T5 Tyres 17" what is available in OZ

Pinched from the net. Not sure if it is what you are after.

In general, speed ratings of V or above mean that the tire has extra cap plies or even multiple steel belts to provide extra stability at very high speeds.

To answer your questions you need to know a bit about speed ratings and what they really mean, so here's the 10-cent course. The term speed rating is a misnomer; it is really more of a test of a tire's stability over time while driving at highway speeds.

All tires generate heat when rolling. Imagine the sidewall flexing as it goes from fully extended at the 12 o'clock position to fully compressed at the 6 o'clock position. At 100 km/h, the tire of a small sedan rotates about 800 times per minute, generating a lot of heat. So as speeds go up, the heat goes up, until eventually the sidewall gives up and goes bang.

There is a measurement standard for the length of time a tire can run at a given speed before failure. This is determined on a test machine in a lab that simulates load on the tire and cornering forces, etc. The tire must run two hours at a sustained speed to get a speed rating.

A T-rated tire can run at sustained speeds of 190 km/h and be safe. An H-rated tire can run at 210 km/h. Since you don't go that fast, why does it matter? Remember that sidewall flex? Flex can be increased when the tire is under-inflated, when the car is more heavily loaded, and when the car goes around a corner. So a heavily loaded car with under-inflated tires going down a twisty road can really punish a tire.

The only thing that can help the tire is to make it stiffer and better able to dissipate heat. The result is a higher speed rating.

The automaker works out the worst-case scenario and chooses a tire with a speed rating that gives even the least-informed driver a safety net.

[greymad]

Here's a somewhat technical question - answer please preferably from someone who actually knows, rather than mere conjecture.
If all else is the same .. say 235/55 R17 103, but one is speed rated a W and the other a V, just what difference in carcass construction is there to make the difference?

[Sunny43.5]

Just picked our new rims and tyres today fitted Federals and there was a huge difference , smoother ride which means quieter drive also these are not our first set so I expect them to be as good as previous sets . Now all I have to do is sell the old wheels . Now anyone in the market for some brand new factory wheels and tyres only driven 580 kilometers ???? Will post photos of new wheel tyre combo in daylight and post to T5 project page over the weekend .

[shogun2]

Sorry for the delay in this response. Federals are going great! I am happy with the lack of wear, quietness, and grip. We have a short piece of dirt road near home that I use nearly every weekday, and the van handles this just fine, even when it gets cut up and quite corrugated.

how are these federals going ?

thanks

[Sunny43.5]

I ran Nankangs for about 4 years only had one issue it turned out there was a bad batch and the tyres delaminated but regardless of kays they gave us brand new one free of charge . I currently run federals as there was a supply problem early last year with the Nankangs . Both brand tyres so far have been very good in wet and dry conditions .

I bit the bullet and bought new Nankang tyres last Friday. I'll let you know how they wear.

Through a mate, I got prices on some new Nankang's.
235/55R17 103V N605 series = $120 each.
Might be giving these a try, as I have only a few thousand k's left on the original Michelins.

[thevwbug]

Just had fitted Federal 235/55/17 FD-2. Load rated 103W. Price was $229 each. They are very quiet based upon a first short drive home. Will be interesting to see how they travel.

how are these federals going ?

thanks

[lemmiwinks]

Is yours FWD or 4Motion ?

I have 4Motion and even with almost worn out road tyres it has very good traction and I'm able to keep up with the Prado infront of me on the unsealed roads through the hills.

Though, the braking in wet is what sends me to the tyre shop.

It's a FWD. So having good tyres suitable for mud / sand will definitely help in my case.

[Transporter]

Sounds good! What I'm more concerned about is traction on wet dirt, sand and mud as I'm constantly on building sites with no roads. It's hard to find 17" tyres that are good in wet and soft terrain! Hate getting bogged!

Is yours FWD or 4Motion ?

I have 4Motion and even with almost worn out road tyres it has very good traction and I'm able to keep up with the Prado infront of me on the unsealed roads through the hills.

Though, the braking in wet is what sends me to the tyre shop.

[Sunny43.5]

Some years ago we were faced with a kilometre of dirt road to traverse after a severe downpour at a Moto Cross Park in SE Qld black soil country , after watching several cars being towed out by a tractor I thought VW van fully loaded inside with 5 boys and a trailer load of Moto Cross bikes I was sure we were doomed .Amazingly the traction control kicked in on an uphill section and the van just clawed its way up on its own !!!! my mate just behind with his Commodore no such luck tractor for him . Then another hill section and up the van goes again foot flat to floor but the Traction control reduced revs and up it climbs . The point in this was these were road tyres for every day use , I was amazed how they handled the mud .

[lemmiwinks]

Sounds good! What I'm more concerned about is traction on wet dirt, sand and mud as I'm constantly on building sites with no roads. It's hard to find 17" tyres that are good in wet and soft terrain! Hate getting bogged!

[Cousin]

You won't see too much difference, if any, foxpuppet
Same tyres, speedo 110, gps 105
And thats at the moment with the tyres on their last 5,000 or so
New, speedo 110 gps 104

Sat navs are handy!

And lemmiwinks, if you read back through this thread I posted some wet weather cornering on the Maxxis MAP-1s
Brilliant!


M

[Foxpuppet]

just thought i would mention that a few days into driving and i have noticed something i will now have to be careful of!
previously on the 215/65/16 i would safely go 44 in the school zones on my speedo and get 40 on my gps speed. now on the Maxxis 235/55/17 i have had to drop to 41 to sit on 40... i only suddenly realised to check this on my way home today so after the school zone came the f3, so a little more checking.

40 gps = 41 speedo - previously 40 gps = 44speedo
80 gps = 82 speedo - prev 80 gps = 87 speedo
100 gps = 102 speedo - prev 100 gps = 108 speedo
110 gps = 111 speedo - prev 110 = 115 speedo

i knew it was gonna be different but now it's almost spot on... until the tyres wear that is!

[Transporter]

Read through this thread, someone mentioned here that they're good in the sticky situations.