There are quite a few factors you need to consider when looking for the right tyres for your car. Out of these, two of the most important factors are the tyre load rating and the tyre speed rating. Tyres have alphanumeric texts, that state the tyre dimensions and tyre load & speed rating, on their sidewalls. To ensure good performance and safety of the car, it is important to understand these ratings.
Tyre Load Rating:
Indicated on the sidewall of a tyre, load rating is denoted by a number. This rating specifies the maximum weight limit that the tyre can carry safely. For instance, a tyre load rating of 91 indicates that the said tyre can safely carry up to 615kg of load, while a tyre with a load rating of 100 can carry up to 800kg.
Choosing a tyre with a load rating lower than the suggested value is likely to lead to a tyre failure, while if the tyre has a load rating more than the suggested value, it can result in decreased handling and harsher car rides. It is thus absolutely vital to select tyres that have a load rating suitable for your car.
Tyre Speed Rating:
Like load rating, a tyre’s speed rating is also indicated on the sidewall along with the tyre dimensions. The speed rating is denoted by a letter that corresponds to the maximum speed at which the car can run safely. For instance, a speed rating of J means the tyre can safely handle a speed of up to 100 km/h, and a speed rating of H corresponds to a max speed of 210 km/h.
The speed rating denotes the maximum speed at which the tyre can run safely under ideal conditions. It is thus important to understand that it is not always safe to be driving at the maximum speed as various other factors like weather, road conditions and tyre health can all have a significant impact on the safe operating speed of your tyres.
Choosing the Right Tyre:
The importance of these ratings when choosing the right tyre for your car can not be underestimated. You must select tyres that either match the recommended ratings for your car or exceed them to ensure maximum safety and performance.
Apart from the load and speed ratings, there are some other aspects you need to consider while buying tyres like tread design, durability, and the performance of the tyres on dry and wet roads. Drive into a nearby Tempe Tyres workshop today and our tyre experts can help you select the perfect tyres for your car based on your driving style and the conditions you drive in.
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