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Performance Tires & Speed Ratings

performance tire Tires are the most important components that determine the limits of your car's road holding performance. Before we go, please note that a tire is have to be changed with a new one not only when it is worn out. It is the quality and the freshness of the rubber compound what makes a car tire grip so well and strong, thus you will have to change them according to your driving style for better performance.

Performance tires wear out faster than all-season radials, and performance tires are more expensive, but it's a fact that performance tires combine good looks with good grip for precise, high-speed driving. If you have a performance car, or want to begin tuning your car by changing your old tires, a tire profile of 40 or 45 are the best choices for a good look, but not for the comfort of you and your wallet as price gets more expensive when you choose lower profiles. If you can't afford it, your choice must be a maximum of 55.

What does all these letters and numbers mean?

Now lets take a look at what these famous letter and numbers on your tire's sidewall mean: Let's take P 205/50V15 for example:

The first letter, 'P', stands for 'Passenger Car'
The first number, '205' is tire's width in millimeters. 20.5 cm....
Be careful! The second number doesn't indicate a length in millimeters or cm.'s as so much people think so. This is the 'Aspect Ratio', the ratio of sidewall height (also known as profile) to width. In this case, the sidewall height is 50 percent of 205 mm, thus, 102,5 mm.
And now, the most important part: Speed ratings... The letter following the aspect ratio indicates the maximum speed that the tire is designed to withstand if it is properly inflated and not overloaded, for short periods of time. The most common speed rating are:

Q (max. 160 km/h)
R (max. 170 km/h)
S (max. 180)
T (max. 190)
U (max. 200)
H (max. 210)
V (maximum 240 km/h)
Z (higher than 240)
W (maximum 270 km/h)
Y (maximum. 300 km/h)

Generally, the higher a tire's speed rating, the better it's resistance to heat buildup. It will provide better traction and stability and thus will have enhanced ability to corner, brake and accelerate. Speed ratings give a general idea of a tire's overall performance characteristics. A family sedan needs no more than an 'S' rated tire, while a Ferrari will use a 'Z' rated tire. Please note that tires with high speed ratings are more expensive and shorter-lived than tires with low speed ratings.

The last letter 'R' stands for 'Radial' construction.
The last number designates the wheel diameter (in inches) which the tire mounts on. This tire can be mounted on a 15 inch wheel.