Speed rating on tyres

[spc]

I went to replace a couple of tyres yesterday. The front and rear pairs were of different makes and different stages of wear – hence replacing just two of them. I had a good look at the tyres on the car, 195/65/15 sitting on non-Skoda alloys that were on the car when I bought it. I had seen that the speed rating on a couple of the tyres was ‘H’ so asked for 195/65/15 ‘H’ rated tyres to be fitted.

As the guy was fitting the new tyres he noted that the speed rating on the tyre he was removing was ‘V’. He suggested we should check the handbook and see what the correct rating was. Here’s the catch, my car was registered in Sept ’99, I believe I have all the original documentation but nowhere in the handbook or the technical data book is there a list of tyre/wheel sizes with speed ratings.

Eventually having looked at the spare, a steel wheel with an unused tyre, we concluded that the spare was probably original, it carried a ‘V’ speed rating. I decided to replace with the higher ‘V’ rating as this was the safer (though more expensive) option.

A quick look around the Skoda website did not provide any information, though this would not have been retrospective anyway. Anyone else noticed this lack of information?

Oh! and reference other tyre postings recently, I couldn’t bring myself to put the new tyres on the rear. And in fact this issue is covered by the handbook which states new tyres to the front! Confusing eh !

Paul

[robmawer]

I haven't had to change my tyres yet, so I haven't come across
this lack of information. However, I'd imagine that the speed
ratings are not cast in stone, and to a certain extent it comes
down to individual driving style. With either an 'H' or 'V' you're
rated at speeds out of the range of the 1.6 anyway, so you
would probably have been alright with the cheaper ones

I'm not sure if my tyres will be a different size as mine are on
steel rims, but I'll have a look for the speed rating if it's not too
dark tonight.

And I'm still convinced the real danger with putting a pair
of new tyres on is the difference in tread depth when in the wet -
with the new ones on the front the difference is going to
reduce quicker, and if this weather holds up you shouldn't
have a problem!


Rob.

[spc]

Rob

I must amdit I had always thought that the manufacturers speed ratings were set in stone. The point made to me by the fitter is that the handbook should contain a specific recomendation for speed rating and that should the owner elect to ignore this rating (by using a lower rated tyre) then the vehicle falls short of the manufacturers spec. In the (hopefully) unlikely event of an accident this non-compliace with spec. may give an insurer grounds to opt out of their coverage. The tyre spec. section of my tech-data handbook is surprisingly unhelpful. I have handbooks from previous car, many VW's, which give far more detail. I may well be overequipped now but given the mileage I'm covering I'll live with that.

Paul

[robmawer]

I always thought that so long as you had a tyre which was
rated above the maximum speed capability of the car then the
insurance company would have no grounds for refusal (at least
from blaming the tyres). I suppose this is essentially the same
as the manufacturers specifying a rating, or at least a minimum.

Isn't most of the tyre data (well, the pressures at least), on
the inside of the fuel cap cover? The ratings might be there.

And I'd agree it's definitely better to be over-equipped with
tyres. You might also want to check your wheel nuts are
tight enough if you went to a certain establishment whose
name implies speedy work...

Also, on Mytyres if you go
to advice then you can get a list of tyre sizes and speed ratings
for a wide range of models of cars. It shows that for the
Octavia Estate 1.6 the 195/65R15 speed rating is either H or T...

Rob.

[DGW]

Paul

The 2002 Owner's Manual contains the following list of speed ratings for tyres:

Q - max 160 km/h (100 mph)
R - max 170 km/h (105 mph)
S - max 180 km/h (113 mph)
T - max 190 km/h (118 mph)
H - max 210 km/h (130 mph)
V - max 240 km/h (150 mph)

It doesn't list:

W - max 270 km/h (168 mph)
Z - max 240+ km/h (150+ mph)

For interest, the Wheel & Tyre Bible has this to say about tyre speed ratings:

All tyres are rated with a speed letter. This indicates the maximum speed that the tyre can sustain for a ten minute endurance without coming to pieces and destroying itself, your car, the car next to you and anyone else within a suitable radius at the time.

