The Defender should be more than adequate unless you drive over the interstate posted speed limit for extended periods. What are the OEM tires? The rule of thumb is to replace tires with the same speed rating that came on the car. The higher speed rated tires are built better but they don't wear as well. I am going to buy the Defenders for my next tire replacement. Regards

 

The dealer put T rated tires on mine before I bought it (not Michelins). Haven't had any issues. Handles well, stops well, etc. I don't see any problem with it, obviously the dealer doesn't either.

I'd feel differently if it were a sports car, and not a 4 door family sedan.

 

There are excellent T rated tires....and notsoexcellent Ts....while the higher speed rated tire will perform better in emergancy situations where tires are pushed to extremes, (where some drivers wanting to push the Camry every day would want H or V rated tires), in "normal" day to day transport a quality T rated tire would be fine...like most "options" available to us, it's all about how you drive....

Enjoy your Toy

 

Thanks Donald E. George and WilliamM2.

Actually my OEM tires are Birdgestone Turanza EL400. Its Touring tire with V Rated. Very worst tire. It didn't even last for 25K.

So I got confused to go with V-Rated or T- Rated .

 

Longer treadlife and quality of ride are not necessarily synonymous....a "tacky" tread will wear out sooner but will give you better traction...it's all in the compound...

 

L: 75 MPH
M: 81
N: 87
P: 93
Q: 99
R: 106
S: 112
T: 118
U: 124
H: 130
V: 149
W: 168
Y: 186
Z: >186

You can go faster with Z rated tires and a rocket pack attached to the trunk or roof.

The tire speed rating debate comes up every few months.

Use whatever tire you feel comfortable with and DON'T exceed its capability.

I spent a winter in Maine once. It made no difference what tire you used as long as it was studded or wore chains.

Do you want a tire that lasts long, or a tire that keeps you from wrapping that Camry around a pole the 1st time it gets slippery out?

Since summers in Maine last 100-200hrs at most, I'd wouldn't shop for a tire based on how long they last, or what the speed rating is, or how cheap that they are.

American consumerism at its best.....when shopping for life saving tires, pick tire life and low price over all the other more important variables. :rofl2:

 

Do you want a tire that lasts long, or a tire that keeps you from wrapping that Camry around a pole the 1st time it gets slippery out?

Since summers in Maine last 100-200hrs at most, I'd wouldn't shop for a tire based on how long they last, or what the speed rating is, or how cheap that they are.

American consumerism at its best.....when shopping for life saving tires, pick tire life and low price over all the other more important variables. :rofl2:

He's looking to buy one of the best rated all seasons on Tire Rack, and you laugh at him and imply he's being cheap?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...chelin&tireModel=Defender&partnum=16TR6DEF&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

 

Best rated by Tirerack..... that in itself is a joke.

 

Same with all the other sites that rate it highly? If you say so...

 

The defender while touted as a great tire was only compared against other T rated tires. The real test would be to compare it against a Primacy MXV4 or MXM4 or any other V rated tires. My guess is that the 90K defenders will fall short.

This isn't to say any V rated tires is going to whip up on the defender and I don't know how the weather is in Maine but the wet tradtion being the weakest area is my biggest concern in Florida.

Tires are about compromises. Price, performance, noise, and life. There is no perfect tire. One always performs better, lasts longer, is priced better, or is more comfortable.

I would stick with the V. As to echo what deadrx7conv said tires are the only thing contacting the road. Performance is the most important aspect. 1 less foot of stopping distance can be the difference between a totaled car or dead kid and a small scare.

My Corolla needed tires for the tC wheels I installed. I bought some BFG G-Force Sports based on reviews on performance. These are the noisiest tires I've ever had, but man does my car handle better than any 9th Gen non XRS I have driven. Wet, dry, cornering, are all superb. Price was good too but was just a second choice after my performance requirements were met.

I say go for a proper V rated tire. Shopping for speed rating doesn't really matter. What you need to be shopping for is tread compound, design, and tire characteristics.

But it is your car to do as you please. Lets just hope this ends up a useless discussion and not an "I told you so".

