Spyderman
New Member
No, on my Espace they're Z rated, on the Landy H rated.
No, on my Espace they're Z rated, on the Landy H rated.
Why does anyone worry about speed ratings on tyres when there is a SEVENTY miles an hour maximum national speed limit?
I mean, why pay silly money for tyres rated to 200 mph?
CharlesY
kernowdragon
Well-Known Member
It's not just about out and out speed, but handling the power and torque too, particularly through the sidewalls, although the tread also matters quite a bit too as the action of rolling a tyre creates a standing wave in the tyre just in front of the contact patch, which in turn creates heat. Limiting and handling this heat is also a major part of increased speed rated tyres. This is particularly relevant to 4x4's if you want to run at lower pressures for traction as it increases the flex in the tyre and therefore the heat.
Found a piccy to show what I mean.....
Found a piccy to show what I mean.....
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Yeah yeah .... been people telling me that stuff for fifty years!
I will tell you what it's about - POSING MUGS DRIVERS and tyre firms making extra profits from them!
One day I could tell you a story about Goodyear Vector tyres on my 150+ mph SAAB 900 Aero Turbo SE, which I still have. The tyres are still on it. I took OFF the the high-speed rated low profile wide Michelin tyres because they were USELESS on wet corners at ordinary speeds. I gave them away to a poser, who later crashed because he went too fast in the wet. I fitted 4 Goodyear Vector 195/65R15 tyres, the best road tyres I have ever driven on in 50 years, wet or dry.
But the tyre people REFUSED TO FIT THEM because they said that car needed high speed rated tyres! What crap! They were happy to sell me the tyre though. I made them discount the deal for not fitting them. The tyres went in the back of the car and I fitted them myself. It isn't as if it's difficult.
CharlesY
I will tell you what it's about - POSING MUGS DRIVERS and tyre firms making extra profits from them!
One day I could tell you a story about Goodyear Vector tyres on my 150+ mph SAAB 900 Aero Turbo SE, which I still have. The tyres are still on it. I took OFF the the high-speed rated low profile wide Michelin tyres because they were USELESS on wet corners at ordinary speeds. I gave them away to a poser, who later crashed because he went too fast in the wet. I fitted 4 Goodyear Vector 195/65R15 tyres, the best road tyres I have ever driven on in 50 years, wet or dry.
But the tyre people REFUSED TO FIT THEM because they said that car needed high speed rated tyres! What crap! They were happy to sell me the tyre though. I made them discount the deal for not fitting them. The tyres went in the back of the car and I fitted them myself. It isn't as if it's difficult.
CharlesY
tacr2man
Well-Known Member
Charles, you make very good points, however if you had a incident with your saab and the tyre fitment was noted then you would find your ins co giving themselves a big discount handling your claim.
I dont know whether you all realised that tyre manufacturers reduced the tread depth of new car tyres a little while back ?
I dont know whether you all realised that tyre manufacturers reduced the tread depth of new car tyres a little while back ?
That bit about insurance companies is just nonsense.
If an insurance company tried a silly stunt like that they would have to prove in court WHY my tyres aren't suitable. They would lose that fight in Round One.
The vehicle makers usually RECOMMEND certain tyres and sizes.
Now look up what "recommend" means. It means they are SUGGESTING certain tyres and sizes, for people who can't choose for themselves what is best for themselves. They are not REQUIRING particular tyres and sizes to the exclusion of all others. They could not possibly do that because they would then bear liability for any accident and claim that might in any way be blamed on those tyres.
Vehicle makers also recommend certain OIL makes. Do you know why? It's because some big oil companies PAY the car makers to mention their oils. It has nothing to do with those oils being better, and if you check the list you'll probably find the recommended oils are the dearest - which is at least partly because they are having to carry the costs of advertising and paying big bucks to car makers to mention their oils!
Think about all these things, and try to see the reasons behind them. If you are enough of a cynic you'll see most of the tricks, and all of those tricks are tricks to get hold of more of YOUR MONEY!
CharlesY
snap- good tyres.
Yes, but tyres like these do bring a problem with them, a problem called "temptation".
They tempt you to go looking for deeper snow, and if you can get through that, to seek even deeper snow, and so on ...
Eventually it is bound to end in tears, being stuck in a three foot drift.
