2 replies to this topic

[Tamworthbay]

Just about to change tyres on my wifes Mazda 3 Takara, I was going to fit Michellin fuel savers as they last forever and (alledgedly) improve fuel consumption. My only query is that they are H rated not V rated as already fitted and OE rated. Has anyone ever checked if this ok with their insurance company? H rated is well within my wife's driving speeds (Q rated would be to be honest!), but as its not up to original spec I am thinking it could be a get out clause for the insurance company if the if there ever was an accident - but on the other hand Michellin make them and no-one else rated 205/55/16 as H rated apart from winter tyres.

Any thoughts?

[ibrooks]

Insurance WILL use it to wriggle if anything happens. It's not that your wife never exceeds the rated speed but that the car is capable of it (according to the manufacturer) and therefore might have been driven at those speeds with the tyres fitted resulting in damage which might subsequently cause a problem.

My 4x4 Sierra has to have V-rated tyres and I don't believe for one second that it's capable of exceeding the speed of H-rated ones in it's current form (2.9 V6 with too many miles under it's belt).

Iain

[Cooperman]

I just fitted new tyres on my BMW 325i. The book shows 205/55 x 16 'W' rated, which are good for 170 mph sustained. However, the 'V' rated tyre is good for sustained 150 mph and my car is shown as having a max. speed of 135 mph, so I fitted 'V' rated tyres. I would argue the point if it came to it as the tyre company would have to provide evidence that the tyres (Pirelli 6000) are OK for a car with a max speed of 135 and the weight of the 3-series.

Edited by Cooperman, 03 May 2012 - 09:24 PM.