 

there are good and bad V rated tires and there are good and bad T rated tires.
I had bunch of different tires and as I said many times before, the best tires I ever had are T-rated Pirelli P4 .
second place- H-rated Michelin Primacy MXV4.
I've read good about Defenders and heard bad from tire shop manager. I was thinking about them too, tire shop had two sets of Defenders for sale with good discount returned because of nigh road noise and another customer complained about pretty bad wet traction.
don't know what kind cars these tires were installed and how they been driven.
I went with Primacy MXV4 94H (wear index 620) just because Michelin had $70 off special. otherwise I would get another set of P4's.
no complains, but pretty sure they would not last 60K miles. I hope for 45.
go on tire rack.com and see survey results before you buy any tires.

 

Each car is tuned for a specific ride and handling. The tires play a big role in dialing in what the car manufacturers want in the handling of a specific car or trim level. There is a reason why different trim levels come with different types of tires for many cars. The LE Camry comes with low speed rated tires as the Camry LE is meant to be cheap, and offer a comfortable ride. The owners of an LE Camry are not looking for a sporty car with expensive tires. The Camry SE on the other hand comes with V rated tires that provide better performance and sharper turn in because that is expected from the customers since they are purchasing the SE Camry. The XLE also gets V rated tires, but the XLE is the "premium" trim and a "premium" tire is also expected. Both the SE and XLE come with Grand Touring category tires, while the LE I think just comes with Standard touring. The last Gen SE use to actually come with a summer tire instead of an All Season. (Although it was crap for a summer tire and had horrible tread life) For some reason, with the Gen 7, Toyota felt that they achieved the handling characteristic they wanted with the SE by using a Grand Touring All Season instead of a high performance all season or a standard summer tire.

it is only one side of "pretty penny".
other side is nothing but calculated profit.
each company puts tender for tires on their model line. and they very seldom looking for best performance. for tire manufacturer winning that tender is pretty big deal, OEM recommended tires bring alot of business...
price that you pay for OEM recommended tires and price that car manufacturer pays for the same tires two very different numbers...

 

My family has property in Maine, so I'm familiar with the roads and how you guys drive. They don't call you guys "Maineiacs" for nothing. Not meant in a bad way, your good drivers. You have to be. because your FAST drivers. VERY FAST. The roads are rural, in good condition, windy. Your one twitch, one blowout from a tree at 80mph. If it were me up there I'd probably stay V or H. Down here I use a T in the city.

Recognize this sign? Its from the Maine Turnpike entering Augusta.

 

Stick with the factory recommended speed rating or better (not less)

If Toyota says your car needs V rated tires, put on V rated tires. The speed rating has little to do with how fast you drive on the highway.

Your car will not handle properly (or as designed by Toyota) if you LOWER the speed rating. Your handling will be sloppy and your braking distance will increase.

Any tire shop that is worth going to would refuse to install a lower speed rated tire on your car for your own safety (and the safety of others on the road around you)

It's one thing to be 'value minded' and another thing to just be 'cheap', stop being cheap and put the correct tire on your car. If you want to be value minded, put the least expensive proper rated tire on your car (look at the Cooper line that is made exclusively for Sears, decent tire that should come in a V-rated model for your car at a good price)

 

One more time...from one more voice...it's NOT about how fast you drive...it's about how WELL the car interacts with the road...emergency braking, crisp lane shifting, stable cornering, traction in various conditions (dry/wet/smooth/rough roads)...

If ANYthing get a tire rated one level HIGHER than OEM...

 

One more time...from one more voice...it's NOT about how fast you drive...it's about how WELL the car interacts with the road...emergency braking, crisp lane shifting, stable cornering, traction in various conditions (dry/wet/smooth/rough roads)...

+100
but it does not depend on speed rating alone and has very little to none direct correlation with speed rating.
speed rating depends on ability of the tire to dissipate heat or prevent excessive heat built up which may and eventually will make tire to blow up or fell apart.
and traction and responsiveness are completely different things.

 

My LE Camry came stock with V rated tires. The dealers in my area never install lower than H rated tires in their Camry.

 

Yes, David, it's been said that a T rated tire may be superior to an H rated tire for reasons other than speed rating...

...but for those not inclined to research, getting (close to) the best higher rated tire will LIKELY be better than a lower rated tire....

...but getting the BEST lower rated tire may very well be better than a lower quality but higher speed rated tire...

