Tyre speed rating
- Thread starter esoteric
- Start date
As I understand it, even the 1.1 Rover 25 has a top speed of 100mph, meaning you'd need a R rated (max 106mph) tyre or better.
Edit: it would appear that it's not illegal to fit lower rated tyres (I never knew this), but websites appear to suggest it may invalidate your insurance if you dont. Confused?
Edit: it would appear that it's not illegal to fit lower rated tyres (I never knew this), but websites appear to suggest it may invalidate your insurance if you dont. Confused?
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Yeah, seems that's a possibility given insurance companies looking for any excuse not to pay out.
Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
They'd need to prove that having lower speed rated tyres contributed to or were the primary cause of the accident though.
Unless you crash at 107mph or above then they'd struggle.
I'm not saying they wouldn't try it (as I'm sure they would), but you'd win any dispute.
I had speed ratings explained by an ATS rep (when they were Stobarts tyre supplier) speed rating is almost irrelevant, why? Well, the speed limit is 70 and thus, so long as you were not speeding at the time of a crash / incident the speed rating won't come into it.
Clearly, it's sensible and prudent to fit the correct rating but in the vast majority of cases, most drivers will never drive near the limit of the tyre on a public highway which is where insurance is needed most.
Heck, a mate wrote off his Impreza a while back,driving it like a muppet, it had four odd tyres on it, two were not the correct rating and the other two were practically bald yet his insurers paid out without issue, after assessing what was left of it!
Clearly, it's sensible and prudent to fit the correct rating but in the vast majority of cases, most drivers will never drive near the limit of the tyre on a public highway which is where insurance is needed most.
Heck, a mate wrote off his Impreza a while back,driving it like a muppet, it had four odd tyres on it, two were not the correct rating and the other two were practically bald yet his insurers paid out without issue, after assessing what was left of it!
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Associate
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- 27 Jan 2014
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- 892
The speed and load rating (combined) are specified by the vehicle manufacturer and not really the maximum speed the tyre is expected to be used at. It is a gauging of failure mode.