24
Oct
Differences in Tire Speed Ratings Explained speed ratings of tires and what speed ratings mean. Buying tires General information Tires Buying Guide.
Contrary to the name speed ratings arent just about speed.
Tire speed ratings explained. Definition of Tire Speed Ratings. A tires speed rating is an indication expressed as a letter code on the tire sidewall of a speed the manufacturer expects the tire to be able to sustain over a long period of time without coming apartThis is good information to have for a number of reasons some of which actually include the likelihood of you ever being able to sustain even the lowest of. A tires speed rating indicates the optimal speed that the tire can safely maintain over time.
In short its the fastest speed a tire can handle before it no longer performs as designed. The higher the speed rating the better control and handling youll have at higher speeds. Differences in Tire Speed Ratings Explained speed ratings of tires and what speed ratings mean.
While you likely will never encounter speeds beyond that of your tires capabilities its important to understand everything else a speed rating can tell you when making your purchase decision. Keep in mind that tires receive their speed. An H speed rating indicates the tire is approved for speeds up to 130 mph 210 kmh under optimal conditions.
An H speed rating is at the low end or at the start of the performance tire speed ratings. H speed rated tires are ideal for sport and luxury coupes and sedans but not typically considered full-fledged performance vehicles. The speed rating of a tire indicates the speed category or range of speeds at which the tire can carry a load under specified service conditions.
The speed rating system used today was developed in Europe in response to the need to control the safe performance of tires at standardized speeds. Once the highest speed rating a tire could have V used to represent a maximum of 149 mph 240 kph or more. Nowadays it means 149 mph but no higher.
A relatively new addition to the speed rating chart tires with speed rating W can achieve a maximum sustained speed of 168 mph 270 kph. The tire speed rating is the maximum speed tires can safely carry a load the original weight of your vehicle plus whatevers in it for a sustained amount of time in ideal conditions. The rating is molded on the tire sidewall signified by a letter or two usually after the load index number.
Together the load index and speed rating form. As manufacturers continue to add speed to their vehicles tire speed ratings evolve to match the speeds. For example Z was the highest rated speed at 149 until W Y were used to match the higher speeds of exotic sports cars.
SPEED RATINGS REFER TO MORE THAN JUST SPEED. Contrary to the name speed ratings arent just about speed. Using a P19560R15 87S tire size as our example the 87S at the end of the size represents the tires service description.
A service description identifies the tires load index and speed rating. Service descriptions are required on all speed rated except for Z-speed rated tires manufactured. Prior to 1991 tire speed ratings were shown inside the tire size before the R construction type.
The available codes were SR 180 kmh 112 mph HR 210 kmh 130 mph VR in excess of 210 kmh 130 mph. Tires with a speed rating higher than 300 kmh 186 mph are indicated by a Y in parentheses. W- and Y-speed ratings are subcategories of the Z-speed rating.
Per the TRA 2007 yearbook for tires having a maximum speed capability above 240 kmh 149 mph a ZR may appear in the size designation. Buying tires General information Tires Buying Guide. Speed Rating Explained 26082017 A speed rating is a letter or a combination of a letter and a number which implies to what extent the tire successfully dissipates heat.
The speed rating is a measurement of the speed at which the tire is designed to run for extended periods. An H speed rating signifies that this tire can be run safely at speeds of up to 130 mph. With an S tire the lowest rated in common use motorists should be able to go 112 mph safely-or at least be confident that the tire will not fail at that speed.
A T rating certifies the tire to. As a general rule tires with higher speed ratings also handle better at slower speeds. Department of Transportation DOT set the ratings scale shown below.
But tire makers test their own tires and assign their own speed ratings. On the sidewall of every tire youll find one of these speed rating codes. M Up to 81 mph.
N Up. And the tires rated load capacities are customized when speeds exceed 160 kmh 99 mph for all tires up to and including a V-speed rating and when speeds exceed 190 kmh 118 mph for all tires that are Z-speed rated and above. The Autobahns unlimited speed opportunities explain why many.
Trailer Tire Speed Ratings Load Capacity 65mph. Unlike automotive tires all ST tires are tested and rated at by the DOT at 65MPH. This 65MPH test allows the tire to qualify as a high speed tire.
Every ST Trailer Tire you see on the highway goes through this exact same test regardless of tire size or manufacturer. The advertised load. Generally speaking touring tires with lower speed rating S T or H ratings on the sidewall are optimized for more comfort instead of more speed its recommended to never go below the speed rating specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle.
Also avoid aggressive tread designs they may look cool but can generate lots of road noise.