I was going to post this in "wheels & tyres" as the question stands for all cars, but as it's related to my wifes VW Tiguan I thought I'd better post it here.

Current tyres are V rated but the tyres we are looking to fit are only available in H, there is nowhere that I can find a list of "approved tyre sizes" for the car and all I get from the dealer is "it came from the factory on V rated therefore that's what you need"

Theres no way a 2.0 Tdi Tiguan is going to exceed 130mph - it's quoted top speed is 116.

Not sure I want to risk the insurance nightmare for using the "wrong tyres" if it all went wrong. Ahhhh

I've been through all this in the bike world. My current bike came with V rated tyres but I use R rated dual sport tyres as I use the bike on dirt roads quite a bit. The Construstion & Use regs say that the tyres should be suitable for the use that the vehicle is put to. (Think Farmers here) Are they going to use road tyres on their farm just because that was the OE fitment? I think you'll be fine to use an H rated tyre which is rated to a sustained 120mph.

Speed ratings and load ratings go hand in hand.
Just because you cannot achieve the speed rating of the tyre it's still may reach it's operational limits if you load the vehicle and under inflate tyres.
My advice, do not fit tyres of lower speed or load ratings that the manufacturer fitted OE. They are that rating for a reason.
You will void any warranties, insurances that you have and be liable if it's discovered.
It's the biggest no no in the tyre industry! MY15
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It the biggest no no in the tyre industry because they want you to buy the most expensive tyres.

It hacks me off because the previous Tiguan was on 215/65/16's and they were 98 H rated.

Current one is on 235/55/17's and they are 99 V

Both cars the same 140PS 4 motion......

The newer ones are probably more "energy efficient". AND VW probably got a better deal on them.

http://www.tyresathome.info/tyre-advice/ty...uirements/

As I said before, so long as the tyre is suitable for the use to which the car is being put, you're OK. Just make sure it's the correct size. Speed ratings don't come into it at all.

Stuartc wrote:

Speed ratings and load ratings go hand in hand.
Just because you cannot achieve the speed rating of the tyre it's still may reach it's operational limits if you load the vehicle and under inflate tyres.
My advice, do not fit tyres of lower speed or load ratings that the manufacturer fitted OE. They are that rating for a reason.
You will void any warranties, insurances that you have and be liable if it's discovered.
It's the biggest no no in the tyre industry!

It frightens me to read some of these replies.
Me personaly as a ex National Manager in the Asia Pacific Region for the top European tyre manufacturer if you think that speed and load rating are something you can dismiss and you can sleep at night knowing every time you put yourself,
Family and loved ones in your car with the most fundamental safety feature of your car compromised, then ok.
Cars are homologated with tyres of specific specifications for a reason. MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

Your job is to sell tyres.

So you'd say that everyone that fits an off road tyre to their Landy to go and play in the mud is invalidating their warranty and insurance. Utter nonsense.
The regs might be different down under but I'm sure around Aus there are thousands of vehicle users that don't have the same speed rated tyres fitted. You have a lot of "outback" down there and a road tyre is unsuitable for most of it.

Good luck  MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

It's not luck. It's common sense.

As long as your tyre speed is rated at a greater speed than your car can theoretically achieve, there will be no comebacks if the worse should happen. If any law enforcement authority or insurance company want to challenge that, they would have to take the tyre manufacturer to court as the user (i.e you) had complied with any relevant regulations.

This post has been edited by the site administration team- Offensive remarks removed

Was only a joke! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Last edited by Steve D on 3rd Dec 2015 4:31 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Quite.

If the load rating is at least as high as the recommended, the speed rating is no less than the top speed of the car, and the size matches the original fitment, then there's no problem. Only if you deviate from this would you need to inform your insurers (but it still doesn't mean the tyres are instantly unsuitable - load rating excepted. Mud tyres, for example, will often have much lower speed ratings, so are sometimes lower than the vehicle's top speed.)  Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
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Lost for Words wrote:

If the load rating is at least as high as the recommended, the speed rating is no less than the top speed of the car, and the size matches the original fitment, then there's no problem. Only if you deviate from this would you need to inform your insurers (but it still doesn't mean the tyres are instantly unsuitable - load rating excepted. Mud tyres, for example, will often have much lower speed ratings, so are sometimes lower than the vehicle's top speed.)