, truly horrible "budget" tyres out there - I've lobbed quite a few new and near-new off cars I've bought, transforming the way they drive.

As for "reputable source" - you ought to see the Chinese telfon/concrete rubbish (mismatched front/rear) that the main dealer put on my mother's car at service. When they said "new tyres" to her, she assumed they'd be the same brand as OEM. Uh-uh.

I don't think the OP was ever about buying the cheapest budget tyre on the market.


Would a speed rating make a difference to braking as speeds a pedestrian can be likely expected to step out or are you patronising people asking for advice again?

charliedog000 wrote: »

Hi

Was hoping somebody might be able to advise me please.

I drive a Vauxhall Astra and it needs a new front tyre (driver's side)

On both rear tyres I have 215/50/R17 91W

However, on the front tyres I have 215/50/R17 91V

I know that the "V" and "W" relate to "Speed", but I'd have expected all four tyres to be uniform? As it's a new front tyre I need to get do you think I should now buy a 91W (to make it 3 the same and then get another W later on the front) or should I repalce like for like and buy a 91V on the front?

Not at all sure how important it is, hence asking for advice

Many Thanks

Charlie

Looks like they were asking about speed rating.

arcon5 wrote: »

Personally i'd go for the cheapest

arcon didn't consider there was any difference in the rating of the two on that particular vehicle and was referring to the cheapest between "V" and "W" ratings.


Or have I got it wrong?