Speed Rating -- How Important?

[VTdriver]

Just got '96 Camry LE and wanted to put on some great Michelins with an 80K warrantee. But the tire dealer wouldn't do it because they are S rated rather than H. OK tell me the truth. Is this speed rating thing really all that important? I'm sort of a geezer driver and don't plan to do slalom courses or drive 130 mph any time soon. The 'performance' tires wear out twice as fast and probably cut down gas mileage, and I like the summer tread of the Miches.

[Beeman_M600]

You shouldn't mess with the speed and load rating of what is needed for you car! Sorry to say...if you need to ask...don't touch...you car needs tires to match it's capablilty to be safe on race tracks or public roads. Buy the best you can afford! And as far as tread design...for general passenger cars they all will do the same job....it just comes down to personal prefferance....how it looks doesn't make much difference until you get into surface specific type tires....dry, wet, snow, etc....I hope this helps you, BUY THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD!!!

[jackfrost1031]

I think as long as you just do highway and interstate driving without exceeding like 80mph you're fine on S rated treads. Look on tirerack.com they have a pretty good section on tires and what the codes mean

[Knailgun]

well...with the spped rating increases.....the tread life is greatly decreased.....you should be fine. My ne ZR's should have a 25-30k life at most

[Mike Gerber]

As the speed ratings go up, the side walls also flex more, keeping more of the tire's tread in contact with the road surface when connering. True, they also do use a softer rubber as the speed rating goes up, so tire wear does suffer a bit. I had a similiar situation at Sams Club a few years ago. They too wouldn't put anything but "H" speed rated tires on the car since that is what they came with from Toyota. I went with the "H" speed rated tires. Check out the Dunlop Sport A2's. They are a good all weather "H" speed rated tire with a 50,000 miles warranty. They also have a pretty good traction rating in the snow for an "H" rated tire. I have them on both of my Camrys.

Mike

[pkchi]

ppl tell me that if u are driving over the speed rating the metal threads inside the tire would heat up and the the tire is gonna blow so u should get tires that are like past 185 km/h since there should be a speed limiter at 185 km/h i maybe wrong

[rat42]

the speed rating means that a test tire did not self-destruct in a ten minute lab test. the tire dealers are either trying to sell more expensive tires or suffering from insurance lawyers.

[Gojira]

well if you decide to step down a speed rating on your tires...it can be done...just make sure you don't travel faster than the max speed for the particular rating

I believe H rated tires are up to 210 km/h

S rated are up to 180 km/h

if you go beyond the rated speed...you'll risk a blow out...tire won't be able to dissapate the heat fast enough..

more importantly you should ensure that load rating is the same or higher (than the original tire) for your replacement tire

[ECale3]

To answer your question, the speed rating is very important unless you like being dead. Make sure your speed rating is higher than either the speed you're willing to drive at or the speed your car is capable of. I for example, have Z (150+) rated tires (W to be exact IIRC, I think W rated tires are rated for 186MPH) and i have taken the tires to speeds of up to 120Mph. In my case, i make sure the tires are capable of more than the car otherwise i'll kill myself.

[kenny1773]

I had a friend that use to manage a tire shop, he always told me that the car's suspension was designed with the speed rating of the tire in consideration. If you put a lower speed rated tire on and try to perform emergency swerves, etc, etc your car will not react like it should.

I would never put an 80k mile tire on my car anyway, too hard.

Softer tread tires that only last 25-40k are acutally safer and better performing (assuming all other ratings are equal).

You would be better off just going with a cheaper brand and keeping the speed rating.

on a 96 LE - I would say give the Falken ZE512 a try, you can buy them online and have your local walmart install for very little charge.


http://www.vulcantire.com/ze512_60_t.htm


This is what I am going to put on my 2005 when the crappy factory tires wear a bit more. These are even a little hard for my taste (60k), but for the price I think I am going to try anyway.

[Knailgun]

I second the falken's...my new 18"s are wrapped in them....they come in tody....I need to get my car off of the blocks