What is a tyre speed rating?
What speed ratings are.
On the sidewall of all of your tyres is a code that explains what the maximum speed is for that specific tyre under proper inflation. This code is known as the speed rating and is denoted by an alphabet letter.
Where to find it
To find the speed rating, look at the last letter of the tyre size. Imagine the tyre size was 205/55 R16 91V. The V would be the speed rating.
Examples of speed ratings
| Ratings | Maximum speed | Vehicle type |
|---|
| T |
118 mph (190 km/h) |
Family saloons and cars |
| H |
130 mph (210 km/h) |
Larger cars and saloons |
| V |
149 mph (240 km/h) |
GTIs and sports saloons |
| W |
168 mph (270 km/h) |
Cars with performance qualities |
| Y |
186 mph (300 km/h) |
Super and high-performance cars |
The reason for speed ratings
It is vital that you only replace or install tyres that have a speed rating equal to or greater than what is shown on the original tyres that came on your vehicle. If this is not done, on a long journey your tyre could get hot enough to cause a loss of control of your vehicle, as well as a potential failure of the tyre. It may even cause your car insurance to be void and your MOT to fail. Luckily for you, our registration search on Tyres.co.uk checks for this.
