A long story but due to being a very long way from home, having two punctures, and not having much option for the correct size extra load tyres a few weeks ago - i've ended up with two goodyear efficient grip extra load 'w' rated tyres on the rear of the vRS. I was hanging out to swap all tyres to Goodyear Eagle F1 A2's obviously correctly rated 'Y's but fate came in to play first. 

 

The fronts now need changed so i want to get some F1A2's just thinking i might remove the efficient grips (having about 7mm left and 2000miles on now) and do all four, as i'm not happy with the speed rating being out (albeit still 170mph rated!) and the efficient grips sit along way back from the rim so offer no protection to the gemini's.

 

Money isn't really the issue here - but am i being OCD about it bugging me and this would be a waste (although i might keep them as 'emergency' spares) or is there good reason to change to the Y's (e.g. insurance!) Probably need changed again oct/nov time when i'll get winters put on.

Really does not matter and have to say IMHO you are being OCD. They are the right size and speed rating really is just academic. Only time that really ever comes into play is if you have a car that can exceed the rating and you do so. There is of course the loading element too but this is mostly academic too as you'd very likely be overloading the cars recommended load weight before you overburden the tyre sidewall.

I'd suggest if its that bigger a problem get some new Y rated tyres for the rears and swap the W's to the front...they'll soon need replacing. Be a shame and a little unnecessary to bin a perfectly decent set of tyres just because of a speed rating mismatch.

I'I'm doing you a favour really, but ll take the efficient grips off you for £20    

 

Seriously though, they are a good tyre, use them.

It depends on what size wheels you have. According to the "Manufacturer-approved tyre variants" section of the MY14.5 manual, the petrol vRS must have W rated tyres on 17" wheels and Y rated tyres on 18 or 19" wheels. The diesel vRS needs V tyres for 17" wheels and Y again for the larger sizes.

When they wear out I'm intending to replace the V rated tyres with which my new 1.2 SE is supposed to come with H tyres instead, as the car doesn't need 150 mph rated tyres and 130 mph is plenty.

Edited 10 June, 201511 yr by Rodge

The speed rating shouldn't be a concern.

When a certain 'fast' tyre fitting center incorrectly fitted a pair of efficient grip tyres to my Octy instead of Eagle F1s, it wasn't so much the speed rating that bothered me, more as you say the fact that the EG tyres sat inboard of the edge of the rim by I guess about 4mm offering no protection in the event of a close call with a kerb.

I now have F1s all round, very happy.

It depends on what size wheels you have. According to the "Manufacturer-approved tyre variants" section of the MY14.5 manual, the petrol vRS must have W rated tyres on 17" wheels and Y rated tyres on 18 or 19" wheels. The diesel vRS needs V tyres for 17" wheels and Y again for the larger sizes.

When they wear out I'm intending to replace the V rated tyres with which my new 1.2 SE is supposed to come with H tyres instead, as the car doesn't need 150 mph rated tyres and 130 mph is plenty.

It's OK to use tyres of a higher speed rating, but be careful changing the tyres down from the manufacturer specified speed rating. Insurance companies are known to use that as an excuse to not pay out on a claim.

It depends on what size wheels you have. According to the "Manufacturer-approved tyre variants" section of the MY14.5 manual, the petrol vRS must have W rated tyres on 17" wheels and Y rated tyres on 18 or 19" wheels. The diesel vRS needs V tyres for 17" wheels and Y again for the larger sizes.

I can understand there being a speed rating difference Petrol -v- Diesel (i.e. speed and front end weight)....but why is there a rating difference 17" -v- larger wheels. I assumed the rating was for the tyre compound and that the cars potential max speed would be the same regardless of wheel size.

Ok there is some insinuation on other tyre related web sites that using a tyre with a lower speed rating than recommended by the manufacturer can potentially invalidare ones warranty....possibly when then that most people have to declare winter tyres as these typically have a lower rating than equivalent summer tyres. So perfectly safe for sure but insurance validity is in question. Might be worth changing them then or declaring them (I'll eat humble pie now :-))

I did ask a tyre specialist once about speed rating and my translation of what he said is that it is more to do with the treads resistance to migrating under the load when I stick my right foot down rather than the speed that I am going to drive it. So a more powerful car needs a higher speed rating tyre not so much for its rated speed but because of the forces on the tyre under increased acceleration.

 

True? I don't know. I haven't met an engineer from a tyre manufacturer to confirm or deny.

It's OK to use tyres of a higher speed rating, but be careful changing the tyres down from the manufacturer specified speed rating. Insurance companies are known to use that as an excuse to not pay out on a claim.

Yes, H is the minimum tyre speed speed rating for the 1.2 engine.

Just noticed i could of course use the infotainment to set it to winter tyre mode, and then i think you can set the top speed limit of the tyre, just to make sure i don't exceed 170mph! 

You will have to stick with the y rating if that is what the insurance model of the vrs spec has, i bought a used mk2vrs, and the dealer put a new set of w rated tyres on it,i mentioned to him that another 2vrs there had y, I rang my insurance company, they said the car must be fitted with y rated tyres, and that i had a week to prove to them that the tyres had been changed othwrwise they would terminate cover, told the dealer, and because they are a good dealership, a new set of y rated tyres of premiym make were fitted, just check before you save a few quid on tyres, you may not get a payout in the event of a claim,

^{I too get anal about tyres - and like to have the same ones all round even if a lot of my neighbours have a mixed bunch of worn Yanglings/Dungrip/Goodride ditchfinders and never have any problems. Bear in mind that there is always a good secondhand market for tyres on ebay, the tyre pressure system works best on same dia tyres and if you are worrying about it, and can afford it, why not!}

Cheers for the thoughts guys, decision made, I am sorting the F1A2 all round - I wasn't sure about it when the W's got put on but literally had no option to get me home. I'm 99.9999% sure the W's wouldn't cause a problem physically but I do have two young children, there is the insurance issue consider, but more over I don't like the way they sit with no rim protection.

Cheers for the thoughts guys, decision made, I am sorting the F1A2 all round - I wasn't sure about it when the W's got put on but literally had no option to get me home. I'm 99.9999% sure the W's wouldn't cause a problem physically but I do have two young children, there is the insurance issue consider, but more over I don't like the way they sit with no rim protection.

tHe physical attributes of w rated on the vrs wouldnt cause problems the rating will cope with the cars performance,its just the insurance aspect, cause skoda have claimed it to need y rating

This is frustrating.  I asked the same on here before getting an efficient grip for the full size spare i bought in readiness for my cars arrival, and a second ready for fitting when the first pair of factory tyres wore out.  At the time it seemed from the advice W was ok but now it seems perhaps not.  oh well, I guess a pair of unused goodyear effiecient grips will be appearing on Ebay sometime soon.  better to sell them than to give the insurance company an excuse to void your insurance