Tyre speed query

According to this website

Probably not. But. If the tyres are not rated at least as high, or higher, for speed and load etc, than those recommended by the car manufacturer, it does give an insurance Co an excuse to maybe refuse a claim. Unlikely but not inconceivable. Writing to them, so you get a written reply to file, would deny them that possibility. Mike.

Thus leading us to the speed rating, which is based on the performance of the vehicle, not just its maximum speed. That means acceleration in every plane. If you put an under-spec set of tyres onto the vehicle you need to tell the insurance company. It doesn't matter if the driver doesn't use anywhere near half of the performance of the car or not, it still needs the specification tyre.

For the sake of a very little in terms of the overall running of the car, skimping buying V-rated tyres rather than W (or whatever) - is daft. The garage should not have recommended an unsuitable tyre.

Indeed. I was told by a high up engineer in a tyre company that the construction of the tyre has to take into account other possible loads imposed on the tyre as well as top speed. And the only way to get a truly suitable replacement is to use one of the same speed rating. He actually disliked the speed rating system as it dates back to before our universal 70 mph limit. Reckoned some form of load factor rating wouldn't confuse so much. Of course if any car is always driven gently and lightly loaded, a lower spec tyre may not cause problems.

I agree totally. A car such as a Volvo V series, is able to take a corner far quicker than say, a Daewoo Matiz. Higher cornering speeds mean higher loads on the tyres. Larger vehicle size means higher loads on the tyres. Greater stopping ability means higher loads on the tyres.

Simply saying it's a matter of what the highest speed you'll drive at is a tad simplistic to say the least.

I certainly wouldn't stick more than one rating lower than spec on my Mondeo if there was no other choice cos it doesn't half get chucked around corners. But saying that, with a bit of shopping around you can usually find the right speed rating at the same price as a lower one.

My Capper is "over tyred" from spec because it's not exactly as it came out of Dagenham.

Now that makes sense.

What age and engine size is it? and what size of tyre? A speed rating of V is for up to 149 mph , W is up to 168mph . I have just checked and some models can use H (up to 130mph) and some require Y (up to 186mph) so depending on your car V maybe fine? If you post the age /engine size and tyre size I will give you the definitive answer? I own a tyre fitting company.

In article , "Fred"

There are a lot of options, I would need to know the tyre size?

Then you should be on W rated tyres.

They are wrong, it will invalidate your insurance if you drive on a speed rating below the manufacturers recommend.

The XL (Extra load) makes no difference unless it's the recommended spec,

Good idea, they will also need to know the size as they will be working from the same database as I am.

The Extra Load will give better handling and most tyres are better than Pirelli, but the speed rating is the important bit in the eyes of an insurance company!

In article , "Fred"

While the tyres are almost certainly fine and safe, it's the insurance co.s opinion that matters here. Get them to put it in writing if they refuse to accept the new tyres (which I suspect they will), then take that and the owners handbook back to the garage for what should be new tyres *at their expense*.

Find me one case where this is true in the UK where the insured was not proven to be driving in excess of the rated speed.

In fact, anywhere in the EU, where it is common (and in fact required) to fit winter tyres, which have speed ratings way below summer tyres, to AMG and M cars.

Only the load rating is relevant.

As I recall, the Saab's handbook specifies different speed ratings for summer / all weather and winter tyres.