brickboy

Looking at tyres for my car, I need 205 / 55 R16.

In Continental Sportcontacts, I can get 205 / 55 R16 R, or R16 Z, or R16 V --but they are all different prices.

What do the R / Z / V mean?

Ta, Craig

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Speed ratings.

little miss fire

Hi ya - not sure - I think they may be the rating of the tyre. I had Sportcontacts on my Golf that were a Z. I think it works the higher the letter the better the rating? No doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong!

OllyK

Do a google on "tyre speed ratings" and it will tell you all about it

MattW

For the lazy

Speed Symbol "N" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 140 Km/h (88 Mph)
Speed Symbol "P" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 150 Km/h (94 Mph)
Speed Symbol "Q" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 160 Km/h (100 Mph)
Speed Symbol "R" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 170 Km/h (106 Mph)
Speed Symbol "S" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 180 Km/h (113 Mph)
Speed Symbol "T" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 190 Km/h (119 Mph)
Speed Symbol "U" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 200 Km/h (125 Mph)
Speed Symbol "H" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 210 Km/h (130 Mph)
Speed Category "VR" For vehicles having speed capability over 210 Km/h (e.g. 195.50 VR 15)
Speed Category "ZR" For vehicles with a speed capability over 240 Km/h (e.g. 205.40 ZR 17)
Speed Symbol "V" For vehicles with a speed capability not exceeding 240 Km/h (e.g. 225.55 R 15 91V)
Speed Symbol "W" For vehicles having speed capability not exceeding 270 Km/h (e.g. 225.60 R 15 96W)
Speed Symbol "Y" For vehicles having speed capability not exceeding 300 Km/h (e.g. 275.40 R 18 94Y)
ZR+ Speed Symbol "W" Tyres marked with both designations for vehicles with speed capability over 240 Km/h but not exceeding 270 Km/h
ZR+ Speed Symbol "Y" Tyres marked with both designations for vehicles with speed capability over 240 Km/h but not exceeding 300 Km/h

pslewis

R = Really Expensive

V = Very Expensive

Z = Zillion Pound Mortgage Required

Pete

ps. mine are 205/50 ZR 16, would 205/55 ZR 16 make any odds??

OllyK

Other than the profile being larger, thus making your speedo inaccurate and your tyres more likely to scrub your arches over bumps, no, not much.

GC8

Yes Pete; it would cause you speedometer to read innacurately and more importantly it would cause your brakes to be less effective. As Im sure that a nuclear scientist wont need an explanation for this I'll explain for everyone else: larger diameter wheel, brake disc diameter remains the same = greater moment so the brakes are less effective. People with pimped-up big wheels take note.

Simon

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Approx. 20mm increase in diameter