When choosing tires, most people immediately think about size, tread pattern, and durability. That’s only natural since these considerations are essential to making a good purchase. However, the tire speed rating is a factor most people either overlook or completely forget when shopping around.
It’s more than random letters. The tire speed rating affects your car’s safety and performance, especially at high speeds. It’s particularly important in the Philippines, where driving conditions vary widely, from Metro Manila’s stop-and-go traffic to the more relaxed pace of rural provincial highways. Knowing how your tires will perform in these settings can make your driving experience more pleasant.
This tire speed rating chart takes a closer look at what tire speed ratings are and the most common ratings you’ll encounter to help you pick the best tires for your vehicle and driving preferences.
What is a Tire Speed Rating?
A tire speed rating is a letter code indicating the maximum speed your tire can safely handle. Manufacturers assign these ratings, following ISO 4000-1 standards—a consistent framework that educates drivers regarding the maximum safe speed of tires.
You’ll find this rating on a sticker on your driver’s side door, owner’s manual, or tire sidewall. The last single letter is usually beside the load index and indicates the tire speed rating.
Here’s an example where “S” is the tire speed rating.
P215/65R15 95S
The higher the speed rating, the better your car’s wheels can go on high-speed driving without overheating or suffering from poor fuel consumption. Those with lower ratings are ideal for daily city driving or highway travel. Meanwhile, higher ratings are for vehicles that regularly travel fast, such as sports cars or those that usually traverse expressways like Germany’s Autobahn.
Keep in mind that speed ratings don’t represent your actual speed limit. These figures come from highly controlled laboratory tests and don’t represent the irregularity and unpredictability of actual road conditions. In other words, it’s best to drive slower than what your tire speed rating indicates and not try to reach or surpass it.
10 Most Common Tire Speed Ratings
Tire speed ratings use letter codes to indicate the maximum speed a tire can handle, depending on its design, material, and intended use. Here’s a breakdown of what each means and how it affects your driving experience.
N
This rating is usually for temporary spare tires. As expected for stand-ins, they can’t travel on highways and expressways at high speeds, so they’re uncommon for daily driving. However, N-rated tires can provide adequate performance of up to 140 km/h when driving to the nearest tire shop or service center. After all, it’s not ideal to use spares as full-time replacements for your regular tires.
P
P-rated tires offer moderate speed performance for less demanding conditions. Their max speed is 150 km/h. You’ll likely find them on spare tires, vintage restorations, and older, low-performance vehicles running at a regular driving pace.
Q
Need wheels for the cold weather? Q-rated tires handle the speeds necessary to traverse frigid and slippery roads, making them popular late in the year—although they can be your all-season tires.
They have a maximum speed of 160 km/h—well above the recommended 70 km/h speed limit on slippery terrain. They’re not enough for high-speed driving, but they still provide enough traction for driving slowly in challenging environments.
S
S-rated tires, with a max speed of 180 km/h, are the most common rating on most passenger automobiles. They’re ideal for vehicles that don’t regularly travel at high speeds, such as those you take on daily city commutes or neighborhood driving. Still, they can traverse highways and expressways without wearing down or affecting your performance.
T
This rating is a slight upgrade from the S rating. Its max 190 km/h speed makes it a common sight on main thoroughfares. T-rated tires are perfect for vehicles that drive longer at moderate speeds, such as family sedans, vans, and light trucks. Tires with the T speed rating ensure comfort and safety at top speed, whether for daily city and highway driving or periodic road trips.
H
H-rated tires are for higher-speed vehicles like sports sedans and coupes, thanks to their 210 km/h top speed. As such, they’re a popular choice for drivers who frequently use highways or expressways and need tires that can maintain stability and control at top speeds. Still, they balance performance and usability.
V
Tires with a V rating are primarily for performance vehicles like sports cars, offering superior traction and stability on the fast lane. Since they can safely handle up to 240 km/h speeds, these heavy-duty tires won’t negatively impact driving performance and risk blowouts. These tires are perfect for drivers who enjoy driving on highways without speed limits or those who frequent race tracks.
W
W-rated tires satisfy your need for speed with their maximum speed capacity of 270 km/h. These tires are best for extreme high-performance driving, so you’ll usually find them in sports cars and luxury vehicles requiring top-notch handling and high-speed stability. These tires allow you to maintain control and stay safe even above typical limits.
Y
Y-rated tires are among the highest speed-rated tires available for consumer vehicles. They can maintain speeds of up to 300 km/h, so there isn’t much practical use for them outside of racetracks. Primarily designed for sports cars and high-end supercars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, Y tires provide top-of-the-line tire technology to maintain stability at extreme speeds.
Z
Tires exceeding 300 km/h have a Z-rating. You can typically find them on race cars and high-performance vehicles that demand peak performance. This speed rating is too much for regular drivers, so you’ll rarely see them in the market. However, they’re the ultimate choice for high-speed motorsports drivers and enthusiasts.
How Tire Speed Ratings Enhance Driving Safety
Besides indicating how fast a tire can go, tire speed rating also plays a crucial role in safe driving. Each rating ensures your tires can handle stress and conditions at their rated speed.
1. Heat resistance
Tires are in constant contact with the ground. So, as they rotate, the friction generates considerable heat—especially at high velocity. As such, tires with high-speed ratings use heat-resistant materials to prevent overheating during fast drives, which would otherwise cause them to break down or blow out.
2. Braking performance
These ratings also indicate how well your tires can handle braking forces at top speeds. High ratings can maintain adequate traction and stability even when suddenly stopping at high speeds without significantly damaging the rubber. You’ll have a better chance of avoiding collisions and other accidents.
3. Emergency maneuvering
Your tires must maintain control during situations that demand quick reflexes, like swerving to avoid another vehicle. High-speed-rated tires provide superior grip and responsiveness during sharp turns and sudden maneuvers—which can spell the difference between avoiding an accident or losing control of your vehicle.
4. Evenness of wear and tear
When you use tires beyond their rated speed, they might wear unevenly. These conditions can increase the risk of premature tire failure—a hazardous event when driving fast. Tires with a rating that matches your driving habits reduce the likelihood of uneven wear, last longer, and keep you safe on the road.
5. High-speed safety
As mentioned, tires with higher speed ratings use more robust materials and better construction to provide stability at greater speeds. These features prevent tire deformation or traction loss, which may occur when tires surpass their speed limit. Fortunately, the proper tire rating helps you drive without worrying about slipping or losing control of your car.
Get the Right Rating with Triangle Tires
It might be tempting to overlook speed ratings. However, they’re among the most important things to remember when shopping for new tires. The right tire speed rating ensures optimal heat resistance, traction, and stability when driving at your preferred speeds. You’ll also save more as your tires sustain less wear and last longer.
Need help finding quality tires for your vehicle? Triangle Tires has a vast selection of choices for every vehicle and speed rating, from passenger cars to heavy equipment vehicles—all available for delivery and at an affordable price.
Browse our tire catalog, or contact us to learn more!
