Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating?

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 19:35
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

I am planning to put winter tyres on my car towards the middle/end of October and would just appreciate some advice as to what speed rating I can use for them to make sure I am not falling foul of insurance/law. I plan to order them this week.

My car's regular tyres are 205/50/17 W (Reinforced) and I 'think last year (on a different car so I can't remember for sure) I was able to reduce the speed rating from a then V to an H.

Would I be able to put an H on this size of tyre or would a V be the minimum you'd recommend?

Thanks.

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 20:13
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - RT

It's normal, and permissible, for winter tyres to be a much lower speed rating - sometimes as low as Q rated - after all you won't be going that fast in winter conditions.

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 21:14
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Collos25

You can buy winter tyres with any speed rating you want if you take your car abroad you need a max speed sticker on your dashboard if the tyres are below the specified speed rating.

Why would you want to buy tyres that are below the required speed symbol for the car there is no or very little difference in price .

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 21:53
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dabooka

You can buy winter tyres with any speed rating you want if you take your car abroad you need a max speed sticker on your dashboard if the tyres are below the specified speed rating.

Why would you want to buy tyres that are below the required speed symbol for the car there is no or very little difference in price .

Agreed, it about £5 a corner for my car (a Note) although actually finding them in stock is more likely to be the biggest deciding factor

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 22:26
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232
Hmm on looking this evening I've found there to be differences between W and V ratings with H rated tyres cheaper still.
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Mon 27 Aug 2012 22:47
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Mike H

Obvious question, but have you checked the handbook? I'd be surprised if you needed more than H-rated. My Saab 9-5 Aero, which comes as standard with 250bhp and 350Nm, is only specified for H-rated (but 94 load rated) tyres in the winter which is what I run it on. I'm thinking that your Volvo only has around half the power and torque so H-rated should be quite adequate. Do you really want to go at more than 130mph in the winter??

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Mon 27 Aug 2012 23:33
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

Obvious question, but have you checked the handbook? I'd be surprised if you needed more than H-rated. My Saab 9-5 Aero, which comes as standard with 250bhp and 350Nm, is only specified for H-rated (but 94 load rated) tyres in the winter which is what I run it on. I'm thinking that your Volvo only has around half the power and torque so H-rated should be quite adequate. Do you really want to go at more than 130mph in the winter??

Nope not at all my only intention is that whatever I stick on it is legal and not outside the sphere of awkwardness afforded by insurance companies. I'll check the handbook tomorrow and suspect that H rated ones will be just fine. Thanks a lot.
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Tue 28 Aug 2012 09:25
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Mike H

Forgot to mention that the reason I use H-rated is firstly, that they are quite adequate, and secondly, the same reason as you're trying to establish their viabilty - going up to V-rated is disproportionately a lot more expensive!!

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Tue 28 Aug 2012 11:16
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

I called my insurers earlier - to say they were disinterested would be an understatement. They said H rated would be fine so am gonna order them this week, though from the choice on offer I am not sure whoch to go for - probably Nokian as they seem as good as any other at a reasonable price point.

Thanks for the help.

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Tue 28 Aug 2012 11:23
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - unthrottled

So they were very impartial then? ;)

I can 't believe they didn't imediately 'invalidate' your insurance for such irresponsibility. Your wife and children could have been killed!

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Tue 28 Aug 2012 11:57
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

So they were very impartial then? ;)

I can 't believe they didn't imediately 'invalidate' your insurance for such irresponsibility. Your wife and children could have been killed!

Exactly. I did point out the earth shattering significance of my proposed modification and was met with 'what are winter tyres?'. The nub of it was that I should ring them back when I put them on and they'll 'make a note but it won't make any difference'.

I am now riddled with guilt at my utter recklessness.

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Tue 28 Aug 2012 11:59
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - gordonbennet

Nokians are good i run them as winters on my MB, but so are many others now, notably Vredestein but other good makes are available too.

I'm interested as to where you are looking, i browse 4 sites when i am looking for tyres, keeping a regular eye on them till the right bargain crops up then hit the buy button.

In no particular order Camskills, Mytyres, Tyremen and Oponeo, i have bought from the first three several times without the slightest problem and have read good things about Oponeo.

It should be borne in mind that Camskill charge a tenner for 4 tyre delivery where the others are, or were last time i used them, free del, bought a set of Vred Quatrac all seasons for a family member only last week when the price was spot on, delivered from Mytyres 2 days after ordering, thats the fastest so far.

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Tue 28 Aug 2012 19:52
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

Nokians are good i run them as winters on my MB, but so are many others now, notably Vredestein but other good makes are available too.

I'm interested as to where you are looking, i browse 4 sites when i am looking for tyres, keeping a regular eye on them till the right bargain crops up then hit the buy button.

In no particular order Camskills, Mytyres, Tyremen and Oponeo, i have bought from the first three several times without the slightest problem and have read good things about Oponeo.

It should be borne in mind that Camskill charge a tenner for 4 tyre delivery where the others are, or were last time i used them, free del, bought a set of Vred Quatrac all seasons for a family member only last week when the price was spot on, delivered from Mytyres 2 days after ordering, thats the fastest so far.

Same places as you really and have ordered from Oponeo before and thought they were good but bear in mind tey deliver from Germany so takes 5 or so working days to get here.

My budget is around 100 per tyre to be honest so that kinda rules out some of the premium brands but, being honest, whilst the premium brands may be 'better' I am not sure they are really worth an extra 25-50 quid ish per corner. I think brands like Falken, Nokian and Hankook/Kumho are just as worthy of consideration; especially as I don't plan to tear up tarmac speed wise anyway.

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Wed 29 Aug 2012 01:33
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Avant

Kumho are good value and have done very well on my old Z3 - although these aren't winter tyres.

I think you meant that your insurance company was uninterested.

Edited by Avant on 29/08/2012 at 23:24

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Wed 29 Aug 2012 10:28
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - skidpan

The winter tyres I bought, Kleber, were available in both H and V rating in 205 55 16 size. Car came from factory with V rated tyres but later cars were fitted with H rated ones. Checked with insurance and they were happy with either at £0 extra. The V's were £3 a tyre more thus in IMHO it was a no brainer

Edited by skidpan on 29/08/2012 at 10:29

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Wed 29 Aug 2012 15:55
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

Kumho are good vauie and have done very well on my old Z3 - although these aren't winter tyres.

I think you meant that your insurance company was uninterested.

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Wed 29 Aug 2012 15:56
Volvo S40/V40 - Winter Tyre Speed Rating? - Dingle232

Kumho are good vauie and have done very well on my old Z3 - although these aren't winter tyres.

I think you meant that your insurance company was uninterested.

I did - they were not in the last bit interested.

I actually ended up ordering 4 x Nokian WR A3's as my Swedish colleagues suggest that Nokians are the best in dealing with the Swedish winters so I think they'll be fine here. I was there last year when it was -27 so I reckon they may just know a thing or two.

Edited by Dingle232 on 29/08/2012 at 15:58

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