I phoned for a quote to get new tyres for my Octavia TDi Elegance Estate (02) and was told I needed to give them a code, rather than just tell them the make/model of the car. This surprised me as I haven't had to do this for the previous 2 cars I have owned.

Is this right? The guy said the number should be of the form: 195-65-50 86H

I tried quite hard but all I could find close to that were the numbers 06-3696-01 on the 2 rear tyres.

Seems to me something as simple as changing tyres shouldn't be that hard.

The code may have an R in it too "195-55-R16" or similar

He probably means the speed rating : all you should need to buy tyres is as he says: something like:

205/55 R16 V

This is 205 mm width (20.5cm), 55mm sidewall (between rim and shoulder of the tyre), and a wheel rim radius of 16inches (yes, they mix inches and mm!).

The final part is a speed rating, which tells you the speeds (and maybe road types/conditions, not sure) in which the tyre can safely be used.

You should easily be able to read all this info from the sidewall of the tyre yourself. It will often have the 205/55 part together, then the radius, and the speed rating might be harder to locate, but it will be there somewhere.

He probably means the speed rating : all you should need to buy tyres is as he says: something like:

205/55 R16 V

This is 205 mm width (20.5cm)' date=' 55mm sidewall (between rim and shoulder of the tyre), and a wheel rim radius of 16inches (yes, they mix inches and mm!).

The final part is a speed rating, which tells you the speeds (and maybe road types/conditions, not sure) in which the tyre can safely be used.[/quote']

the 55 is a ratio of the width of the tyre... not a mm depth of the sidewall. The V is the speed rating of the tyre i.e. what maximum speed the tyre is able to withold without loosing its shape or strength.

on the side wall of the tyre you will see something like 195 /55 R16 V

there are other details to like wear and grip ratings but you wont need to worry about those if you are changing the tyres like for like.

Oh, ok. Didn't know that.

Thanks for the info, chaps. I found the codes. In case you're interested they read 205/55 ZR16 91W.

Shop around a bit, as the W rated tyres you have fitted are capable of 168mph! Therefore you can afford to lower the speed rating to one which is more suited to the car, without altering the safety.

R = 106mph

S = 112mph

T = 118mph

U = 124mph

H = 130mph

V =149mph

Z = 150+ mph

W =168 mph

Y = 186mph

Generally speaking the lower the rating, the cheaper the tyres will be.

BUT REMEMBER if you fit tyres that are not upto the vehicles top speed (up to S) then they will also fail the MOT (if checked)

So anything from T upwards will be fine for your TDi.

When phoning for a quote i generally ask for the best deal for a 205 55 16 T upwards rate, as they will at times have good deals on higher rated tyres that work out cheaper than lower rated ones.

If they still insist on a specific rate then either tell them what the car is (they can then find out the top speed for the car) or better still go to somebody who knows about the product they are tying to sell!

HTH

A similar topic was covered recently in the saabscene forums, particularly in regard to the issues of ratings and insurance with tyres. The link is below, it may be something people want to flick through.

http://www.saabscene.com/saabforum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/31587875/an/0/page/2#31587875

Stick to the speed rating you already have NEVER go lower, as its an insurance get out;)

Just ask me i`m in the know

By the way you can`t fail it for incorrect load/speed rating on MOT...only advise

Phil

if you fit tyres that are not upto the vehicles top speed (up to S) then they will also fail the MOT (if checked)

Apparently an incorrect speed rating is not a reason to fail an MOT on a class IV (car) MOT. I only found this out about a week ago when talking to tyre fitter (I need some new tyres) who used to be an MOT tester. The tester should advise you of an inappropriate speed and/or load rating for any tyre(s)' date=' but they can't fail the car for it.

From ukmot.com:

[i']Note: A Class III or IV vehicle tyre which appears to be of inadequate size, ply or speed rating for the vehicle or its use is not a reason for rejection. However, the vehicle presenter should be informed.[/i]

Thanks Gismo for the info.

I was going to replace with cheaper tyres. I'm curious what you mean piv34uk about an 'insurance get-out'. can u explain?

i think he means that if your car is manufactured with a V rated tyre for example, and you change them for something lower your insurance could reject a claim if they inspected the car (in the result of an accident / claim) and found you using sub standard tyres.

i have a friend in the trade so he always helps me out when i need tyres... basically i go for the best i can afford (within reason).

have a look at www.mytyres.com or .co.uk can never remember which and see what they have in your size.

the W rated tyres you have fitted are capable of 168mph! Therefore you can afford to lower the speed rating to one which is more suited to the car

Stick to the speed rating you already have NEVER go lower, as its an insurance get out;)

The point Gizmo68 was making is that the W rated tyres are much higher rated than the car needs, and so an unecessary expense. For insurance reasons you should NEVER go lower than the rating the car's maximum speed needs (and that's the maximum it's theoretically capable of, not the maximum you'll do). But, if someone's fitted higher rated tyres than the car needs, there's no reason for you not to go back to the minimum it needs. Even Skoda might fit higher rated tyres than necessary if they get a good deal on them - my Ambiente TDI came with V rated tyres from the factory, but T is fine for it.

