i ordered a Bridgestone ER300 195/55 R15 85H tyre from my local tyre shop to be fitted with my ER300 spare tyre on the front of the car..i've got home and i've found the new tyre is a ER300 Ecopia tyre and the speed index is 85V not 85H.

i've looked on the internet about index and the advice i've seen is you can go higher (from H to V) but not lower.

is this tyre ok then ?

thanks

yeah should be fine, you should never go to a lower speed rating, but higher is fine... H =130mph and V=150mph, if I remember rightly!

If the car is specified for H rated tyres and you have a V rated one fitted legally and for MOT no problem.

Are both the same tread pattern?

I have no detailed knowledge of tyre manufacture but wonder what changes are made in manufacture for the same tyre brand / series when say H, V and W rated available.

If a change in the compound or thicker sidewalls I wonder how two tyres that look identical but with different speed ratings behave under adverse conditions eg hard breaking or steering?