....and my neighbor just got out of his Corolla and said that his tires are a GREAT tire (great braking, quiet/"no squeeling" on turns) and he'd recommend it to anyone...the DEFENDER....but he's a real S/T tire type of driver....

 

UTQG has a traction rating. And, its irrelevant to speed rating. "A" is plenty good for a Camry. Traction rated "A" can be found for economy cars and Corvettes. "AA" isn't needed.

Handling, ride comfort, braking,... have NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED RATING. That depends on the construction of the tire. Dont' automatically assume that a higher speed rating is all that better. Never heard of tire recalls?????

Anyone want to wager what the top speed of a V6 equipped Camry is? THAT IS the only logical reason why we have a speed rating. You can find youtube videos of the 2gr-fe pushing Camry's over 140. I don't think I've ever seen one go over 150mph. And, with a mildly optimistic speedometer, the V rating seems to be PERFECT for that top speed of <149. Its called covering the manufacturer's butt! Ever hear of the word liability? Can you imagine a 270hp car with a speed governor set to 85mph? would it sell well? That same liability is why any reputable shop won't take the risk of using a lower speed rated tire. If you install 85mph limit tires and go 150mph, your family will sue the shop into bankruptcy after they cremate you. If it was my shop and you insisted, I'd make you sign a waiver explaining the limitations of the tire when compared to capability of the vehicle. Not sure what the top speed of the 4cyl Camry is and don't care. But, I'd wager that it is considerably less than the V6.

As far as I'm concerned, the suspension in the Camry sucks. It neither rides or handles well. Not sure what Toyota was thinking or trying to do, and why someone thinks that a speed rating is all critical if no one ever exceeds the speed limit. Mass produced generic suspension catered to making ALL somewhat happy and no one ecstatic.

Do you really think generic off-name or imported V-rated tires are better built than lesser rated name brand tires? If so, lay of the peace pipe, booze, and whatever you indulge in....zombie!

If you want to dump stiff tires for better ride quality, or if you want to dump low traction tires for ones with traction, or if you want to dump no-season tires for knobby snow tires for winter, or if you want to swap rims/tires for the bling factor, or if you want to dump inefficient OE tires for eco-enrivo-mpg-fuelsaver tractionless tires.... or whatever is YOUR CHOICE IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR ARE DOING AND FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT.

I'll stick with my previous comments. If someone was offended, too bad. Its Maine. Its winter. And, I wouldn't put ANY no-season on my car in Maine during the winter. Get some generic alloys or steelies mounted with snow tires. Use the no-season tires, whatever you choose, during the weather less months, and don't exceed their limitations. If you don't have that option, new tires are better than bald tires!

In the world of $500 phones, touch screen crackpads, $300 sneakers, $100 t-shirts, $150 jeans, and $1000 laptops, that do absolutely NOTHING for you, don't cut corners on your brakes, tires, or other things that directly affect your safety. Obviously, if tires are bald, and budget does not exist, then you do what you have to do and you ADAPT TO IT.

Too much BS in this thread. Its about speed rating and NOTHING ELSE. Its not about comfort, braking, or handling.

I'd take that T-rated Michelin tire over any Chinesium V-rated tire. And, I'd avoid store-brand generics too from SamsClub, Sears, TownFair, DepartmentStores....

The real question that the OP should consider is: Am I willing to purposely limit my speed to whatever tire I choose? Will the T-rated tires provide better snow/rain traction during the winter when compared to the V-rated tires since I don't have the budget or storage space for 2-sets of wheels/tires? Will the T-rated construction be an adequate replacement for my current V-rated tires for my handling and my ride comfort expectations? And the last question, am I willing to sacrifice lobster and steak for MaruchanRamen to pay for V-rated over T-rated tires? Choose your lifestyle and driving habits!

I've been known to run NON-UTQG snow tires year round.... no speed rating what-so-ever, and I adapt my driving style and expectations around the equipped tires/brakes/fluids/whatever. Toyota's recommendations are just that, a recommendation! And, they can shove it because its not good enough for my expectations. This is the company that has numerous times put UTQG threadwear OE tires in the 160-220 range that last 15k-25k before going bald. For some reason, they think that a treadwear of <220 is acceptable. Even pathetic tires can be had with treadwear of 400-800. Sad if someone thinks that their recommendation is the greatest. Can't think for yourself anymore.

