What is the speed rating of my tires?

If you are currently shopping for tires, you may be surprised to learn that each tire comes with a specific speed rating. The speed rating on a tire is important because it represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for the maximum speed the tire can be operated at safely, given the load or weight of the vehicle, under perfect road conditions. The speed rating for each tire is determined by the manufacturer, which runs a series of specific tests in a controlled laboratory environment to come up with the rating.

How do I determine my tire’s speed rating?

If you are wondering how to find the speed rating on your tires, then you need to look at the end of a grouping of numbers and letters on the side of your tire, which is also called the tire size code, or the service description. A speed rating is represented by a letter, and this letter refers to a speed listed in kilometres per hour (or miles per hour).

Once you have determined the letter that represents the speed rating on your tire, then you simply need to look at a speed rating chart and you will then see the associated speed rating listed in km/h or miles per hour. You could also refer to the chart at the bottom of this page, which was added to help you out. The tire speed rating of the tire can be found along with the tire size e.g. width, profile and rim size. The speed rating is represented by a letter, for example, the letter “V”. According to the speed rating chart, the speed rating “V” indicates that the tire is capable of handling a speed of 240 kilometers per hour.

You might be wondering, “Does the speed rating of a tire matter?” The reason that it is important to know the speed rating on your tire is that – to put it simply – you should not be operating your vehicle over your tire’s suggested speed rating. In many cases, the speed rating on your tire will exceed speed limits posted on your local roads and highways, and it is suggested that you always should observe these speed limits. Driving faster than your tire’s speed rating can cause significant safety issues as well as the potential to cause damage to the tires themselves.

Speed ratings were initially developed in countries where there are no posted speed limits on highways, such as Germany. Tire manufacturers realized that they needed an international system to ensure the overall safety of their tires worldwide.

Speed rating chart