Pickup tyre speed ratings

[njc110381]

I'm having a bit of trouble with conflicting thoughts when it comes to buying new tyres for my pickup. Hopefully someone here can clarify...

 

I've read somewhere that the tyre speed rating has to be equal to or more than the top speed of the vehicle they are fitted to or insurance companies may have an issue with paying out in an accident. That of course makes sense until you reach the national speed limit. At which point I'm struggling to see why it matters?! If I buy a tyre that can handle over 70mph then that really should be good enough. Any faster and I'd be breaking the law anyway?

 

So how does this work? You see loads of pickups driving about on BFG Mud Terrain, rated at 100mph. Most modern pickups are capable of exceeding that. The tyres I want are rated at 95mph and have better wet road performance than the BFG in several reviews. I'll never do more than 95mph in my pickup, but it can do it?...

[aspenarb]

I'm having a bit of trouble with conflicting thoughts when it comes to buying new tyres for my pickup. Hopefully someone here can clarify...

 

I've read somewhere that the tyre speed rating has to be equal to or more than the top speed of the vehicle they are fitted to or insurance companies may have an issue with paying out in an accident. That of course makes sense until you reach the national speed limit. At which point I'm struggling to see why it matters?! If I buy a tyre that can handle over 70mph then that really should be good enough. Any faster and I'd be breaking the law anyway?

 

So how does this work? You see loads of pickups driving about on BFG Mud Terrain, rated at 100mph. Most modern pickups are capable of exceeding that. The tyres I want are rated at 95mph and have better wet road performance than the BFG in several reviews. I'll never do more than 95mph in my pickup, but it can do it?...

 

I think the load rating is more important.

 

Bob

[Justme]

The speed rating is also about acceleration & braking forces that could be exceeded even without going over the speed limits.

[njc110381]

Load rating for all the mud terrains I can find is 120, which is 1400kg. I would have thought that would be plenty. Maximum gross of the vehicle is only 2985kg.

 

I've found an interesting tyre that sits in the required speed rating. Kumho MT51... I've run three sets of KL71 mud terrains now and they are probably my favourite so far. A bit loud but very well mannered on the road. They wear a bit quick but stick like ****! The MT51 has slightly more rubber on the road but still a good light mud pattern. I think that's what I'll go for if I can get them.

[cornish wood burner]

The speed rating is also about acceleration & braking forces that could be exceeded even without going over the speed limits.

 

Higher speed rated tyres are specified for high performance vehicles as they not only produce high acceleration and braking forces but also can corner at far higher speeds as part of the performance package. This can put a lot more energy/ heat into a tyre especially cornering approaching 1g through a series of bends or on a track. Same principle still applies to pickups etc, although the g forces will be less, the tyre still needs to match the vehicles performance.

Tyres with a high speed rating are built to a very different spec, compared to lower speed rated ones, to cope with the higher forces they might be expected to withstand.

Tread pattern, rubber, profile and the reinforcing cord buildup make a vast difference.

In short a tyre must be suitable for the forces it may experience, including as bob says load rating.

[njc110381]

All in all it sounds like it's just best to stay away from lower rated tyres. The ones I'm looking at now are Q rated - 99mph. Apparently the Ranger I'm getting can only manage 98mph, so all is well!