Can I drop a speed rating?

[Merlot]

The tyres on my shed are H rated (130mph).

I can get a good deal on some T rated tyres (118mph), considerably cheaper than H rated equivalents.

The car has a top speed of 111mph, but it never sees above 80 and rarely more than 65.

The car has H rated tyres at the moment and the handbook says H.

My insurers don't know what I'm on about.

Can I take advantage of some savings?

[Superhoop]

Merlot said:

The tyres on my shed are H rated (130mph).

I can get a good deal on some T rated tyres (118mph), considerably cheaper than H rated equivalents.

The car has a top speed of 111mph, but it never sees above 80 and rarely more than 65.

The car has H rated tyres at the moment and the handbook says H.

My insurers don't know what I'm on about.

Can I take advantage of some savings?

Or at least that's what they'll tell you untill you're unfortunate enough to have an accident, and they try and wriggle out of paying the claim - Not saying it's waht will happen, but I'd be worried just in case it did

[y2blade]

Superhoop said:

Merlot said:

The tyres on my shed are H rated (130mph).

I can get a good deal on some T rated tyres (118mph), considerably cheaper than H rated equivalents.

The car has a top speed of 111mph, but it never sees above 80 and rarely more than 65.

The car has H rated tyres at the moment and the handbook says H.

My insurers don't know what I'm on about.

Can I take advantage of some savings?

Or at least that's what they'll tell you untill you're unfortunate enough to have an accident, and they try and wriggle out of paying the claim - Not saying it's waht will happen, but I'd be worried just in case it did

I was told it was the same with winter tyres too...you need to declare them

[Cost Captain]

what car and tyre size is it? loads of cars are driving round on 1 or more speed ratings higher than they need anyway because of what was available when they had their tyres changed before.

Had a renault scenic come in with 205/50 zr 16 on it, and it was a 1.6 petrol, fitted with 205/50 H 16 from the factory, and had to try to explain to the very nervous gent that the car was already hugely over-specced on tyres and that going 'down' to the correct speed rating would save him money with no real draw backs.

[Accelebrate]

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that calling it a 'speed' rating is actually a bit misleading and it was more to do with the weight of the vehicle rather than it's theoretical maximum speed.

[Cost Captain]

Accelebrate said:

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that calling it a 'speed' rating is actually a bit misleading and it was more to do with the weight of the vehicle rather than it's theoretical maximum speed.

The speed rating is the speed that the tyre is guaranteed to at full load. size load indexes are hugely over specified the tyre has a huge safety margin.

[BeeRoad]

Cost Captain said:

Accelebrate said:

I might be wrong, but I was under the impression that calling it a 'speed' rating is actually a bit misleading and it was more to do with the weight of the vehicle rather than it's theoretical maximum speed.

The speed rating is the speed that the tyre is guaranteed to at full load. size load indexes are hugely over specified the tyre has a huge safety margin.

But as other posters have said - it's not about safety, it's about insurance. Insurers are always vague and confused sounding about things like this, then you have a bump and they go for the jugular. Personally I wouldn't risk it to save a few quid, stick with what the people who built the car specify and you can't go wrong.

[Rich1973]

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I understand you can drop a speed rating but the load rating MUST be correct or the insurance company will take a very dim view in the event of an accident.

Richard