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As said before, the speed rating is nothing to do with how fast you go, it is the speed at which the tyre failed on a test bed at it's load rating. Don't get a lower speed rating because you never go that fast, it's not what the speed rating means. I think it's time they scrapped the speed/load ratings, as nobody seems to understand what they mean, On so many forums you read I never go that fast/carry such a load.
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The price difference between different speed ratings is sometimes negligable, and to be honest, if you drive, for instance, a bog-standard ford focus 1.6, with a top speed of 115mph, does it really matter whether you put "H" or "V" rated tyres on?
Of course it doesn't. And, it doesn't matter how many of each speed rating you have on the car. As long as each tyre carries the E marking, rotates in the correct direction, and has over 1.6mm of tread, it's legal.
As for "more security", any tyre which is not properly inflated or has damaged sidewalls will eventually fail. Sitting on the legal motorway limit, it wouldn't matter whether you had a T, H, V etc etc. If the tyre is inflated correctly, not damaged and the vehicle is not overloaded, it is very unlikely that a modern tyre will fail.
As for other characteristics of a tyre, e.g. wear, grip etc etc, this varies depending on the manufacturer's choice of compound. I always go for the cheapest tyres personally, but you may have a favourite brand-name.
Anyway, the speed rating is based on the absolute limits of a tyre. You're unlikely to be driving a normal road car at 130mph for 10 minutes, so go for the cheapest of the two tyres. OK, I know it's only a piece of rubber between you and oblivion, but provided it's in good condition, any new tyre out there will work fine on a bog-standard boring family car.
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Wouldn't that invalidate the insurance though?
If Ford say "This car needs (?) speed rated tyres" then that's what should go on.
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Only invalidates the insurance if you put on a slower tyre than the manufacturer allows.
In real life, that's unlikely to happen on a normal car though. For instance a Vauxhall Vectra with 195/65R15 tyres will be required to have a minimum of a H rating. Try finding a T rating in that size - they're few and far between. Certainly if you went to a fast-fit garage and asked for the cheapest 195/65R15, it would be an H.
However, if you're so inclined, you could choose to pay extra and have a V-rated tyre fitted, quite legally, but at extra cost. All i'm saying is, given this decision, I'd always opt for the slower of the two suitable tyres because there would be no benefit in fitting a V rated tyre to a family car which only needs an H-rated tyre. Far more important to me is the condition of the tyre.
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Yeah, like why buy a stereo that goes up to 11 when you can get one that goes up to 8 for £25 and I never go up to 11 amyway.
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Sarcasm aside, I think there's a slight difference between stereos and tyres - but I couldn't care less about the specifications of either, as long as they do the job.
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I've just had my tyres changed and when I first asked for prices I stated the tyres were 205/55/16 91V rating. When I went to check they were actually W rating. The V rated tyres were slightly cheaper, but the tyre fitter said he would refuse to fit V rated tyres on a car which was fitted with W ratings, it would also mean I would have had 2 V ratings and 2 W ratings fitted. His comment was going down ratings is a definate no no.
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A definite "no no" when it means the tyre fitter getting less money out of you!
If there were already V-rated tyres on your car there was no reason whatsoever to refuse to fit another pair!! I would've gone somewhere else where they actually checked what your car manufacturer had specified and fitted it - most likely a V-rated tyre.
Proof that speed ratings are a stupid system, when even the tyre fitters themselves don't know what tyres to fit to cars, and end up charging you more for faster tyres you don't need, just to cover their own backside!
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A definite "no no" when it means the tyre fitter getting less money out of you! If there were already V-rated tyres on your car there was no reason whatsoever to refuse to fit another pair!! I would've gone somewhere else where they actually checked what your car manufacturer had specified and fitted it - most likely a V-rated tyre. Proof that speed ratings are a stupid system, when even the tyre fitters themselves don't know what tyres to fit to cars, and end up charging you more for faster tyres you don't need, just to cover their own backside!
Read my post again. It was me who thought they were V rated when I telephoned for a quote, when I checked they are actually W rated (first set, factory fitted) - I was wrong. If the manufacturer specifies W rated why compromise safety for a few quid?
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Sarcasm aside, I think there's a slight difference between stereos and tyres - but I couldn't care less about the specifications of either, as long as they do the job.
If I am reincarnated as a car, I hope that GregSwain does not buy me.
I just know that he would give me cheapo nasty name tyres, cheap low spec oil, and supermarket fuel! I would much rather have Michelins, Castrol and Shell.
By the way, no offence Greg!!!
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I've been asking the same question as I need to replace all 4 tyres and the H and V options are the same price. This article has some useful info:
www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/10/h-rated-t...m
They state: "Tires with higher speed ratings generally have better steering response and cornering grip than lower-speed rated tires, in addition to being capable of higher speeds."
but you also get "a harsher ride and shorter tread life, plus a greater upfront cost."
Up to you which ones you go for based on your budget, your driving preferences, your car's maximum speed and manufacturer's recommendation.
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I've been asking the same question as I need to replace all 4 tyres and the H and V options are the same price. This article has some useful info:
www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/10/h-rated-t...m
They state: "Tires with higher speed ratings generally have better steering response and cornering grip than lower-speed rated tires, in addition to being capable of higher speeds."
but you also get "a harsher ride and shorter tread life, plus a greater upfront cost."
Up to you which ones you go for based on your budget, your driving preferences, your car's maximum speed and manufacturer's recommendation.
In the event of an accident, the authorities and your insurance may have something to say if you've fitted lower speed rating tyres than the manufacturer recommends.
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