Another tyresome question

[boltontvr]

What is the speed rating needed for 225/50 15 tyres?
You can get Toyo Proxes TS-1 tyres for £69.90 on www.mytyres.co.uk, but they are V rated. Is a Z rated tyre required? Hopefully not, because at seventy quid, plus maybe another tenner for fitting, they are much cheaper than elsewhere.

[redcar]

Kim.
I have checked with my company tyre supplier and they have advised the following.
V rated tyres are tested to 130MPH
Z rated tyres are tested to 150+MHP

It depends how fast you want to go, but Z are safer I would have thought.
Martin.

>> Edited by redcar on Thursday 19th February 16:25

[streaky]

FWIW, "Black Circles" (www.blackcircles.com/tyres/speedrating) quote both Z with a top speed of 149mph. W is given as 168 and Y as 186. Goodyear quote ZR as 149+.

If you do not fit tyres with the original (or higher) rating, it is a potential MOT failure point.

Streaky

[19560]

Splitting hairs, neither of the above replies is accurate. Fit W, Y, or Z for the 390, V are OK for a 350. Not an MoT failure for any fitment but don't let that influence you; safety and fitness for purpose is more important. Full answer is complex, lengthy and not really worth hearing. J

[jmorgan]

I had the ZR Proxy's a few weeks ago. They were listed at around 50p more expensive than the V.

[NHyde]

bolton TVR YHM

[jvaughan]

jmorgan said:

I had the ZR Proxy's a few weeks ago. They were listed at around 50p more expensive than the V.

yes, generally the higher the speed rating, the softer the rubber compound, and the quicker they wear out.

I put the wrong tyre on my old cavalier... 3x HR rated, one VR rated. The odd one lasted about 6000 miles, where as the other three lasted about 9 - 10,000 miles.

[jmorgan]

jvaughan said:

jmorgan said: I had the ZR Proxy's a few weeks ago. They were listed at around 50p more expensive than the V. yes, generally the higher the speed rating, the softer the rubber compound, and the quicker they wear out. I put the wrong tyre on my old cavalier... 3x HR rated, one VR rated. The odd one lasted about 6000 miles, where as the other three lasted about 9 - 10,000 miles.

That explains a few things. Wasn't aware of that.

[boltontvr]

NHyde said:

bolton TVR YHM

Neil, so do you.

jmorgan said:

I had the ZR Proxy's a few weeks ago. They were listed at around 50p more expensive than the V.

I've noticed the difference in price on Blackcircles, unfortunately mytyres don't quote for z rated tyres.
You've all pretty much confirmed what I already thought, I just didn't want to pass up on a bargain .

[TaSmania]

Jason, I can't believe you admitted to owning a Cavaliar. It's nearly as bad as someone owning a Maestro - oops!
Tas

[jvaughan]

TaSmania said:

Jason, I can't believe you admitted to owning a Cavaliar. It's nearly as bad as someone owning a Maestro - oops! Tas

Dont you believe it, I still struggle to find a car that is as good an all rounder than my cavalier 1.8 GL

Before the Cav, I used to have a Fiat Uno too

[streaky]

19560 said:

Splitting hairs, neither of the above replies is accurate. Fit W, Y, or Z for the 390, V are OK for a 350. Not an MoT failure for any fitment but don't let that influence you; safety and fitness for purpose is more important. Full answer is complex, lengthy and not really worth hearing. J

You are quite correct about the MOT failure from a tyre rating perspective, I was quoting an (obviously incorrect) online source - S

[ralph dodds]

19560 said:

Not an MoT failure for any fitment but don't let that influence you; safety and fitness for purpose is more important. Full answer is complex, lengthy and not really worth hearing. J

The other issue that you may wish to consider is insurance. A friend of mine had an own fault accident a couple of years ago in a BMW to which he'd fitted HR rated tyres on a car that should have been fitted with VR. Even though the accident was at 40mph the insurance company argued that he had failed to keep the car in a roadworthy condition and refused to pay out. It went to court and the insurance company won.