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Given that high-speed tyres (e.g. H, V, W, ZR) are much more costly than those rated for lower speeds, plus the extremely low or zero probability of driving at anywhere near the maximum speeds for those ratings (e.g. 130 mph for H), would fitting tyres at lower speed ratings than those recommended in the car's handbook be wise or foolish?
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It's probably a bad idea - your insurance company wouldn't like it for one.
The issue is that apart from the speed capability, these tyres are also designed for the power outputs, suspension, braking and cornering capabilities of the faster cars. While you may not use the outright speed, you probably use the power.
Regards
John Slaughter
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If you were on holiday with the car in Germany or France and had the bad luck to have a
situation ie one of the numerous spot checks in Germany then your car would be impounded
if the tyres did not conform to those specified to your vehicle.
All vehicles in Germany have the tyre spec stamped in the short logbook as do any mods such as bull bars ,towbars etc
and must be accompanied by the appropriate test certificate.This is to stop people
running vehicles which could be a danger.
regards
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If you're looking to save money on tyres, why don't you try remounds? Now that you've stopped laughing....you can get them with the correct speed ratings, but make sure they have a BS kite mark. Our friends in Germany use them as a matter of course, just like we use recon starters or alternators, and you can get some dirt cheap.
I got 4 Colway AT 235/70X16 for my Range Rover, with the correct speed rating, for £201 fitted, at ATS. BFGoodridge equivilants cost double, and they don't last twice as long or grip twice as good. On a previous V6 Mondeo, I did the same, and couldn't tell the difference. The days of cross-ply remoulds on Moggy Minors has long gone, and forget all that baloney about truck tyres, do you know what pressures and loads they run at? I know Concorde is probably a bad example, but most airline tyres are remoulds.
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A good set of responses, for which many thanks. I hadn't even thought of remoulds and would be interested in HJ's opinion on that option in particular.
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John and Andrew are right. I never buy remoulds preferring cheap new tyres instead.
HJ
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I used remoulds in the past. Found they gave half the mileage on my marina but cost half as much. So if you do not do many miles and tend to damage your tyres by going over kerbs - they are OK. Otherwise, economically, there is no saving over unbranded new tyres. It also worries your passengers!
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Cars have improved since the Marina, so have remoulds.
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Dave,
Maybe, but if you buy a pair of new tyres you're sure they have identical carcasses beneath the tread, haven't been damaged and inportantly haven't been run for thousnads of miles, using up the fatigue life of the carcass.
I'm with HJ. Shop around, look out for special offers on tyre makes you've heard of - won't be as cheap as remoulds maybe, but your life depends on your tyres. A case in point - wanted some 145 x13 radials for a Minor - not the worlds most common size and ended up paying £33 each fitted and balanced for a set of Firestones. Could have got Michelins for at least £10 each more, or 'Nobby no names' from god knows where would have saved about £6 a tyre. Seemed like a good compromise to me!
Regards
John
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Correction - meant 145 x14 tyres!
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Could always try some of those Firestone jobs they fitted to Explorers in the US? Maybe that's where Colway get the carcasses for my Range Rover remoulds, saving them the job of removing the tread!!!
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Yes, could be!!
Last I read was that one big factor was that Firestone suggested a 30psi pressure for these tyres, but Ford stuck out for 26psi. Maybe regional differences in failures are related to how often people check their tyres, or how many use the basic pressure. Me, I use somewhere betwen normal and ful load, as I think it helps the handling.
Cheers
John
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I have tried cheap new tyres on my rear wheel drive LDV 200 van. On the front tyres I found they tended to wear heavily at the shoulders and also show cracking on the shoulders. This was despite putting in the correct pressure for full loads when I was mostly light. I put this down to the cheaper rubber on the shoulders which is less flexible than the more expensive tyres.
However I tend to drive on and off kirbs when manouvering. A more expensive tyre would have thinner sidewalls which would be more easily damaged. So on balance I would use cheaper new tyres.
My local supplier does not sell Firestone. Even before the recent problem he did not like the quality and refused to get them!
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