Minimum tire speed rating for 92 LSL stock wheels?

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets


Hmph...I guess I've just never heard about that before. I'm pretty sure my Dunlops are H-rated.

According to the Tire Store Guy, it was a "liability issue."

[ensteele]

That is what they told me too.

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by Clydesvx
I got my last set of tires at Sam's Club. Good Year made one for them it was called a Goodyear GPS. Sadly they stopped making them. I put almost 60,000 miles on them and it's getting close to replacement time. They were V rated, quiet, and great in the snow and wet.
It seems whenever someone makes a tire that performs/wears well they discontinue them and start making crap!

How can you sell lots of tires if they last 60K? You gotta think like a bean counter looking after the company coffers!

-Johnny (thinks like a miser looking out for his own coffers)

[Yoda3000]

So wait, I was just about to buy Falken Ziex ZE-512 H-speed rated @ $77 each. I might go 130 like once a year, how serious is Subaru about this V thing?

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by Yoda3000
So wait, I was just about to buy Falken Ziex ZE-512 H-speed rated @ $77 each. I might go 130 like once a year, how serious is Subaru about this V thing?

It's all about one thing and one thing alone: legal responsibility. Subaru built a car that does 150mph. If they ever recommended, or even hinted that it would be ok to use a tire rated for less than that speed, and someone had an accident because of tire failure, they would be sued beyond belief.

That is the same reason that most tire shops will refuse to put anything less than a "Z" rated tire on an SVX. They would be the first ones to get a letter from the lawyer of the guy to whom they sold "H" rated tires after they blew when he exceeded 130mph.

-Johnny (always tries to cover his ass. it's too pimply)

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by CigarJohnny


That is the same reason that most tire shops will refuse to put anything less than a "Z" rated tire on an SVX.

In which case you pull out your manual and show them that it's okay (legally and otherwise) to put on a V rated tire. Then, if they want to lose the business, that's fine.

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by Aredubjay




In which case you pull out your manual and show them that it's okay (legally and otherwise) to put on a V rated tire. Then, if they want to lose the business, that's fine.

Thanks, Randy. "V" is what I should have said. For some reason I thought "Z" was the one good to 150mph. Chalk it up to a "brain fart".

Here is a reminder for others (as well as for me) of tire speed ratings and depending on the rated maximum speed of your vehicle. Most dealers will not sell you a tire that is not rated for your vehicle's maximum speed:

R....106MPH
S....112MPH
T....118MPH
U....123MPH
H....130MPH
V....149MPH
W....168MPH
Y....187MPH
Z....187+MPH

[Ron Mummert]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Aredubjay
[B]



In which case you pull out your manual and show them that it's okay (legally and otherwise) to put on a V rated tire.


Plus, you can pull out the manual when in court, show it to the judge, & say, "See....and the Mr. Tire guy said it was OK for me to do 140 on these tires". Automatic case dismissal guaranteed.

Ron (What kind of rubber did they run at Bonneville 50 years ago)?

[wawazat??]

Originally posted by CigarJohnny
Thanks, Randy. "V" is what I should have said. For some reason I thought "Z" was the one good to 150mph. Chalk it up to a "brain fart".

Here is a reminder for others (as well as for me) of tire speed ratings and depending on the rated maximum speed of your vehicle. Most dealers will not sell you a tire that is not rated for your vehicle's maximum speed:

R....106MPH
S....112MPH
T....118MPH
U....123MPH
H....130MPH
V....149MPH
W....168MPH
Y....187MPH
Z....187+MPH

Don't forget John, these are sustained speeds, not instantaneous. The rubber compound and tire construction method has to be able to handle the heat generated by hysteresis. Hysteresis is the heat generated by flexing of the tire as it rotates and compresses and expands as it hits the pavement. The higher rated speed tires typically use better rubber compunds, better belt materials and better quality control methods to ensure stability and structural integrity at higher speeds. This also ensure that they have a higher cost. Truly a case of you get what you pay for.

Todd

Todd

[Royal Tiger]

I believe Z states 149+ with W and Y being designed later. In 1988 the Z was the highest rated tire, then Ferrari and Lamborghini both pationed the NHTSA for a higher rated tire when the Diablo and I belive it was the F40 (could be wrong) were going through US certification procedings in Washington. That's when Y and W were first talked about. The last time I looked, Z still said 149+ with W and Y being sub classes of Z, ie it says Z with W and Y after the load index, verifing the 168 and 186 MPH ratings. The Sumitomo tires I had on my SVX were W rated. They were marked P225/50-ZR16 92W. The W was the rating, sub of Z, marked after the load index.

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by wawazat??


Don't forget John, these are sustained speeds, not instantaneous. The rubber compound and tire construction method has to be able to handle the heat generated by hysteresis. Hysteresis is the heat generated by flexing of the tire as it rotates and compresses and expands as it hits the pavement. The higher rated speed tires typically use better rubber compunds, better belt materials and better quality control methods to ensure stability and structural integrity at higher speeds. This also ensure that they have a higher cost. Truly a case of you get what you pay for.

Todd

Todd

This is true but remember what a litigous society we live in and the high cost of lawyers and payouts to the genetically challenged who always seem to walk away with uber-high settlements for their own stupidity. You and I know that we can get away with a brief 145mph run on an "H" rated tire but should Murphy's law come into play we all know how it would come down.

-Johnny (has great respect for Murphy and his laws)

[wawazat??]

Agreed, but don't blame the lawyers (Ms. wawazat?? is one).

Todd

[Ron Mummert]

They were marked P225/50-ZR16 92W. The W was the rating, sub of Z, marked after the load index. [/B][/QUOTE]


I hear Sumimoto also made an X rated tire. Yup - it really performed best on wet roads, especially when the rain was porn.

Ron (getting a grip on myself).

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by Ron Mummert
They were marked P225/50-ZR16 92W. The W was the rating, sub of Z, marked after the load index.


I hear Sumimoto also made an X rated tire. Yup - it really performed best on wet roads, especially when the rain was porn.

Ron (getting a grip on myself).

LMAO!

The little metal plate inside the driver's side door frame states the recommended tire pressures for front and back as well as a little note that says something to the effect of use at least Z rated tires only.

This is on my 94 in Australia anyway.