Tyre speed rating
Discussion
Insurance company / Modification is what might worry me most, sadly.
What happens with winter tyres (almost certainly very few are rated at 150mph+)?
I'm sure it'll come down to it just not being practical to enforce anyway - so unless you're super unlucky, or you fit something ridiculously unsuitable, nobody would care.
What happens with winter tyres (almost certainly very few are rated at 150mph+)?
I'm sure it'll come down to it just not being practical to enforce anyway - so unless you're super unlucky, or you fit something ridiculously unsuitable, nobody would care.
tigger1 said:
Insurance company / Modification is what might worry me most, sadly.
What happens with winter tyres (almost certainly very few are rated at 150mph+)?
I'm sure it'll come down to it just not being practical to enforce anyway - so unless you're super unlucky, or you fit something ridiculously unsuitable, nobody would care.
When I rang the insurance company earlier they said it's ok providing it is legal, so trying to find the definitive answer.What happens with winter tyres (almost certainly very few are rated at 150mph+)?
I'm sure it'll come down to it just not being practical to enforce anyway - so unless you're super unlucky, or you fit something ridiculously unsuitable, nobody would care.
If there are no tyres in the size required with the proper speed ratings then I would be inclined to run it by your insurance co. Mine was ok with it when speed rated tyres for my TVR Griffith were in short supply and it was easier to buy others just below the speed rating required .
If there are no tyres in the size required with the proper speed ratings then I would be inclined to run it by your insurance co. Mine was ok with it when speed rated tyres for my TVR Griffith were in short supply and it was easier to buy others just below the speed rating required .
Raygun said:
Is it legal to put an 'S' rated tyre (up to 112 mph)on my classic car that was tested at top speed of 118 mph when it left the factory in 1972?
I doubt it, that is why tyres have speed ratings. You would need a T rated tyre (119 mph). It is partly to do with acceleration stresses as well as top speed.AFAIK the only time it is legal to fit lower speed rated tyres is if they are winter tyres.
KevinCamaroSS said:
Raygun said:
Is it legal to put an 'S' rated tyre (up to 112 mph)on my classic car that was tested at top speed of 118 mph when it left the factory in 1972?
I doubt it, that is why tyres have speed ratings. You would need a T rated tyre (119 mph). It is partly to do with acceleration stresses as well as top speed.AFAIK the only time it is legal to fit lower speed rated tyres is if they are winter tyres.
Found this via the gov website (edited for formatting) which seems to indicate it's legal (see last item numbered '5') provided it's rated to at least 70mph - the implication here is that anything over 70mph is at your own risk...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...
Tyre Loads and Speed Ratings
25.—(1) This regulation applies—
(a) to a goods vehicle first used before 1st April 1987 in respect of which a plating certificate has been issued;
(b) to a vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1987, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer; and,
(c) from 1st April 1990 to every vehicle, whenever first used, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer.
(2) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies solely by virtue of paragraph 1(a) shall be equipped with tyres which, as respects strength, are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle.
(3) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) or (c) shall be equipped with tyres which are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle when the vehicle is driven at the speed shown in column 3 in the Table in the item in which the vehicle is described in column 2 (the lowest relevant speed being applicable to a vehicle which is described in more than one item).
TABLE (regulation 25(3))
1 A vehicle of a class for which a maximum speed is prescribed by the 1984 Act. The speed so prescribed
2 An electrically propelled vehicle having a maximum speed less than 70 mph. The maximum speed
3 A bus which is not driven at more than 50 mph. 50 mph
4 A low platform trailer, or a municipal vehicle, or a multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle. 40 mph
5 A vehicle not falling in items 1 to 4. 70 mph
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regul...
Tyre Loads and Speed Ratings
25.—(1) This regulation applies—
(a) to a goods vehicle first used before 1st April 1987 in respect of which a plating certificate has been issued;
(b) to a vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1987, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer; and,
(c) from 1st April 1990 to every vehicle, whenever first used, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer.
