Tires are a vital piece of equipment for a vehicle to function properly. Various vehicle owners are now gradually paying more attention to them in the market.
Recently, the question “Can I use H rated tires instead of V” made many people wonder.
Do not be ambiguous about this question anymore. Let’s scroll down until the end to have more in-depth knowledge.
Can I Use H Rated Tires Instead Of V
What Does H Or V Mean On Tires?
When your car has a tire problem, you will need to replace it immediately. But when you go to the tire shop, the seller will introduce you to H and V tires.
And if you are not a connoisseur of speed, you will certainly feel quite unfamiliar with this term.
Despite not being a standard, these markings greatly navigate consumers to acquire the relevant tires for vehicles.
In short, these letters represent the tire’s speed rating. This figure first appeared in Germany in 1980, letting users know exactly how fast the tire can bring when driving.
At first, many people still used kilometers per hour (km/h), but many western countries have switched to miles per hour (mph).
Each letter will represent a separate speed, and there will be no cases of the same for two. And you should not worry too much because this number has been seriously studied and tested to ensure the driver’s safety.
Before buying the least expensive tire as expected, consider the tire’s performance apart from its speed rating.
Difference Between H and V Tires
Choosing the right one is quite important because you need to pay attention to safety and handling when driving on the roadway at high speed.
Based on the tire rating system, you will have an informed choice.
However, H and V also have obvious differences that you need to consider.
For example, 225/50HR16 would be an H speeding rating tire, and 225/50VR16 would be the same size tire except for V-rated.
The most important factor is the maximum speed the tire can deliver. H-rated can hit 130mph. As for the V, it is higher and can go up to 149mph. Both of these are rated quite well in the tire market.
However, for different drivers, these two components can bring other feelings. When running at high speeds, V seems to be more appreciated for traction because of the stiffer sidewall.
Meanwhile, the other one is made from rubber compounds and has spiked to optimize for safe riding.
For the above reasons, we recommend V-class one if you are an adventurer. H will be the best choice for those who drive more safely and want to maximize the tire’s time.
In addition, considering the price, many experts point out that the V-rated tire has a higher price.
However, sticking with a product for a long time is also bad if you still want your car to function well.
Is It Okay To Replace V Rated Tires With H?
This question makes many people quite confused when asked. Tire manufacturers and experts don’t recommend doing this. It is forbidden to fit lower-speed-rated, especially in Europe.
If you head to the maximum speed limit at 130-mph, you can choose H-rated tires. Meanwhile, the corresponding number of the V-rate tire is the limit at 149-mph.
Each type of tire has a different top speed, and substituting a lower for a higher is often not good for the vehicle.
This issue will hinder the maximum rate that the car can achieve and also somewhat make you feel frustrated when driving.
Usually, a higher rating tire will have better grip and handling. And V-rated tire is ranked higher, so this substitution is not advised.
What Is The Tires Speed Rating Of H-rated And V-rated?
What Is Tires Speed Rating
To numerous, this metric may seem like an unfamiliar definition. A tire’s speed rating is a number that allows the user to know the optimal one that the tire can achieve.
This figure is also evaluated based on the tire’s safety over time.
Easier to understand, this number is the fastest a tire, based on its original design, can handle until it is no longer usable. The higher the speed, the greater the user’s processing power and control.
Tire speed rating was created to help professionals and users know the standard performance, thereby gaining more knowledge to learn about their safety over time.
The rating is the speed the tire has been tested for continuous safe driving.
In Europe, top-class sports car owners can replace tires that match the speed of their vehicles’ capabilities based on the speed ratings.
Currently, it ranges from 3 mph up to 186 mph. And the order of this rating is represented by the Latin alphabet letters, starting with A and ending with Z.
Noting these markings is important to keep those speed limits in control.
High-performance tires include a soft fast-wearing rubber compound.
What Are Its Impacts On Your Car
Although this is an indicator, in reality, the vehicle’s capacity will probably be less than the rated capacity of a tire.
Many problems such as the road condition, the weather, and especially its condition greatly influence it.
Therefore, the expectation will be lower in comfort and performance when riding, along with shorter tread life.
For the best experience, you should follow the recommended speed-rated by the manufacturer.
To maintain the maximum safe speed, you should consider several factors such as tire condition, inflation level, extra cargo, road surfaces, and weather.
Equipping with a higher rating will give you more feel, both controlling and handling. However, consumer reports found that both lifetimes are not long compared to the lower-rated ones. The measured wear is about 50,000 miles, sometimes up to nearly 60,000.
Speed Rating Of H And V
Each different letter represents a specific tire. On the market today, common products with a maximum speed of 118mph or more, in order are T, U, H, V.
H-rated one can be said to be a rather special case. This rating is based on the alphabet, but the H is between U and V instead of below G. You will often find this tire fitted to sports sedans and coupes.
Manufacturers indicate a particular rating among a wide range to replace each model type properly.
This tire has a maximum speed of about 130mph. We can also understand why there is such a strange arrangement on the table of measurement systems.
In the past, it was also an abbreviation for “high performance”.
As for higher-rated, because this tire is ranked below H, it also means it has a much higher speed. The top of this tire is about 149 mph, and it is usually equipped for sports cars.
FAQs
Can We Mix V and H Speed Rating Tires?
Automotive experts always recommend that you should not combine different speed components.
This combination can make your car unable to operate well and affect the driver’s handling ability. Therefore, you will have more excited about ride quality.
In addition, different types in terms of speed will interfere with the process.
To be in optimal car condition and safe for the driver, you should equip your vehicle on all four wheels with the same tire of the same size and rate.
What Is The Lifespan Of H and V speed rating tires?
Each type of tire will have a different usage time and grip ability. According to current reviews, experts have measured the traction ability of H-rated as 49,180 miles. Meanwhile, the higher-rated are weaker, only about 48,260 miles.
What Does Tires Speed Rating Affect Riding?
We would certainly say “yes”. With high-speed ratings, your driving experience will be better.
In addition to the faster vehicle, it also impacts cornering problems, wheel wear, and ride feel.
Manufacturers indicate the tire’s maximum speed capability in ideal conditions to set the tire speed ratings.
Those with a higher rating will affect handling and traction largely, thereby creating a better and safer feeling for the driver.
Conclusion
The question “Can I use H rated tires instead of V” has been resolved after you finish accessing this blog.
Different ones are compatible with diverse vehicle types and have dissimilar rate and performance requirements.
We recommend that you do not replace them to avoid making your vehicle more prone to breakdown and causing unwanted experiences for yourself.
