What speed are W tires rated for? (2023)

What does speed rating W mean on tires?

In our example, the "93" stands for the maximum-load rating of 1433 pounds. The letter W denotes the maximum speed rating, which translates 168 mph—not something intended for mom's minivan. See our list of speed ratings below, which range from a low of "L" (just 75 mph for some off-road tires) to a high of Y (186 mph).

Higher Tire Speed Ratings

Nissan, Cadillac, Toyota, and Honda are currently using higher original equipment or V-rated tires on approximately 70% of their brand new vehicles. A V rating represents 149 mph but no faster. W, on the other hand, means the tires can achieve maximum speeds of up to 168 mph.

This means that a tire with a V-rating, for example, can be driven at 149 miles per hour until it wears out! Less frequently seen ratings are Q 99 mph and R 106 mph- used in some light truck tires. The W rating replaced what was once Z, which was anything above 149 at the time, and is now limited to 168 mph.

The 94 load index tyre will have a weaker sidewall when compared to a 98 index tyre. That means on the same car with all conditions being equal the 94 index tyre will flex more and it's contact patch may also vary.

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

Performance all-season tires are of the “H” and “V” ratings. Ultra-high performance tires are can be of the “ZR”, “W”, and “Y” ratings. All-season truck tires are of the “S”, “T”, and “H” ratings.

Can I mix tyre speed ratings? Mixing tyre speed ratings isn't recommended. If you are in a situation where you must mix tyre speed ratings (after an emergency puncture, for example) then make sure the lower-rated tyres are on the front axle to prevent turning more sharply than you intended (oversteering).

The number is the load index. The higher the number, the more weight the tires can handle. In this case, "96" means the tire can handle 1,565 pounds, while the "Y" indicates the tire is rated to be safe at speeds up to 186 miles per hour.

SPEED RATINGS REFER TO MORE THAN JUST SPEED

They're also about ride comfort, wear and cornering ability. Typically, the higher the speed rating, the better the grip and stopping power, but the lower the tread life.

What happens if you exceed tire speed rating?

Running a tire at speeds higher than its rating can shorten the tire's life and potentially lead to a tire damage which could result in an accident, so it is important to follow the manufacturer's speed rating recommendations when you are choosing tires.

The 87 identifies the tire's ability to carry approximately 1,201 pounds. Typically, the load indexes of the tires used on passenger cars and light trucks range from 70 to 126.

One of the most important aspects of any tire is its speed rating. The wrong tires with a less-than-adequate speed rating for your vehicle can cause safety issues, including tire failure and a loss in fuel efficiency.

V rated tires are for continuous use up to 240 km/hr or 149 mph. W rated tires are for continuous use up to 270 km/hr or 168 mph.

The speed rating is displayed on the tyre's sidewall, after the load rating. In this example, the car's speed rating is W, which indicates that it has been legally approved for use up to 168 mph.

102: This is the load index. How much weight the tyre can carry. W: This is the speed index. The maximum speed the tyre is designed for.

Index rating of 91 allows up to 240km/h, the 94 up to 270km/h.

Aspect ratio

So if the tire markings indicate P225/45R17 91V, it means that the height of the sidewall is 225 multiplied by 0.55 or 101.25 millimeters. The number 45 means that the height is equal to 45 percent of the width. Bigger tire ratio indicates bigger and taller tire sidewall.

Does speed rating matter for winter tires?

The most popular winter tires feature speed ratings that are typically lower than the speed rating of the tires fitted to the car for the rest of the year. Regardless of the winter tire's speed rating, the speed at which the vehicle is driven cannot exceed the speed rating of the winter tire used.

For example, a Q-rated tire corresponds with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Winter tires for touring cars and SUVs are seldom rated higher than a T (190 km/h). The M+S (Mud + Snow) legend indicates that the tire has wider than normal gaps between the treads than a summer tire.

Is It OK to Mix Tires on Your Vehicle? The short answer is that, in general, manufacturers do not recommend tire mixing at all. For optimal safety and performance, it is recommended that vehicles are fitted with the same tires to every wheel position on your car.

We'd never recommended mixing tyres with different speed ratings on your vehicle. It's safest to fit the same size and type of tyre, with the same speed rating, on all your wheels.

The 98 says the tire can safely carry — when properly inflated — 1,653 pounds. This code ranges from 60 (551 pounds) to 114 (2,601 pounds).

This first purpose-built tire was designated the 31/10.5 W. It was wider by an extra inch, making the footprint nearly 11.5 inches. “I think it was the biggest small tire that we had,” recalled Carl Robinson, head of Mickey Thompson's Motorsports Division.

Front tyres tend to wear faster, up to 2.5 times faster on some cars. The left front tyre has it the hardest. It is the most heavily loaded and responsible for transmitting most of the steering during right hand turns.

UNIQUE SPEED RATINGS

In this system, tires with a Z rating would be the fastest rated tires out there. And at one time, Z rated tires were thought to be the highest rated tires a vehicle would need.

Traveling too fast over a speed bump is similar to hitting a pothole at high speed. The jolt you feel afterward can cause significant problems with your vehicle alignment, springs, shocks, struts, and/or ball joints. It can even change your tire pressure or cause a tire to blow out.

How fast can you drive over a speed bump?

Ideally, you shouldn't go faster than 5 mph when traveling over a speed bump. Any faster and you'll likely experience a substantial jolt that can harm your tires—not to mention several other parts of your vehicle such as its shocks, steering, exhaust system, and bumpers.

High-speed driving leads to a greater chance of tire burst (aka tire blowout) than at low speeds. The centrifugal force–the apparent force that pushes energy outward from a body that revolves around a center–can become immense, as does the heat buildup caused by the friction between the tire and the road.

“R” stands for the construction method of the tire indicating the tire is a radial tire. The following two numbers (16) indicate the diameter of the wheel rim in inches. The next two or three numbers (94) indicate the load index of the tire.

The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity. 97 = 1,609 pounds. 98 = 1,653 pounds. 99 = 1,709 pounds. A tire with a higher load index than that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an increase in load capacity.

Just remember, never mix and match tires with different speed ratings on your vehicle. This will cause major problems with the handling of your vehicle. If tires of different speed ratings are mounted on a vehicle, the lower speed-rated tires should be placed on the front axle, regardless of which axle is driven.

One of the most important aspects of any tire is its speed rating. The wrong tires with a less-than-adequate speed rating for your vehicle can cause safety issues, including tire failure and a loss in fuel efficiency.

Please try again. A: Weight limit and speed rating. 96W means they are rated to carry more weight than yours.

The “18” that follows stands for the rim diameter in inches. The load capacity is identified using a numerical code “100” which in this case signifies 800 kg. With the “W” we come to the speed rating – “W” stands for 270 km/h. Other codes are “H” for 210 km/h, “V” for 240 km/h or “Y” for 300 km/h.

(95) Load Index

The larger the number, the higher the load capacity. This is one of the most important numbers on your tire. To find out what "95" means, you have to look it up on a Load-Carrying Capacity Per Tire chart. Ninety-five indicates a maximum weight of 1,521 pounds.

What does 72w mean on a tire?

The 'W' is grouped with the load index (73) because this is the maximum speed of the tyre when it is at the maximum load it can carry. So in this case, if you load the tyre to 365kg then the speed rating of the tyre becomes 168mph as per the above speed index.