Accrington Web - Tyre Speed Rating

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lancsdave

01-08-2008 15:50

Tyre Speed Rating

As one of those rare blokes who's idea of a car is to get from A to B and has no interest in the mechanics of them, can somebody explain the tyre speed implications to me.

I beleive if you have the wrong tyre speed rating it could invalidate the insurance. Who decides on what the tyre speed rating is, is it the manufacturer ?

also what are the safety issues regarding tyre speed ratings ?

***Mr D***

01-08-2008 17:04

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

If its a standard car (Ie none performance) I wouldnt worry about it.

Its really for cars that can hit high speeds.

Even saying that unless you fit your tyres yourself or buy second hand ones the garage will fit the correct tyre for your car, speed rating, ofset, profile ect.

As for invalidating insurance. No, however having none disclosed unstandard wheels could cause headaches.

lancsdave

01-08-2008 17:29

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by ***Mr D*** (Post 613690)

Even saying that unless you fit your tyres yourself or buy second hand ones the garage will fit the correct tyre for your car, speed rating, ofset, profile ect.

I would normally leave it up to them and they tell me what prices they are.

However I noticed that National Tyre have a special BOGOFF offer on certain tyres. Apparently the standard tyre for my car is a 195x65x15 V/88. The nearest one on the special offer is a 195/65/15 T/91. It was the bloke at NT who said it 'could' invalidate your insurance but I wasn't sure how serious he was.

If I'm getting a better tyre for my money should I go with the T/91 ?

K.S.H

01-08-2008 19:17

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

It can invalidate your insurance if you put a lower speed rating on the vehicle, you can go up but you can't go down IE your is a V, you can use a W but not a T
HERES a guide for the ratings

lancsdave

01-08-2008 20:29

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

It's all very odd. On the tyre sites where you put the car reg in and it tells you what tyres are suitable it tells me I need a 195/65/15 V/88

I've just dug out the handbook and according to the engine type I have the tyres applicable are as above but with T, H, Q, M&S ratings. The V rating only applies to the 205 tyre not the 195 :confused:

Bonnyboy

01-08-2008 20:40

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Have a look at this chart dave, the speed rating is just what it says "the maximum speed for which the tyre is intended"

I would imagine the T rated tyres will be just fine...how fast dya wanna drive

Speed Ratings

lancsdave

01-08-2008 20:52

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy (Post 613771)

how fast dya wanna drive

There's a big diference between how fast I want to drive and how fast I can legally drive :D

Looks to me like the T's will be fine, thanks to all for the advice :)

K.S.H

01-08-2008 21:23

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonnyboy (Post 613771)

how fast dya wanna drive

Speed Ratings

Thats not the case, there designed for the speed the car is capable of doing, if I only did 60mph max could I put some 125/55/12's on a 735I BMW, they'd be good for 60 MPH;)
I'm not sure if it's illegal or not but insurance company's will do ANYTHING to get out of paying up, and if you have tyres on that are below the manufacturers spec they won't pay out.
Has the car got 205's on now Dave? looks like someone has upgraded them at some time

lancsdave

01-08-2008 22:09

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by K.S.H (Post 613792)

It's got 195's on. They are 91 H :cool:

entwisi

02-08-2008 08:15

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Posted via Mobile Device

It also matters how powerful your car is. I would never recommend going down a speed rating. As for insurance, yes they would probably use it as an excuse if you wrote it off.

You could try the bloke at baxenden who has the car wash place. He has done tyres for a few years now and he matches the cheapest i can get mine for. I pay less than 50 quid a corner fitted and balancced for 205/55/V16's(nankang NS2s which are superb tyres, i am about to put my 3rd set on the volvo, )

wadey

02-08-2008 10:43

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

As the National speed limit is 70mph it all seems a bit daft and any fitter at one of the big chains is trained to mutter "invalidate your insurance" prior to selling you something more expensive. Their offers also need looking at 'cos many will then add new valves, balancing etc.

entwisi

02-08-2008 10:55

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Posted via Mobile Device

Which shows how little you know.do you really believe a 1 litre saxo stresses its tyres the same as a BMW M5? There is more to tyre construction then just chucking a bit of rubber on a steel carcass. Considering the fact that 4 small patches of rubber are all that keep you from spinning off or running into the back of that artic and that the vehicle manufacturer spent millions developing the car and all its constituent parts i'll trust their judgement over saving £2.5.

lancsdave

02-08-2008 11:05

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi (Post 613877)

The thing I don't understand is where they get the speed rating from. As I said above the manufacturers handbook doesn't actually apply the V rating to the 195 tyres, only the 205 tyres. Yet the tyre sites come up with the V rating :confused:

entwisi

02-08-2008 11:13

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Posted via Mobile Device

They will base it on a combination of weight, power, expected top speed, hardness of suspension, size of tyre etc. How much are these BOGOF tyres? Try comparing the prices on blackcircles.com to see if its a 'real' offer or just a marketing ploy.

lancsdave

02-08-2008 11:21

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi (Post 613936)

Who is making that calculation, the tyre manufacturers or the car manufacturers :confused:

As the bogof offer is from a national tyre retailer of course there prices are inflated to begin with :), but if I get the offer it will cost me £188 fully fitted, if I order the same ones through blackcircles fully fitted the price is £233, so it's still saving £45.

lancsdave

02-08-2008 12:15

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Well after a slightly heated discussion at the tyre place it seems that the manufacturers handbook is irrelevant. It's whatever the DVLA have on their system that dictates what the insurance companies look at.

Neil	02-08-2008 13:05

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 613940)

Who is making that calculation, the tyre manufacturers or the car manufacturers :confused:

Both of them.

The car manufacturer desides what tyre type speed and load rating the car needs.

The tyre manufacturer designs the tyres to have a certain load and speed rating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave (Post 613956)

I disagree with that. The car manufacturer says what is safe after all the type approval testing they have to do. If in doubt phone your car manufacturer and ask them what are the correct tyres.

I had a heated discussion when my employer, Michelin Tyre Plc at that time, fitted the wrong speed/load rated tyres to my car. I got a letter from Rover stating what they should be. They replaced them straight away ;)

This is a better explanation of load/speed rating on tyres. Both are important

lancsdave

02-08-2008 13:48

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 613970)

Both of them.

The car manufacturer desides what tyre type speed and load rating the car needs.

The tyre manufacturer designs the tyres to have a certain load and speed rating.

I disagree with that. The car manufacturer says what is safe after all the type approval testing they have to do. If in doubt phone your car manufacturer and ask them what are the correct tyres.

I had a heated discussion when my employer, Michelin Tyre Plc at that time, fitted the wrong speed/load rated tyres to my car. I got a letter from Rover stating what they should be. They replaced them straight away ;)

This is a better explanation of load/speed rating on tyres. Both are important

The bloke at the garage says it's Vauxhall ( in my case ) that notify the DVLA of the tyre rating and to take it up with them. I will be mailing them and askng them the question.

For now I have opted for the comfort zone and put V ones on. I couldn't wait any longer or it might have cost me more in fines and penalty points :D

K.S.H

02-08-2008 20:48

Re: Tyre Speed Rating

Should have mentioned this earlier, when you buy "cheap" tyres make sure you aren't being sold old stock, theres a 4 digit DOT code on the tyre which is something like 3108 which means it was made on the 31st week of 2008, if it hasn't got this on I wouldn't be buying it as its been made pre 2000

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