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Tire rating speeds Posted by MI-Roger [Email]  (#882) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from MI-Roger) on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:38:19
In Reply to: Re: Do you drive at Z rated speeds?, Blake, Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:04:14 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I got these from Tire Rack's site:
H = 130MPH max speed
V = 149MPH max speed
Z = >149MPH speed (this was thought to be the maximum rating necessary when speed ratings were first developed)
W = 168MPH max speed
Y = 186MPH max speed
My Base model 9-5 has a theoretical top speed of 133MPH, IIRC, therefore it came from the factory with V-rated tires. But an H-rated tire should be more than adequate for anything other than maximum speed runs on the Boneville salt flats.
The Aero model has a theoretical (and measured by Car & Driver) top speed of 155MPH, therefore it came from the factory with Z (or W) rated tires. A V-rating should be adequate, and maybe even an H-rating depending on your driving style.
The guy at the tire store may be follwing corporate guidelines to not install lower rated tires, or he may be personally concerned about the safety of customers who install low rated tires on cars which can achieve very high speeds, or he may be trying to sell you up into a more expensive tire.
I would classify a V-rating as adequate for an Aero in the US, and I would not argue with an owner who opted for the less expensive H-rated tires. 130MPH is still significantly higher than the typical 70MPH speed imits found on our highways.
I can say from experience that H-rated snow tires feel much more secure on dry cold clear expresssways than Q-rated (99MPH max speed) snow tires when traveling at 80MPH. The tires begin to feel weird as you approach their maximum rated speeds.
posted by 98.250.156...
_______________________________________ Saabs owned: 2008 9-5 Aero Sedan, sold at 227K miles 2006 9-3SC 2.0T - Wife's daily driver 2000 Viggen Convertible - Sold May, 2022 1964 Quantum IV Formula Car - Retirement project 2000 9-5lpt Sedan, sold at 318K miles
, Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:31:48, Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:32:20, Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:38:19 <-- Viewing This Message, Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:54:10
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