Tyre advice

[pinkpanther]

I've have 2 virtually as new Continental sportcontact 2's fitted to the front of my Octavia vRS, but the rear (? original) continental sport contact's are virtually worn out. Now the front pair are 205/50/17 93W and I can source 2 brand new 205/50/17 Sportcontact 2's at a great price, but they are 205/50/17 89V (ie lower load rating and lower speed rating). As I have no intention of driving around at 100 MPH+ will their be a problem having the 205/50/17 93W at the front and 205/50/17 89V at the rear ?

[Crasher]

You would have to ask your insurance company as they can get jumpy about things like that even when it is meaningless.

[Liverpool-Lad]

V rated means safe upto 149mph IIRC so can see no issues?

[Crasher]

As I said, meaningless but I had a customer many years ago who had a Golf 2 16v GTI and was involved in an accident at around 60mph, when he skidded off the road. He had fitted new tyres to the car that were H rated and the car was originally fitted with V rated tyres. The insurance company tried to pull his cover until I managed to prove to them it was immaterial and that H rated tyres actually would have gripped slightly better due to the softer compound, but it was a struggle.

[KenONeill]

As PP says, the V-rated tyres have a lower weight rating as well as the speed rating, and that almost certainly is a factor too. Personally I'd not do it without a good reason. Last time I was buying tyres, W-rated for my car were only about £2 a corner more than V-rated anyway.

[pinkpanther]

thanks for the advice guys. Guess I'd better start saving for some to match the front pair.