(2) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies solely by virtue of paragraph 1(a) shall be equipped with tyres which, as respects strength, are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle.
(3) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) or (c) shall be equipped with tyres which are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle when the vehicle is driven at the speed shown in column 3 in the Table in the item in which the vehicle is described in column 2 (the lowest relevant speed being applicable to a vehicle which is described in more than one item).
TABLE (regulation 25(3))
1 A vehicle of a class for which a maximum speed is prescribed by the 1984 Act. The speed so prescribed
2 An electrically propelled vehicle having a maximum speed less than 70 mph. The maximum speed
3 A bus which is not driven at more than 50 mph. 50 mph
4 A low platform trailer, or a municipal vehicle, or a multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle. 40 mph
5 A vehicle not falling in items 1 to 4. 70 mph
BertBert said:
What's that got to do with it?
Our company lease car supplier put lower speed rating (and mid-range) tyres on my car. I thought I'd easily stop that by asking the insurance company - I assumed they'd have a fit.R0G said:
Why yes ? - the max legal speed in the UK is 70 !
Their response was exactly as above - "you can't go faster than 70".
Sheepshanks said:
Our company lease car supplier put lower speed rating (and mid-range) tyres on my car. I thought I'd easily stop that by asking the insurance company - I assumed they'd have a fit.
Their response was exactly as above - "you can't go faster than 70".
Then they are idiots. Your 3rd party cover will be active whatever you do so how do they reason that? You could take the car abroad (or the Isle of Man) and legally do way over 70, just imagine the sTheir response was exactly as above - "you can't go faster than 70".
tstorm when the gestapo see your tyres after an incident.Besides which, I exceed 70 every day here. So you 'can'.
If I had a company car and they tried that on I would refuse to drive it.
cmaguire said:
Then they are idiots. Your 3rd party cover will be active whatever you do so how do they reason that? You could take the car abroad (or the Isle of Man) and legally do way over 70, just imagine the ststorm when the gestapo see your tyres after an incident.
Besides which, I exceed 70 every day here. So you 'can'.
Of course the tyres were rated far higher than 70 anyway, it was just that they were lower than those that came on the car from new. I wanted like-for-like - the leasing company we used put the cheapest they could get away with. Our fleet manager didn't care as long as they tyres had BS approval, which of course they all do.tstorm when the gestapo see your tyres after an incident.Besides which, I exceed 70 every day here. So you 'can'.
cmaguire said:
If I had a company car and they tried that on I would refuse to drive it.
You'd be told that you didn't have a job.Raygun said:
Is it legal to put an 'S' rated tyre (up to 112 mph)on my classic car that was tested at top speed of 118 mph when it left the factory in 1972?
I'll be honest, I wouldn't have even thought about it; I would have just done it without a single moment of hesitation or trepidation.Digby said:
I'll be honest, I wouldn't have even thought about it; I would have just done it without a single moment of hesitation or trepidation.
Totally agree and that was the case with my previous Triumph Stags but you know the times we are living in now.The tyre size in question is 185 14, a common CAR size once but not anymore, Michelin do one at over £200 each, Vredestein's can be had for £130 each, prices you'd expect to pay for some sort of Italian exotica not a 45 year old car BL turned out.
Sheepshanks said:
You'd be told that you didn't have a job.
Bet on that and you'd lose your money.The vehicle should have tyres of an appropriate speed rating. The national speed limit is irrelevant, how many drivers will check the rating before using a vehicle, they will rightly assume the vehicle has tyres appropriate to the vehicle and safe on that vehicle.
KevinCamaroSS said:
I doubt it, that is why tyres have speed ratings. You would need a T rated tyre (119 mph). It is partly to do with acceleration stresses as well as top speed.
AFAIK the only time it is legal to fit lower speed rated tyres is if they are winter tyres.
Absolutely none of this is correct.AFAIK the only time it is legal to fit lower speed rated tyres is if they are winter tyres.
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