w vs v speed rating

V Speed Rating, up to 149mph. W Speed Rating, up to 168mph. Y Speed Rating, up to 186mph. You’ll typically find the V speed rating in semi-performance-focused cars, such as the Audi S4 and other high-end spec sedans and coupes.

Full Answer

What is the best tire speed rating?

You can glean a bit of info from the tires by reading this rating:

• 500 - The durability rating of a tire, compared to a control tire with a treadlife of 100. ...
• A - This is the Traction rating of a tire, which indicates how well a tire stops in wet conditions. ...
• A - The second letter in the UTQG is the Temperature rating, which indicates how well a tire holds up to extreme heat. ...

Which are V speeds to use?

V speeds are standard aviation terms that are used to represent certain airspeeds that are critical (or at least beneficial) to aircraft operation. In essence, V speeds are simply pilot shorthand . For example, it’s much easier to refer to Vs0 that it is to refer to “ stall speed with the aircraft in landing configuration “.

What does speed rating V mean?

What Is V Rating

• How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions | Tire Rack
• …that a tire is rated to carry less weight when working in tandem with another tire in the dual pair, the purpose is to build in additional reserve capacity should ...
• Related Products: What Does Z Mean On The Tires | Speed Rating Letters | Service Description Explained

Should I get h or V rated tires?

Which tire to choose? First piece of advice, depending on your budget: try to get the best possible tire ... For example, don't try to substitute V-speed rated tires (which are always more ...

What is the difference between V and W rated tires?

This means that a tire with a V-rating, for example, can be driven at 149 miles per hour until it wears out! Less frequently seen ratings are Q 99 mph and R 106 mph- used in some light truck tires. The W rating replaced what was once Z, which was anything above 149 at the time, and is now limited to 168 mph.

What is V and W speed rating?

Then, as more manufacturers came out with tires that could handle speeds in excess of 149 mph but still hit a maximum speed at some point, “V” became limited (149 mph instead of 149+ mph) and “W” and “Y” speed ratings were added to the chart.

Can I mix V and W rated Tyres?

Mixing tyre speed ratings isn't recommended. If you are in a situation where you must mix tyre speed ratings (after an emergency puncture, for example) then make sure the lower-rated tyres are on the front axle to prevent turning more sharply than you intended (oversteering).

Which speed rating is higher H or V?

An “H” rated tire is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 130 mph. A “V” rated tire on the other hand is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 149 mph, almost twenty miles an hour more than the “H” rated tire.

What does W mean on tires?

The letter W denotes the maximum speed rating, which translates 168 mph—not something intended for mom's minivan. See our list of speed ratings below, which range from a low of "L" (just 75 mph for some off-road tires) to a high of Y (186 mph).

What does W mean on tyres?

The speed rating is displayed on the tyre's sidewall, after the load rating. In this example, the car's speed rating is W, which indicates that it has been legally approved for use up to 168 mph.

Are higher speed rated tires better?

A tire's speed rating indicates the optimal speed that the tire can safely maintain over time. In short, it's the fastest speed a tire can handle before it no longer performs as designed. The higher the speed rating, the better control and handling you'll have at higher speeds.

Can I use a tyre with a lower speed rating?

Bear in mind that all tyres must be appropriate for the vehicle and you should drive no faster than your lowest rated tyres. We would always recommend that the same size and type of tyre, with the same speed ratings, are fitted on all tyres.

Is it OK to fit tyres with a higher load rating?

Is it possible to fit tyres with a higher load index and a lower speed rating than my manufacturer recommends? Yes, you can fit tyres that have a higher load index and a lower speed rating.

Can you put V-rated tires instead of H?

A V-rated car requires a tire designed to operate to a maximum of 149 mph and can thus not be fitted with an H-rated tire.

What is the difference between 94h and 94V tires?

The H speed rating means good up to 130 MPH (for 10 minutes without damage). The V speed rating is good up to 149 MPH . The OEM tires that come on a TCH are rated 94V (the 94 means load up to 1477 pounds).

What does 94V mean on a tire?

A 94 will support 1,477 pounds. V is a speed rating, or the maximum speed tires are designed to be driven for extended periods. Any V-rated tire will perform well while traveling at 149 miles per hour for an extended time — certainly fast enough for this writer.

What is speed rating W?

Above 168 mph Above 270 km/h. W. 168 mph. 270 km/h. Y.

What does 94v mean on a tire?

A 94 will support 1,477 pounds. V is a speed rating, or the maximum speed tires are designed to be driven for extended periods. Any V-rated tire will perform well while traveling at 149 miles per hour for an extended time — certainly fast enough for this writer.

