Sort of.

I'm looking at buying new tyres fairly soon (no need to discuss brand or type) and went on to Black Circles & Kwik Fit sites as a starting point.

I put in my registration and both came up with 205/60/15 H where as they have always previously come up with 91V rated tyres - which is what I have always fitted to the car as that it what was on there when I bought it (used) four years ago and what the online searches always came up with.

The car is a 2007 Octavia estate (PD140) with factory fitted 15" Orion alloys.

Reading around a bit, this sums up the descriptions easily: http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

H = 130 mph & V = 149 mph.

Is 'V' overkill for my car? Is this what the manufacturer recommends? Do I need to tell the insurers if I choose to use 'H' rated tyres?

There is nothing in my user manual to say what the official tyres speed rating should be.

My thanks to anyone who can advise for certain what the official answer is.

Is there a factory sticker inside the fuel filler flap? Normally gives fuel spec along with wheel/tyre details with load ratings and tyre pressures

Is there a factory sticker inside the fuel filler flap? Normally gives fuel spec along with wheel/tyre details with load ratings and tyre pressures

From memory it just has the tyre size, not the speed and load ratings.

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Is there a factory sticker inside the fuel filler flap? Normally gives fuel spec along with wheel/tyre details with load ratings and tyre pressures

Did check there but it was just tyre sizes & pressures.

Also looked on the codes on the sticker in the service book & boot (just in case). And nothing.

If it should be 'H' and I'm using 'V' would the insurers need to know given that the max speed of the car is 120 ish mph (so below both ratings)?

Does there need to be a margin of error between theoretical maximum speed and the tyre speed rating?

If it should be on 'V' and I put on 'H', how much of an issue would that be. Not to the cars performance, but to the insurer if I am involved in an incident?

I think you are looking at this the wrong way.

Over the years tyres have improved in all sorts of ways,including the speeds they are considered safe to run at.

The increased speed rating is therefore sometimes a side issue to the other improvements.

If the manufacturer's original figment was V then you should not fit a lower speed rating,this is the rule you should follow.

The exception to this is winter tyres,which usually come in a lower speed rating and some say you need to inform your insurance company when you fit these to confirm that this is acceptable to them.

I think you are looking at this the wrong way.

Over the years tyres have improved in all sorts of ways,including the speeds they are considered safe to run at.

The increased speed rating is therefore sometimes a side issue to the other improvements.

If the manufacturer's original figment was V then you should not fit a lower speed rating,this is the rule you should follow.

The exception to this is winter tyres,which usually come in a lower speed rating and some say you need to inform your insurance company when you fit these to confirm that this is acceptable to them.

The question is are the v rated tyres what were originally fitted to the car?

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I think you are looking at this the wrong way.

Over the years tyres have improved in all sorts of ways,including the speeds they are considered safe to run at.

The increased speed rating is therefore sometimes a side issue to the other improvements.

If the manufacturer's original figment was V then you should not fit a lower speed rating,this is the rule you should follow.

I agree.

But as Trundlenut said, were 'V' rated tyres the ones originally fitted and Skoda recommended?

If so, why are the online tyre sites showing lower 'H' rated tyres which could potentially result in invalidating my insurance?

The 2010 Skoda TUV document gives H or V ratings for 205/60 R15 tyres depending on the engine code fitted to the car. If you PM me your three letter engine code I'll look it up for you.

It's better to help people look it up themselves

ETA: at the time of writing Skoda's German site seems to have vanished.

Edited 18 May, 201313 yr by AnotherGareth

Julie's partner not only looked it up for me but also emailed me the same document you linked to.

So, thank you to everyone.

Did check there but it was just tyre sizes & pressures.

Also looked on the codes on the sticker in the service book & boot (just in case). And nothing.

If it should be 'H' and I'm using 'V' would the insurers need to know given that the max speed of the car is 120 ish mph (so below both ratings)?

Does there need to be a margin of error between theoretical maximum speed and the tyre speed rating?

If it should be on 'V' and I put on 'H', how much of an issue would that be. Not to the cars performance, but to the insurer if I am involved in an incident?

Well the book top speed is 129mph so it is very close to the max for H rated.