A Quick Tyre Question

[Leigh15]

Well Hopefully anyway....

The rear tyres are up for replacement on my Leon, but I'm unsure as to what the correct speed rating is for the car.

I currently have two different ratings on there (can't remember what they are off the top of my head - sorry!). Does anyone know the correct rating?

Tyre size is 195/65 R15 - if that helps

Thanks all

 

[Willie]

Go for the fastest speed rating you can afford
Like with Good Year Eagles the are rated for 150 MPH plus, this willn't effect your car if your car only does say 130 MPH but will if its the other way around

 

[Leigh15]

I was looking at 'H' rating which is 130mph - that seems to be what the majority of the tyres of that size are rated at.

 

[Dyscontinued]

What's the maximum speed of your car? Just get the next speed rating up from that.

 

[Leigh15]

Not a lot - it's only a 1.4

I'll have to check the handbook for the max speed - can't see it being anywhere close to 130mph - that was the max speed of my Ibiza!

 

[Leigh15]

Hmmm - I've been looking on etyres and thought I'd bump the speed rating up from 'H' to 'V' and the tyres are actually cheaper in this rating - weird!

I think I'm going to go for some Good Year Excellence tyres - all the normal favourites aren't produced in the weird size I need - I've read a few reviews and the Excellences seem fairly highly rated.

Will let you know how they are

 

[Willie]

Cool

 

[ChrisUK]

I have a table somewhere, give me a sec

 

[ChrisUK]

Here you go:

Speed Rating Miles/Hour

N 87

P 93

Q 99

R 106

S 112

T 118

U 124

H 130

V 149

Z 150+

W 168

Y 186

 

[Leigh15]

Cool - thanks mate

Couldn't find any definite information in the handbook. The car has some old Dunlop SP10's on the back at the moment which I suspect have been on the car from new - 55k is just about possible considering it was owned by an old boy and they've probably never been rotated. They are on a 'T' rating, which is probably about right for the car. They look VERY old! The sidewalls are starting to get those tiny little splits on them that you see on old tyres.

The fronts are a cheap budget brand - 'H' rating, although they're useless - no wet grip at all - I'm hoping they don't last much longer and I can stick the Good Years on the front too.

BTW - anyone in Cardiff area wanting tyres from eTyres - the nearest depot is in Bristol - they come over the bridge once a week and share the bridge toll for the van between the customers on that day - still works out cheaper than black circles

 

[UncleFester]

Have a look at continental sport contacts too Leigh - you might also get a deal on some 16" alloys with tyres for not a huge amount more than the cost of 4 tyres for your 15" wheels.

Also have a look at www.camskill.co.uk as they do some good deals on tyres.

The reason your faster tyres were cheaper is that there's more of a market for them, greater supply, hence lower cost

 

[mathias.leon]

Don't you have the same crappy EU regulation as we have in Sweden that says that the whole car has one approval with lots of details that are stupid? Like tyres, where the manufacturer is too lazy/cheap to specify properly for each model. My Leon 1.6 hardly makes it past 180 km/h and I never have nor will drive faster than 165 km/h for longer periods, still the "slowest" tyres I'm allowed to fit are H (210 km/h) which is ridiculous. R or even Q tyres (160 km/h) would suit my needs but I'm forced to buy more expensive tyres.

 

[Willie]

We don't have this but as has been said the higher speed rating tyres are more popular here so they are cheaper due to higher demand

 

[Leigh15]

Have a look at continental sport contacts too Leigh - you might also get a deal on some 16" alloys with tyres for not a huge amount more than the cost of 4 tyres for your 15" wheels.

Also have a look at www.camskill.co.uk as they do some good deals on tyres.

The reason your faster tyres were cheaper is that there's more of a market for them, greater supply, hence lower cost

I'm not a big fan of continentals - I had a set on my Fiesta and they didn't wear very well - it's kind of put me off the brand

Also, this car is staying 100% standard - any spare pennies are going in the pot to buy me a new car next year - this Leon was only ever a stop gap due to the new house

I did look at camskill and their prices seem very good, but I've been sold on the idea of someone coming out to me and fitting the tyres at work - laziness rules!

 

[UncleFester]

Heh i like the style - if it's just a stop gap then just put some better budget cheapies on and just drive it. As you say, there's no point spanking coin on something you're not going to see the benefit of, not least when you're saving for a new toy

 

[Leigh15]

A quick update - I had the tyres fitted today. The fitter was at my work by 09:20 and it took him less than 25mins to fit the tyres. He was friendly and helpful and seems to have done a good job.

I haven't had a chance to drive the car yet, so can't comment on the tyres, but they look pretty nice - here are some pictures -

Before anyone says it - the car's being washed on Sunday!!