-
When it is time to buy new tires, proper tire selection is critical to maintain the safety and handling of your car. Tire ratings are designed to assist in picking out appropriate tires.
Function
The letter ratings on tires show the maximum speed for which the tire has been safety tested. H-rated tires have a speed rating of 130 mph or 210 kph.
History
Tire speed ratings were invented in Germany in the 1980s for drivers using the high-speed autobahns.
Identification
The speed-rating letter is at the end of the tire-size listing. For example, on a 225/50R16 89H tire, the H indicates the speed rating.
Considerations
Tire speed ratings are lettered from slowest to fastest: L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, H, V, W, Y. As you can see, the H speed rating is out of alphabetical order, stuck between U at 124 mph and V at 149 mph.
Warning
Car manufacturers and government safety experts recommend against using a slower speed rating than what was originally installed on the car. In much of Europe, it is illegal to install lower speed-rated tires.
Source:
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC