The meaning of tyre speed rating

If you are currently shopping for tyres, you may be surprised to learn that each tyre comes with a specific speed rating. The speed rating on a tyre is important because it represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for the maximum speed the tyre can be operated at safely, given the load or weight of the vehicle, under perfect road conditions. The speed rating for each tyre is determined by the manufacturer, which runs a series of specific tests in a controlled laboratory environment to come up with the rating.

How do I determine my tyre’s speed rating?

If you are wondering how to find the speed rating on your tyres, then you need to look at the end of a grouping of numbers and letters on the side of your tyre, which is also called the tyre size code, or the service description. A speed rating is represented by a letter, and this letter refers to a speed listed in kilometres per hour (or miles per hour).

Once you have determined the letter that represents the speed rating on your tyre, then you simply need to look at a speed rating chart and you will then see the associated speed rating listed in km/h or miles per hour. You could also refer to the chart at the bottom of this page, which was added to help you out. The tyre speed rating of the tyre can be found along with the tyre size e.g. width, profile and rim size. The speed rating is represented by a letter, for example, the letter “V”. According to the speed rating chart, the speed rating “V” indicates that the tyre is capable of handling a speed of 240 kilometers per hour.

You might be wondering, “Does the speed rating of a tyre matter?” The reason that it is important to know the speed rating on your tyre is that – to put it simply – you should not be operating your vehicle over your tyre’s suggested speed rating. In many cases, the speed rating on your tyre will exceed speed limits posted on your local roads and highways, and it is suggested that you always should observe these speed limits. Driving faster than your tyre’s speed rating can cause significant safety issues as well as the potential to cause damage to the tyres themselves.

Speed ratings were initially developed in countries where there are no posted speed limits on highways, such as Germany. Tyre manufacturers realized that they needed an international system to ensure the overall safety of their tyres worldwide.

Speed rating chart