Woman And Wheels Automotive website dedicated to women
Canadians have learned to live with speed limits ever since they have learned to drive. Rarely above 100 km/h, they do reach 110 km/h in certain areas of the country. That means that our speed limits are well below the speed limit of the tires that are sold on the market.
That said, every tire has a speed limit which is indicated on the sidewall beside the tire specs. These specs look something like this: P 225/55/R18 97T. The tire speed rating is the last letter at the end. There are 14 speed ratings in total:
L : maximum 120 km/h
M : maximum 130 km/h
N : maximum 140 km/h
Q : maximum 160 km/h
R : maximum 170 km/h
S : maximum 180 km/h
T : maximum 190 km/h
U : maximum 200 km/h
H : maximum 210 km/h
V : maximum 240 km/h
Z: maximum 240 km/h +
W : maximum 270 km/h
Y : maximum 300 km/h
(Y): maximum 300 km/h +
The average tire will have a speed rating of T or U. High-performance cars, on the other hand, have a much higher rating (usually W or Y). In any case, you shouldn’t try under any circumstance to reach your tire’s limit as it compromises the tire’s ability to perform and maintain integrity and ultimately puts you in danger.
Thank you to Stratford Subaru for their help with this article.
