Tim Strayer,

""Speed ratings are all about higher speeds my friend. If you go to a lower speed rated tire you greatly increase your stopping distance, your steering response will be slower, as well as a few other things.""

I know this is a little <img border="0" alt="[offtopic]" title="" src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" /> but I think you are WAY off on the use of speed ratings. They have absolutely NO connection to actual tire performance. It is pure coincidence that higher rated tires perform better in SOME cases. You can now get Z rated all season tires. From what you are telling me, these will handle better than a V-rated summer performance tire???

Compound, construction, tread pattern, those things affect grip, not speed ratings. To achieve a higher speed rating a tire may need a stronger casing and different rubber compound but that does not automatically qualify them as higher performing.

 

With winter tyres, I'm definatelly NOT stuck to speed ratings, but the tests performed by race drivers and motor magazines. Plus of course my own butt feeling and experience.
I drove 4 winters with my previos n/a and I'm drivin now my 951. (Plus 8 slippery winters with other cars..)
And people I can tell you, it's REALLY slippery here in Finland at the moment!

My point is, that winter tyres should not be chosen by speed rating, but by the grip and drivebility they offer.

And I think, and tests prove, that Nokian Tyres are at the top of that list.
And I have them rolling on my 951.

If you don't have em' there in the US, it's a real shame.

 

I've got Vredenstein snows on my 968, and feel very comfortable in every winter condition I've driven in-up to 7" so far, no sweat.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by pete95zhn:
<strong>I'll be back with this issue on the 22nd of January.A comparison between Q- and H-rated tires is going to be published (in local motoring magazine) then.

Pete</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Great, I would love to hear what they have to say!

 

I've also heard great things about Nokian tires, never seen them though.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Tim Strayer, just a lousy fanatic..:
<strong>I've also heard great things about Nokian tires, never seen them though.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva"><a href="http://www.nokiantires.com/indexen.html" target="_blank">http://www.nokiantires.com/indexen.html</a>

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Brent 89-GT:
<strong>Tim Strayer,

""Speed ratings are all about higher speeds my friend. If you go to a lower speed rated tire you greatly increase your stopping distance, your steering response will be slower, as well as a few other things.""

I know this is a little <img border="0" alt="[offtopic]" title="" src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" /> but I think you are WAY off on the use of speed ratings. They have absolutely NO connection to actual tire performance. It is pure coincidence that higher rated tires perform better in SOME cases. You can now get Z rated all season tires. From what you are telling me, these will handle better than a V-rated summer performance tire??? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">That should have said, "Speed ratings are not all about higher speeds..."

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Brent 89-GT:
<strong>Compound, construction, tread pattern, those things affect grip, not speed ratings. To achieve a higher speed rating a tire may need a stronger casing and different rubber compound but that does not automatically qualify them as higher performing. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">I don't disagree with your points, but I am trying to say, with a higher speed rated tire, you have "stronger casing and different rubber compound..." that does make a higher performing tire. I'm not talking about grip right now. I'm talking about the "flexibility" of the tire. The stronger the casing, the less sidewall flex you will have, which will change your braking distance as well as your steering response. If you go to a tire that has a lower speed rating than recommended for your car you WILL sacrifice the handling of the car. The more sidewall flex, the sooner the tire will loose grip.

When going around corners your tires flex like this: / or \, depending on the direction. The higher the speed rating (stronger casing) the less flex (/ or\) you will have.

Do you know what I'm trying to say?

I'm not very good at making a point online.