The technical specifications booklet thing that comes with the car lists its max speed, and I'm pretty sure that the car's handbook has the table of speed ratings and speeds (as Gizmo68 listed).

I'm not certain, but I think you'll find the insurance 'get-out' is more to do with changing from the manufacturers specification rather than speed ratings as such.

For example, my Octi left the factory with W rated (168mph) tyre fitted even though it's max speed is about 125mph. Now, suppose I put V rated (149mph) tyres on it and when driving allong the motorway at 70mph had a blow-out and ended up in a ditch.

Mr insurance assessor comes along, looks at the tyre(s) and says, 'You've fitted tyres that are different from the manufacturers standard specification and of a lower specification. Insurance void.'

I grant you, there is probably only a slight possibility of that happening, but it could happen. Also, the difference in cost between an H and a V or W rated tyre (of the same make/type) is usually only few of quid, so why skimp on them? After all, those 4 black round things are the only thing that allow your brakes, steering and engine to 'interact' with the road and therefore, alllow you to control where your car goes.

The Wheel and Tyre Bible here is worth reading. It can also be found via our Links section.

Well they couldn't get the existing tyres off because Octavias have locking wheel nuts and the key was not there in the boot. Another annoyance. I presume this will be dealer thing and I'll have to jump through a few hoops to get a new one...?

This means I'm now a bit scared to drive it - if i get a puncture then I'll be completely bugg3red!

you'll need to contact the delaer you bought the car from as they SHOULD have included the locking nut key in the boot kit. your sure its not with the jack and wheel brace !?

Well they couldn't get the existing tyres off because Octavias have locking wheel nuts and the key was not there in the boot. Another annoyance. I presume this will be dealer thing and I'll have to jump through a few hoops to get a new one...?

This means I'm now a bit scared to drive it - if i get a puncture then I'll be completely bugg3red!

Yes you will, However, you have been driving around like this already, but did'nt know, so you were not worried!:(

Wasn't bought from a dealer and also no point going back to the previous owner - they also didn't have the spare key. I even went back to the owner b4 that as well. The tyre company had a good look for the wheel nut key. It's not there.

Interestingly when I spoke to Skoda Bristol, they said they would charge £12.50 for the wheel nut key and also 1/2 hr to 3/4hr labour just for checking which type of key it is! When I spoke to VW Bristol they said it would only take a few minutes to work out which type of key it is and there would be no labour charge. Makes you kind of annoyed.

I'm not certain' date=' but I think you'll find the insurance 'get-out' is more to do with changing from the manufacturers specification rather than speed ratings as such.

For example, my Octi left the factory with W rated (168mph) tyre fitted even though it's max speed is about 125mph. Now, suppose I put V rated (149mph) tyres on it and when driving allong the motorway at 70mph had a blow-out and ended up in a ditch.

Mr insurance assessor comes along, looks at the tyre(s) and says, 'You've fitted tyres that are different from the manufacturers standard specification and of a lower specification. Insurance void.'

I grant you, there is probably only a slight possibility of that happening, but it could happen. Also, the difference in cost between an H and a V or W rated tyre (of the same make/type) is usually only few of quid, so why skimp on them? After all, those 4 black round things are the only thing that allow your brakes, steering and engine to 'interact' with the road and therefore, alllow you to control where your car goes.[/quote']

On the other hand then if you fitted higher speed rating tyres than what was supplied from the factory then you now have a 'modified car'??

I dont think either would stand up in a court of law - providing of course the minimum standards are met.

The difference in price may be only a few quid, (average

I really don't think that putting on cheaper tyres would cause an insurance problem. If that were the case you could argue that fitting non-Skoda parts to a Skoda was also an insurance risk. Like non-Skoda wipers that might not clear the windscreen so well but are still perfectly legal.

But I guess that's what you are saying when you refer to minimum standards. I agree - why pay more. I think the sort of person that wants an expensive tyre that (for example) provides 10% better stopping efficiency is the sort of person that drives 10% faster than me anyway.