But hey! Doesn't that sound like fun ! ?
CharlesY
Spyderman
New Member
My Espace needs XL (extra load) rated tyres, it's a 3.0L V6 Diesel Auto, so pretty heavy on the front wheels. I found by reading the reviews the tyres that gave the best performance for the price on snowy roads. I don't need Z rating, W or V would be fine, but they just happened to be that rating. 4 people in a Espace, luggage and ski top box, driving to the Alps, where the speed limit is 130kph, stopping only for diesel, I'm not going to compromise on tyre quality, especially when I've then got to climb half way up the side of a mountain.
Thats not a small car anyway(thats why ya buy em innit?!) with old school chassis and nice big seats etc. On any motor the area of contact with the ground is never much more than 1/2 m squared.Tires n brakes never get the pikey treatment off me-most other things do!
Mseries3
Well-Known Member
I am liking the look of these! - mytyres.co.uk - Details: General Super All Grip Radial 7.50 R16 112/110N BSW
Never seen em anywhere else though?
Never seen em anywhere else though?
tacr2man
Well-Known Member
CharlesY , I assure you that I am not talking "nonsense" , If it says on the type approval, tyre placard etc, that your vehicle shall be fitted with a tyre of a certain speed rating, and you fit a lower rated tyre , and you are then involved in an accident, in which the tyres were a factor eg skidded, loss of control etc, then the ins co are quite likely to reject your part of the claim , they cannot avoid a 3rd party responsibilty. Further more you would be at risk of a charge of unroadworthy vehicle . This is just advice, that I am qualified to give , if your opinion is different , that is your right , lets hope that it never has to be proven
nathan5346
Well-Known Member
i wouldnt have thort ins co's wud be interested in speed rating even in an accident.... 70mph is the limit if you going over that your breaking the law regardless of any fact you may be on underated tyres for doing over 70CharlesY , I assure you that I am not talking "nonsense" , If it says on the type approval, tyre placard etc, that your vehicle shall be fitted with a tyre of a certain speed rating, and you fit a lower rated tyre , and you are then involved in an accident, in which the tyres were a factor eg skidded, loss of control etc, then the ins co are quite likely to reject your part of the claim , they cannot avoid a 3rd party responsibilty. Further more you would be at risk of a charge of unroadworthy vehicle . This is just advice, that I am qualified to give , if your opinion is different , that is your right , lets hope that it never has to be proven
reeves_luke
New Member
that is crap because the insurance companies insure standerd cars which is what ever size tyres and speed rating the car came with from the factory. Unless you call them and tell them you have modifid the car.
this is the case weather you make your tyres smaller or in fact bigger with a higher speed rating. So if you really dont want to take advice from the makers of the veh which have spent millions on reaseach into the best parts for your car then dont, but make sure you tell your insurance company because otherwise you are not insured.
Spyderman
New Member
A tyre's speed rating isn't just to do with how fast it can run, it's what loading it can withstand in cornering, heat dissipation and braking loads too.
Insurance would be invalid if speed rating wasn't at least that supplied originally by the manufacturer. Any change of wheels/tyre sizes is notifiable as a modification to the insurance company. Any excuse for them not to pay out, they'll use.
Insurance would be invalid if speed rating wasn't at least that supplied originally by the manufacturer. Any change of wheels/tyre sizes is notifiable as a modification to the insurance company. Any excuse for them not to pay out, they'll use.
CharlesY , I assure you that I am not talking "nonsense" , If it says on the type approval, tyre placard etc, that your vehicle shall be fitted with a tyre of a certain speed rating, and you fit a lower rated tyre , and you are then involved in an accident, in which the tyres were a factor eg skidded, loss of control etc, then the ins co are quite likely to reject your part of the claim , they cannot avoid a 3rd party responsibilty. Further more you would be at risk of a charge of unroadworthy vehicle . This is just advice, that I am qualified to give , if your opinion is different , that is your right , lets hope that it never has to be proven
My manual does not say SHALL BE fitted ... it says recommended tyre sizes.
The ONLY test is what is SUITABLE in all respects for the USE to which THAT vehicle will be put, subject ever to legal requirements.
Insurance companies and police forces cannot interpret the law - only the courts can do that. We should always remember that.
CharlesY
