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[Mr Hagon]

After thinking about it last night I am inclined to agree.  I should have a W speed rating tyre according to the owners manual.

So, I've left a message for the Service Manager that I am indeed unhappy with the tyre I've been given even if he thinks it's OK and I want it changed.  Let's see what happens.

I would say that at the moment the biggest risk is if the insurance company make an issue of the speed rating and I'm not prepared to put myself in that position given that I don't know when I will get round to replacing the whole set.

Mr Hagon

[Kevin Wood]

I think insurers will use any excuse if it's a hefty claim. If you made a modification to a car and didn't declare it, for example, the mod doesn't have to cause an accident for them to get shirty about it.

Also, what's to say you haven't previously exceeded the tyre's ratings and weakened it?

There is more to speed ratings than a simple maximum speed, too, IIRC. Together with the load rating it defines an envelope in which a tyre can be used and it's possible that you'd be outside the envelope at lower speeds.

Kevin

[Markjay]

On a theoritical level, yes the tyre should have the correct speed rating as the manual says, and yes this may be used by the insurer as an excuse for non-payment. And yes, the dealer should have fitted the correct tyre.

On a practical level, I am not too concerned about the fact that you have a 2.5L tyre fitted on your 3.0L car, even if it is technically a no-no.... you are not likely to go anywhere near 149mph anyway. But what would worry me more however, is the fact that you now have two different tyres with different treads and frictions on the same axle. This is NOT illegal (the only legal requirement is that both tyres on same axle must be of the same type e.g. steel-belted radials), but in my opinion a far greater problem than the slightly low speed-rating.

This can cause the car to brake unevenly, especially in the wet, and will not do any good to your long-term suspension wear.

Another common problem is when the two front tyres are identical to each other but are not the same make and model as the rears. This is often overlooked, but if the tyres' perfromance is different enough then you could find your tail overtaking your front end when braking in the wet, even though all four tyres are brand new and made by well-known high-quality manufacturers.

Both my Omega always had their tyres replaced in complete sets of 4.

[Mr Hagon]

I spoke to the Service Manager last night and he will be sorting out a replacement W rated tyre.  He was a bit miffed that he will probably have to swallow the cost of the V rated tyre, but my argument was that the place was about to shut when I got the car back, it was dark and I wasn't expecting to have to check the tyre.

Given that the other three tyres are W rated I would have thought this was a no brainer.  However the excuse provided was that a junior member of staff found the cheapest tyre in the right size and didn't worry about the speed rating.

Before my current set of Pirelli's I did run two different sets of tyres across the axles, Avons on one and Kumho's on the other.  I agree that I would normally replace all four tyres, but I needed to get the MOT sorted and that mean a replacement tyre full stop.  Apparently running on the 15" spare is a failure when all the other tyres are 16".

Mr Hagon

[Mr Hagon]

All sorted now.  Went back to the Vx stealer today and had a W rated Matador Elite 2 fitted at no extra cost.

Thanks for all of the encouragement to get them to sort it out.

Mr Hagon

[Markjay]

All sorted now.  Went back to the Vx stealer today and had a W rated Matador Elite 2 fitted at no extra cost.

Thanks for all of the encouragement to get them to sort it out.

Mr Hagon

Result  

[davlad22]

All sorted now.  Went back to the Vx stealer today and had a W rated Matador Elite 2 fitted at no extra cost.

Thanks for all of the encouragement to get them to sort it out.

Mr Hagon

Oooooo, matador! Nice!   Could always put it on a 16 alloy and use it as a full sized spare when you get the whole set replaced  

Will the omega saloons take a full sized spare wheel in the boot cubby?

Come to think of it, will the omega estates?

[Mr Hagon]

Yes, I could keep the Matador but then I'd have to find a 16" alloy to put it on.

As for the boot cubbyin the saloon the 15" spare fits nicely.  A 16" will fit but you can't get the piece of carpet to fit back in place.

I will probably see if I can get some money for the Matador when I have the set changed, either from the tyre place that changes them or I will offer it here.

Mr Hagon

[mantahatch]

V rating is 149 MPH. However, I believe the manufacturer's min. rating is W (168), since it's not impossible for a 3.0 to exceed 149 with a following wind. Weight has a part to play too, and they can be derated under heavy load.

Bottom Line: The tyre fitters have supplied a tyre that's not suitable for the vehicle. I'd take it back and demand that they change it FOC.

Kevin

I have been considering this for a while on the wifes Volvo, her car runs W rated tyres which are horribly expensive, Volvo quote a top speed of 149mph for manual and 146mph for auto, well hers is auto so in my mind I can fit V rated as the car will not go over the 149mph even downhill with a tail wind the aerodynamics of the car will not let it go any quicker.
Could our boys in blue on the forum comment, would I be breking any laws dropping the speed rating, I understand insurance companies will look for any escape clause they can but as someone already said they would have to prove you where going faster than 149mph surely.

Mike

[hotel21]

The line in the ground is what the manufacturers specify as 1) original equipement and 2) what they say the maximum speed for the vehicle is, not the speed at which you want to drive.

[shyboy]

All sorted now.  Went back to the Vx stealer today and had a W rated Matador Elite 2 fitted at no extra cost.

Thanks for all of the encouragement to get them to sort it out.

Mr Hagon

Oooooo, matador! Nice!   Could always put it on a 16 alloy and use it as a full sized spare when you get the whole set replaced  

Will the omega saloons take a full sized spare wheel in the boot cubby?

Come to think of it, will the omega estates?

[/highlight]

The 2.6l Estate won't. The wheel fouls the sides leaving about 2/3 inches proud above the level of the floor.

[Jay w]

V rating is 149 MPH. However, I believe the manufacturer's min. rating is W (168), since it's not impossible for a 3.0 to exceed 149 with a following wind. Weight has a part to play too, and they can be derated under heavy load.

Bottom Line: The tyre fitters have supplied a tyre that's not suitable for the vehicle. I'd take it back and demand that they change it FOC.

Kevin

I have been considering this for a while on the wifes Volvo, her car runs W rated tyres which are horribly expensive, Volvo quote a top speed of 149mph for manual and 146mph for auto, well hers is auto so in my mind I can fit V rated as the car will not go over the 149mph even downhill with a tail wind the aerodynamics of the car will not let it go any quicker.
Could our boys in blue on the forum comment, would I be breking any laws dropping the speed rating, I understand insurance companies will look for any escape clause they can but as someone already said they would have to prove you where going faster than 149mph surely.
Mike

No they dont have to prove the speed you were doing, their attitude will be that you have items fitted on the car (tyres) that are not up the the specification that was originally stipulated by the manufacturer and so you have modified the car in an advers manner, this in turn would invalidate the insurance.

tread carefully (no pun intended) when it comes to tyres, what seems like good value now could come back to bite you on the bum