My 2002 4x4 Estate came equipped with 205/55R16 91W tyres from new. That provides a healthy safety margin for the car's 131 mph top speed. Apart from the speed rating, another important consideration is the maximum load capacity of the tyre at maximum speed. The figure 91 indicates a max load capacity of 615 kg for the tyre (or 1230 kg a pair), which is more than adequate to cope with a permissible rear axle weight of 1070kg.

The use of V rated tyres of a 1.6SLXi may be a case of overkill but it does provide a similarly wide margin for safety.

[spc]

Denis

Thanks for the information from your 2002 owners manual, much appreciated. Would you say, from the way the speed information is presented, that it leaves the choice with the owner?

I've just run outside to check and my new tyres are 91V so I'm definitely on that right side for speed and weight. Given the rather fundamental role the tyres play in the dynamics of the car this is one area where over engineering is most welcome. Back in college days I have fond memories of cross-ply remoulds because they were cheap, but middle age and a car full of one's own family (my crown jewels) put a different complexion on this matter.

I notice your 'posting history' shows 998 posts! Are you planning anything special for your 1000th post? I for one would be pleased to hear another one of your aviation stories

Paul

[DGW]

Paul

I think you are right about owners and choice of speed ratings. Whilst H rated tyres would be perfectly legal on a 130 mph car, I would look for a greater safety margin every time. Mind you, when I was a lot younger, I had no compunction about driving my 1952 Mercedes 300 - which weighed 2 1/2 tons - flat out at 96 mph on retreaded tyres. Those were the days....

Re my 1000th birthday ( ), my posts include around 166 posts of dealers in the reviews section which should really be subtracted to be fair. (And I know there are some out there who would probably say the whole lot of my posts should be discounted...........and definitely those in which I don't say something kind about the vRS and/or vRS owners....(Looks as if I will never make 1000.)) .

[Kentish]

My Octy GLX TDI (98) has 195/65/15 tyres rated at 91V. When I had the front 2 replaced because they were low, the tyre place would only fit the correct rated tyre or I meant nothing lower than. Personally I have no problem with this as you only have 4 patches of rubber 4 inches across in contact with the road at any 1 time. Surely if a manufacturer designs something with a certain standard is it right to under cut it?

Anyway. that just my thoughts

Cheers

[ekaradimos]

I owe a fabia comfort 1400 16valve 101 HP. The max speed rated by the manufacturer is 185 km/h. My car's tyres are 185/60/R14 and the speed rating is T (max speed 190 km/h). Too many times I have reached max speed and maintained it for about 20 minutes. It didn't have any impact on the tyres. They are ok now!

[lfc958]

just looked at my Furby vRS tyres, have Michelin pilot primacy with a W rating.

Are these std ?

At least there is a bit of leaway

[mannyo]

Just reading what I thought was a new interesting thread till I got to the bit about Denis and 998 posts, realising he is past 6000 checked the date, and Doh. 2003.

I have 225/45 ZR 17 Michelin Pilot Sports on my octy vRS.

[TaviaRS]

I have 205/55 ZR 16 P Zero Neros on mine

[DGW]

Samer tyre on mine as a year ago and just about the same amount of tread too.

[redbaron]

my tyres say not for road use.. but then as the top speed of my vehicle is 4mph as it has the new "tetley" sump and prototype NA induction system then this is ideal.

[mellowyellow]

Originally Posted by ffelan

my tyres say not for road use.. but then as the top speed of my vehicle is 4mph as it has the new "tetley" sump and prototype NA induction system then this is ideal.

Problems then Paul ?

[TaviaRS]

Yeah, his chauffeur decided that it would be a good idea to redesign the sump for the new streamlined, low drag option. Plus it saves 4.5kg (mainly when all the oil falls out) of dead weight!

[vrs jonno]

just checked my tyres also michelin pilots w rating. took delivery on fri 27 june. now clocked 1200 miles, so better check oil. ps more fun than my 03 octy vrs.