 

UTQG has a traction rating. And, its irrelevant to speed rating. "A" is plenty good for a Camry. Traction rated "A" can be found for economy cars and Corvettes. "AA" isn't needed.

Handling, ride comfort, braking,... have NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED RATING. That depends on the construction of the tire. Dont' automatically assume that a higher speed rating is all that better. Never heard of tire recalls?????

The tire speed rating has to do with the construction. A tire built for a high speed rating is going to be constructed better to withstand the heat build up from the higher speeds. That better construction also interprets into a better performing tire.

Don't forget that the speed rating must be compared between the same tire model or same performance category, as each performance category uses different types of structural and compound materials that effects how a tire handles as well.

How does a family sedan that has no chance of ever reaching 149 mph in factory form have this rating specified? Higher speed ratings will handle more heat and circumferential force, which causes them to be more ridged and firm. This helps for performance handling and responsiveness to steering inputs, but can firm up road manners and result in a little more tire noise from impacts. Your lower speed ratings typically are "looser" types of passenger all-seasons and standard touring all-seasons and are not as concerned with sport performance. Winter / snow tires are the exception to the rule as most shops will install a winter tire of significantly lower speed rating. This is due to the understanding by most that the winter tires are going to make your car handle a little differently (usually a bit more play in the steering) to give you exceptional winter traction.

Source: http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/hunters-ramblings/how-does-speed-rating-effect-my-tire-choice-v1

The rest of your post is irrelevant.

 

What makes tires to have different speed ratings? If it's the construction of the tires, I don't see why it does not affect the performance of the tires.

 

Performance is all variables combined. Speed rating is ONE AND INDEPENDENT of all others. Construction for speed is independent of traction, tire life, ride quality, handling... etc. Actually, are all very independent and you're at the manufacturer mercy of the 'balance' of said quality.
To automatically assume that ALL VARIABLES are better, when only one measurement is better, is foolish.
Please don't blindly add more variables to justify your debate or argument. This is about the speed rating.

Can the OP use T-rated tires, sure? Should he? That depends on the OP's habits. Thats it!

I have my own habits as do you. But, I'm definitely not going to be a blind sheeple factory recommendation following zealot.

Heres a tire that meets the speed rating, and most definitely exceeds it. Let me know how well that rain/snow traction is, how long they last, and how well they ride:

Maybe I should mount them on the Jeep and try some mudding or rock crawling with them:rofl2: I mean, they have a better speed rating then my Ground Hawgs do, which means they must be better in all categories, right?

 

Performance is all variables combined. Speed rating is ONE AND INDEPENDENT of all others. Construction for speed is independent of traction, tire life, ride quality, handling... etc. Actually, are all very independent and you're at the manufacturer mercy of the 'balance' of said quality.
To automatically assume that ALL VARIABLES are better, when only one measurement is better, is foolish.
Please don't blindly add more variables to justify your debate or argument. This is about the speed rating.

Can the OP use T-rated tires, sure? Should he? That depends on the OP's habits. Thats it!

I have my own habits as do you. But, I'm definitely not going to be a blind sheeple factory recommendation following zealot.

Heres a tire that meets the speed rating, and most definitely exceeds it. Let me know how well that rain/snow traction is, how long they last, and how well they ride:

Maybe I should mount them on the Jeep and try some mudding or rock crawling with them:rofl2: I mean, they have a better speed rating then my Ground Hawgs do, which means they must be better in all categories, right?

No one here said speed rating is the only thing affecting the performance, but it's a part of it (your example image is not what we are discussing here; you're going to the extreme condition). What we try to compare are tires that have similar aspects except a few things, which make the difference in emergency situations, NOT normal driving. Your previous comment "Handling, ride comfort, braking,... have NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED RATING" really meant speed rating does not affect handling, braking,... AT ALL. Construction of a tire affects its speed rating and also other factors including performance. I can't see how speed rating can be independent of all other factors (logical wise). There should be some small minimal correlation. I only find sources that support the fact that tire speed rating is more than just speed; it's also about "ride comfort, wear and cornering ability".