Another thread about tyres...

[Hugo Nebula]

...But please bear with me.

I need new tyres, and looking on Blackcircles.com, they have Yokohama S306s in my size. Now, these are amongst the cheapest, and I've had Yokohamas on a previous car, so these are the preferred option. However, the load thingie is 94 rather than 91, and they are 'Reinforced'.

What does this mean exactly? Will these be better than '91' tyres or worse, in terms of performance, comfort and/or economy? On the Blackcircles site it only refers to reinforced tyres in the context of run-flat tyres.

 

[Bedlam]

...But please bear with me.

I need new tyres, and looking on Blackcircles.com, they have Yokohama S306s in my size. Now, these are amongst the cheapest, and I've had Yokohamas on a previous car, so these are the preferred option. However, the load thingie is 94 rather than 91, and they are 'Reinforced'.

What does this mean exactly? Will these be better than '91' tyres or worse, in terms of performance, comfort and/or economy? On the Blackcircles site it only refers to reinforced tyres in the context of run-flat tyres.

This may help http://www.v8register.net/articles/Tyre%20sidewall%20markings%20explained%20SF%20R9%2021.7.08.pdf

 

[truCido]

Reinforced tyres are just there to take a heavier vehicle. Please don't buy the cheapest tyres you can find, you'll regret it

 

[rich146]

Im going for Falken FK-452's from this lot. I believe they are a good all round middle of the road ( ) tyre.

 

[Hugo Nebula]

This may help http://www.v8register.net/articles/Tyre%20sidewall%20markings%20explained%20SF%20R9%2021.7.08.pdf

Unfortunately, it doesn't answer my question. I know that the load index is a measure of the maximum load the tyre is rated for and that I shouldn't fit a tyre with a lower load index than recommended by the manufacturer , but my query was, will it affect the handling, comfort and/or economy if I fit a tyre with a HIGHER load index than required?

 

[rich146]

Anyone??

 

[coggie]

So the load index of a tyre is the safe maximum load that it can take, '91' will take 615kg, 4 of those (2460kg) will do fine for a 1250kg car. Even fully loaded (1850kg ish) and leaning on it's outside tyres on a bend you'll do fine.

Upgrading to '94' is simply increasing the maximum safe load (from 615kg to 670kg) a tyre can handle. I'm no expert on tyre design, but the increased load may be because of a stiffer/thicker sidewall?? If that's the case then the ride may be firmer...

I've never used Yokohamas, so your preference is exactly that - Out of interest what model/tyre size are you running.

 

[Viking]

I run 94 rated tyres on the Altea on the winter wheels and haven't noticed any difference to the summer wheels with 91 rated tyres. Actually, to be truthful, the 94 rated ones seem to corner better without as much roll, but that could be due to differing tyres and compounds rather than different load ratings.

Given the choice, I'd go for 94 rated tyres I suppose.