What does 91V on a tyre mean?

Speed rating Speed rating corresponds to the maximum speed that a tire can sustain when it is carrying the recommended load capacity. The rating system uses letters from A to Z. Here, you can see that a tire with a 91V mark can them run at a maximum speed of 149 mph while carrying 615 kilograms or 1,356 pounds load.

What is the best tire speed rating?

As manufacturers developed bigger and better tires, it became necessary to regulate performance at standardized speeds to ensure safety. The "Limited V" category of 250 km/h (149 mph) was then created, and eventually the "Z" speed rating was added as the top speed rating.

What Is Tire Speed Rating?

A tire’s speed rating indicates the optimal speed that the tire can safely maintain over time. In short, it’s the fastest speed a tire can handle b...

Why Were Tire Speed Ratings developed?

The speed rating system used today was developed in Europe in response to the need to control the safe performance of tires at standardized speeds....

Where Can I Find My Tire Speed Rating?

You can find your tire speed rating in a number of places, typically in the owner’s manual, driver’s side doorjamb, glove box door, and gas tank ha...

What does a speed rating on a tire mean?

The speed rating on a tire indicates the fastest speed a tire can handle before it affects the tire’s performance. Lower speed ratings (such as A8 or B) will mean that you won’t have good control or handling of the car at highway speeds. Higher speed ratings, like H or ZR, can handle far beyond a normal highway speed. For example, “H” would translate to a tire that can only handle speeds up to 130 mph (or 210 km/h).

What are the most common tire speed ratings?

Most commuters and consumers will want either an H, S or T tire. Light trucks may need a tire between the N and T ratings. Sports cars may get better handling with a ZR tire.

What is the speed limit for a T tire?

T-Rated Tires: This tire is often recommended for family sedans and vans. It’s rated for up to 118 mph. That’s well below the speed limit of most states, unless you’re planning on bringing your commuter on the Autobahn.

Where to find tire speed rating?

You can find a tire’s speed rating on the sidewall, where one will typically see a string of numbers and letters. These are several important codes, such as radial construction, aspect ratio, tire load and speed rating. The speed rating is typically the last letter listed on the sidewall (coming after the load index, which is a number). For example, if you see “M+S 235/45 R18 94V” on the side of the tire, the last letter, V, is your speed rating.

Is a L rating better for off road tires?

It’s not necessarily the case that the higher the speed rating, the better the tire; there are exceptions. For instance, many off-roading tires are powerful and girthy, working perfectly in mud and sand, but they might only have a speed rating of L, meaning that you’ll not want to bring those tires on the highway.

Does speed rating matter on tires?

Yes, it matters because your speed rating indicates how much heat a tire can handle safely. Not following those guidelines can lead to faster wear on the tread, decreased steering response, decreased stopping power and poor driving capabilities in colder conditions. Tire manufacturers conduct tests to meet the Society of Automotive Engineer’s standards, running the tire for a full hour in a machine in a room that’s heated to 100 degrees. This testing is done in a controlled environment, however, and so many other variables might affect your tire’s safety, like the size of the load, the weather and the wear. Since it can have an impact on your stopping power, a tire’s speed rating is not the tire rating code to ignore.

Why is the speed rating important?

The speed rating system was developed to help control the safe performance of tires at standardized speeds.

What Is Tire Speed Rating?

A tire’s speed rating indicates the optimal speed that the tire can safely maintain over time. In short, it’s the fastest speed a tire can handle before it no longer performs as designed. The higher the speed rating, the better control and handling you’ll have at higher speeds.

What does the tire rating mean?

This rating system (see below) shows the top speed for which a tire is certified. It does not indicate the total performance capability of a tire.

What is the maximum speed of a tire?

Tires having a maximum speed capability over 149 MPH may have “ZR” in the size designation. Tires with a maximum speed capability over 186 MPH are required to include “ZR” in the designation. Below are examples of tire sizes with a “ZR” speed rating.

What does a V rating on a tire mean?

In general, speed ratings of V or above mean that the tire has extra cap plies or even multiple steel belts to provide extra stability at very high speeds.

What is the lowest speed rating on a car?

The lowest speed rating you will probably ever see on a passenger car or truck tire is either S or T , which appear most often on dedicated snow tires.

What is a tire speed rating?

A tire's speed rating is an indication, expressed as a letter code on the tire sidewall, of a speed the manufacturer expects the tire to be able to sustain over a long period of time without coming apart.

What order do ratings end with?

