Does tire speed rating really matter?

One of the most important aspects of any tire is its speed rating. The wrong tires with a less-than-adequate speed rating for your vehicle can cause safety issues, including tire failure and a loss in fuel efficiency.

How important is it to match speed rating on tires?

Speed Ratings Refer to More Than Just Speed

Speed ratings make a difference not only in regards to speed, but in regards to ride comfort, wear and cornering ability. Typically, the higher the speed rating, the better the grip and stopping power, but the lower the tread life.

What happens if you exceed the speed rating of a tire?

What happens if you exceed your tire's speed rating? If you drive faster than the rated speed for your tires you are risking damage to the tires that could cause safety and performance problems down the road.

Can I use V rated tires instead of H?

A V-rated car requires a tire designed to operate to a maximum of 149 mph and can thus not be fitted with an H-rated tire. The speed rating system was developed to control the safe speeds at which tires must still perform as per the intended design.

Can I use lower speed rated tires?

Things to Consider about Speed Ratings

Downgrading the speed rating of your tires is not recommend. This may result in poor handling and unpredictable steering. However, if a better cornering response is what you want, installing a higher speed rated tire on your vehicle will work.

What Is A Tire Speed Rating?

What is the best tire speed rating?

As manufacturers developed bigger and better tires, it became necessary to regulate performance at standardized speeds to ensure safety. The "Limited V" category of 250 km/h (149 mph) was then created, and eventually the "Z" speed rating was added as the top speed rating.

Can I use ZR tires instead of R?

R indicates that the structure is RADIAL. So, VR indicates that the tyre has a RADIAL structure and a speed index equal to V. There is therefore no difference between a ZR or an R tyre with the same speed index.

How long are tires good for?

On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.

What does the V mean on tires?

V - Speed ratings are represented by letters ranging from A to Z. Each letter coincides to the maximum speed a tire can sustain under its recommended load capacity. For instance, V is equivalent to a maximum speed of 149 mph.

Does speed rating matter on winter tires?

The only time it's OK to downgrade your tire speed rating is with your winter tires, where a 'Q' rating is acceptable because you're going to be driving slower and in cooler temperatures.

Can I mix V and W rated tyres?

Mixing tyre speed ratings isn't recommended. If you are in a situation where you must mix tyre speed ratings (after an emergency puncture, for example) then make sure the lower-rated tyres are on the front axle to prevent turning more sharply than you intended (oversteering).

What are Z rated tires?

A “Z” rating can mean different things. While it nearly always means a high performance tire for high-performing sports cars, “Z” may actually appear in the middle of a tire's size information. When it does, it represents either a maximum speed of more than 149 mph (240 kph) or 186 mph (300 kph).

Can you put LT tires on P?

P-metric to LT is acceptable, but never replace original equipment LT tires with P-metric tires due to them having lower load capacity ratings at maximum air pressure. If you drive your truck heavily loaded or pull heavy trailer loads frequently, you should consider replacing your p-metric tire with an LT tire.

How often should you rotate your tires?

Namely, it's a best practice to rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. This is a rule of thumb, however, and you'll want to double-check with your vehicle's owner's manual for more specific information.

How long do factory tires last on a new car?

As a general rule, the original tires on a new vehicle or quality replacement tires should last up to 50,000 miles.

How long do 40000 mile tires last?

The straightforward answer is “it depends.” A normal set of tires should last for 60,000 to 75,000 miles, or about four to five years.

Are ZR tires run flat?

All ZRtyres locations carry a massive range of Run-flat tyres in stock for all popular makes and model of cars, as well as having the correct tyre fitting and balancing equipment to fit these specialist tyres correctly without damage.

Do I need ZR tires?

above 186 mph, a ZR must appear in the size designation, including a Y speed symbol in brackets. *For tires having a maximum speed capability above 149 mph, a ZR may appear in the size designation... above 186 mph, a ZR must appear in the size designation, including a Y speed symbol in brackets.

What's the difference between r17 and zr17?

What is the difference between R and ZR tyres ? ZR basically means the tyre is adapted for speeds above 149 mph. ZR tyres includes the speed ratings V(149mph), W(168mph) and Y(186mph). Before 1990, the manufacturers used "ZR" to mean high performance tyres before the ratings got refined with W, Y…

What is Load Range E?

Therefore load range simply tells how tough the tire is and the allowable PSI. For example, an “E” load range indicates that a tire is equivalent to a 10-ply construction tire. In realitly, this tire is not built with 10 plies, but rather one or two plies of equivalent strength.

What does XL mean on a tire?

XL (or Reinforced) tyres are 'extra load' tyres – they indicate that a tyre is reinforced to be able to withstand a higher load than other tyres of the same size.

What does LTX mean on tires?

The LTX of the LTX indicates that this all-season tire is designed for light trucks and SUVs. When purchasing tires, it's very important to know the exact dimensions necessary for your vehicle.

Will LT tires ride rough?

LT tires are built for heavy vehicles, so their stiffness can give your vehicle a harsh ride, and since they require higher tire pressure, they can throw off your vehicle's TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System, a safety feature that alerts you to improper pressure in your tires).

Are all LT tires 10-ply?

LT tires are usually 8-ply (Load Range D) or 10-ply (Load Range E). Passenger Tires usually have a 4-ply or 6-ply equivalent sidewall. The performance trade-off of this added weight is a harsher ride, less fuel efficiency, and less responsive handling.