Tyre speed rating

Published April 6, 2012
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The speed rating for a tyre is represented by an alphabet at the end of a combination of letters and numbers on the sidewall of the tyre

When the treads on a car’s tyres are worn, it’s time for a new set of tyres. Follow the car manufacturer’s recommendations while selecting the new tyres. If your vehicle has a ‘V’ tyre speed rating, it is capable of handling speeds of 240km/h, while a ‘U’ speed rating specifies maximum speed of 200km/h. So you need tyres that match you car’s performance.

Tyres are constructed with different treads, amounts of rubber, reinforced fabric or steel cords according to the performance parameters. Naturally, exceeding the tyre’s speed limit will put you and your car in hazardous straits, owing to the possibility of bursting or the tread peeling off. Drive according to the speed rating of you car’s tyres.

Ascertain the top speed of your vehicle from the manufacturer’s manual or test reports in auto journals before selecting the tyres. Tyres with a speed rating higher than that of your vehicle’s top speed are the safe bet.

Here is a tyre speed rating chart to help you choose the perfect set of tyres:

Code	km/h	Code	km/h
A1	5	L	120
A2	10	M	130
A3	15	N	140
A4	20	P	150
A5	25	Q	160
A6	30	R	170
A7	35	S	180
A8	40	T	190
B	50	U	200
C	60	H	210
D	65	V	240
E	70	Z	Over 240
F	80	W	270
G	90	(W)	Over 270
J	100	Y	300
K	110	(Y)	Over 300