Thread: tires

Speed rating doesnt tell you anything...

The g force sports last 30K miles, have good traction, apparently noisy for the first little while but quiet down (still more noise than your typical all season) and mediocre wet traction but amazing dry. Also great cornering since the sidewalls are as stiff as can be.

Can't comment on the other tires.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Speed rating doesnt tell you anything...

The g force sports last 30K miles, have good traction, apparently noisy for the first little while but quiet down (still more noise than your typical all season) and mediocre wet traction but amazing dry. Also great cornering since the sidewalls are as stiff as can be.

Can't comment on the other tires.

I have to disagree that "speed ratings do not tell you anything". A tires speed rating is the result of the direct correlation between a tires construction and the softness of the rubber on the tire. Generally speaking a high speed rating (Z/V with Z being rated for speeds over 149 MPH (sub ratings of W=168MPH and Y=186 MPH) and V=149MPH) indicates the ability of the tire to stay together under increasing speed and a much stiffer sidewall than a lesser rated tire such as an S (112MPH) and T (118 MPH). Another words ultra high performance tires have a much stiffer and stronger tire carcass which results in better steering feedback and handling. In addition, a high speed rated tire uses much softer rubber for superior dry traction and wet handling resulting in an increased wear rate over an A/S loww speed rated tire. A dedicated ultra high performance tire will spank a lower speed rated tire all season tire all day, no contest. I have had multiple Z and V rated tires on my GP and there is no comparison to some of the A/S tires mentioned above. An all season tire is a compromise between dry, wet, and snow traction and generally will not do anyone of these traits better than a dedicated ultra high performance tire. Common sense, if you think about it and have actually experienced some of the terrific ultra high performance All season and summer only tires out there for an extended period of driving mileage.

Originally Posted by jbamonte

I have to disagree that "speed ratings do not tell you anything". A tires speed rating is the result of the direct correlation between a tires construction and the softness of the rubber on the tire. Generally speaking a high speed rating (Z/V with Z being rated for speeds over 149 MPH (sub ratings of W=168MPH and Y=186 MPH) and V=149MPH) indicates the ability of the tire to stay together under increasing speed and a much stiffer sidewall than a lesser rated tire such as an S (112MPH) and T (118 MPH). Another words ultra high performance tires have a much stiffer and stronger tire carcass which results in better steering feedback and handling. In addition, a high speed rated tire uses much softer rubber for superior dry traction and wet handling resulting in an increased wear rate over an A/S loww speed rated tire. A dedicated ultra high performance tire will spank a lower speed rated tire all season tire all day, no contest. I have had multiple Z and V rated tires on my GP and there is no comparison to some of the A/S tires mentioned above. An all season tire is a compromise between dry, wet, and snow traction and generally will not do anyone of these traits better than a dedicated ultra high performance tire. Common sense, if you think about it and have actually experienced some of the terrific ultra high performance All season and summer only tires out there for an extended period of driving mileage.

The speed rating is a result of the construction. The construction is not a result of the speed rating.