After V, all ratings begin with ZR and end with either W, Y or ( Y). There is probably some entirely rational reason for this which completely escapes everyone else in the entire world. S, H, and V were the original three developed and is why H is out of alpha order.

Do you need V rated tires for a minivan?

Likewise, if you're looking to put inexpensive shoes on a minivan, you probably don't need V-rated tires, even if they were the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) choice. It's hard to understate the importance of knowing what the speed ratings really mean.

What is a speed rating?

A speed rating is a letter or a combination of a letter and a number which implies to what extent the tire successfully dissipates heat. Exceeding that speed will make the tire performance differ from the initial specifications.

Why is the maximum speed of a tire lower than the speed rating?

If the tire is even slightly underinflated, or the vehicle is overloaded, or it’s boiling hot outside, the ratings may become irrelevant.

How do tires get ratings?

In brief, a specialist inflates a tire to the recommended pressure and puts it into a large drum. It then rotates the tested tire, increasing speeds by 6.2 mph every 10 minutes. As the rotation reaches the estimated maximum speed for the tire, the specialist checks whether the tire keeps its integrity.

Why are high rated tires better than low rated tires?

Speed ratings are often called performance ratings, as they influence most aspects of traction and responsiveness. For better speed handling , the construction of the tire has to be improved. That’s why high-rated tires are considered higher in quality. Low-rated tires are still useful for vehicles with capacities matching those tires. That’s why it isn’t recommended to buy a sports low-profile tire with a Y rating if you need a regular H-rated tire.

How fast does a low rated tire go?

Take two tires with the speed ratings S and V and ride them at 100 km/h. As the V tire comes to a full stop, the S tire still goes at about 25 km/h.

Why is the maximum speed unusual in mph?

NOTE: The maximum speeds seem unusual in mph. This is because the system of speed rating was developed in Europe, where speed is in km/h.

Do you see the speed rating on tires?

As for the tire codes, there you will see a speed rating for the particular tire. There will be no vehicle-related recommendations, so it would be wise to consult both the vehicle manufacturer’s suggestions and the markings on the tires.

What are the different speed ratings?

Most boat and utility trailer tires have this speed rating which is a maximum of 75mph

What is a speed rating?

Speed rating is established under controlled testing where – once again, under optimal conditions – the tire is verified as capable of safely running at (up to) the indicated miles per hour. Heavily worn, damaged, punctured, or repaired tires would all be considered sub-optimal, and no longer capable of safely accomplishing their max speed rating.

What does a Y rating mean on a tire?

Y rated tires have been tested at speeds up to, and in excess of, 186 mph (300 km/h) under optimal conditions. If Y speed rating is indicated without parentheses (as normal), this means the tire is rated up to 186 mph. If the Y speed rating is indicated inside of parentheses, this means that particular tire size and specification has been tested at speeds in excess of 186 mph. A Y speed rating denotes maximum tire performance.

How fast can an Audi tire go?

Going back to our Audi, the H speed rating is equal to 130 miles per hour, meaning that under optimal conditions, the tire can perform at speeds up to 130 mph. The speed rating doesn’t imply the vehicle can drive that speed, but the tires are capable of supporting the car at that speed.

What is the difference between a V and H tire?

H and V tires often go hand in hand. While the V rating technically allows for a higher maximum speed, practically speaking, this a distinction without much of a difference (in light of U.S. speed limits). Like H tires, Vs can deliver a taste of the performance attributes associated with high speed rated and high-performance tires (W, Y, and Z).

What is a W speed rated tire?

W speed rated tires generally offer plenty of performance for the street, including “spirited” (but responsible) drivers. At the same time, W tires don’t necessarily sacrifice everyday driving factors like comfort (ride quality, road noise), and treadlife warranty.

What is the speed restriction on a Z tire?

To understand the speed restriction of a Z speed rated tire, refer to the additional speed rating adjacent to the load index. In the case of a Z tire, the speed rating will either be W, Y, or (Y).

What is speed rating?

SPEED RATINGS REFER TO MORE THAN JUST SPEED. Contrary to the name, speed ratings aren’t just about speed. They’re also about ride comfort, wear and cornering ability. Typically, the higher the speed rating, the better the grip and stopping power, but the lower the tread life. You can always increase the speed rating of the tires on your vehicle ...

What does 99 mean on a tire?

99 = 1,709 pounds. A tire with a higher load index than that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an increase in load capacity . A tire with a load index equal to that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an equivalent load capacity. A tire with a lower load index than the Original Equipment tire indicates the tire does not equal ...