User Guide

10
HIGH SPEED DRIVING IS DANGEROUS
Correct ination pressure is especially important. However, at high speeds, even
with the correct ination pressure, a road hazard is more difcult to avoid, and
if tire contact is made with it, there is a greater chance of causing tire damage
than at a lower speed. Moreover, driving at high speed reduces the reaction time
available to avoid accidents and bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
DO NOT DRIVE AT SPEEDS FASTER
THAN THE SPEED RATINGS FOR
YOUR TIRES.
NEVER EXCEED LEGAL SPEED
LIMITS OR SPEEDS REASONABLE
FOR THE DRIVING CONDITIONS.
WARNING
Exceeding the maximum speeds shown on the following page for each type of
MICHELIN
®
tire will cause the tire to build up excessive heat, which can cause tire
damage that could result in sudden tire failure and rapid air loss. Failure to
control a vehicle when one or more tires experience a rapid air loss can lead to
an accident.
In any case, you should not exceed reasonable speeds as indicated by the legal
limits and driving conditions.
SPEED RATING SYSTEM
The speed rating of a tire indicates the
speed category (or range of speeds) at
which the tire can carry a load under
specied service conditions. The speed
rating system used today was developed
in Europe in response to the need
to categorize tires into standardized
speeds. A letter from A to Z symbolizes
a tire’s certied speed rating, ranging
from 5 km/hr (3 mph) to above 300 km/
hr (186 mph). This rating system (see
chart on this page) describes the top
speed for which a tire is certied.
When this speed rating system was
originally developed, the Unlimited
V category of over 210 km/hr (130
mph) was the top speed rating a
tire could achieve. As manufacturers
made more tires that t into this
category, it was necessary to
better regulate performance at standardized speeds to help ensure safety.
The Limited V category of 240 km/hr (149 mph) was then created, and the Z
or (Y) speed rating was added as the top speed rating that a tire could achieve.
W and Y limited speed symbols have been added as higher speed categories.
When this speed rating system was
Speed
Symbol
Speed
(km/hr)
Speed
(mph)
L 120 75
M 130 81
N 140 87
P 150 94
Q 160 100
R 170 106
S 180 112
T 190 118
U 200 124
H 210 130
V 240 149
W
ZR
270 168
Y 300 186
(Y) Above 300
Above 186
(consult tire manufacturer)
80