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Tyre Speed Rating?

plhorner

plhorner

Moderator
Hi all,
I'm at the point where it looks like I need to replace my rear tyres. The car currently has Conti Sport 2 N2's fitted, I've just looked at MyTyres online and the speed rating for the N2 they're retailing is 'W' (up to 168mph). This surprised me with the book top speed for the car being 171mph, I thought the N rated tyre would be a higher speed rating than that quoted? Am I missing something or is the N2 rating sufficient?

On a separate note, I actually checked the tread depth which is just reaching the wear bar at the centre of the tyre and was surprised to see that the gauge read 3.5mm (4mm towards the edges). I always thought the wear indicators were at 1.6mm?

No doubt this has been thrashed through before but I couldn't see anything specific in the tyres section of the tech articles.

Thanks,
Phil
 

My N2 Contisport 2s are Z rated and previous sets always have been as well. I wonder if that's a mistake on the Mytyres site?

Don't quite understand what's happening with the wear indicators, they should be around the 1.6 mm mark. At the risk of getting a proverbial punch on the nose, are you sure the depth gauge is set right? I had a cheap one a while back that measured about 2 mm over.

 
Clyde,
I suspect your're right, the advert states the tyres as being '255/40 ZR17 94W with raised rim rib, N2 BSW'. I think ZR and 94W are contradictory? My feel is that as long as its ZR and N2 rated I should be ok.

With regards to the tyre gauge, I will check but it is a Michelin gauge....possibly a vested interest in wanting people to change their tyres early!!

Regards,
Phil
 
Looks like a Typo - my N rated Conti tyres are Z speed rated, and previous pairs always have been too. Looks like a typo on the site you are referring to.
 
Phil Sorry - missed your second question - my contis are running at 4mm of tread on the rears at the moment, and are nowhere near the wear bars. You need to check your tyre wear guage. Wear bars on the contis are set at approx 2mm from memory.
 
hi Phil,drive with the windows open,the extra drag should knock 3 mph off the top speed,just enough to keep u below 168 mph,then u wont have to worry about exceeding the speed rating ;-) But seriously i got a pair of conti sports 2s here and have mesured the wear indecators and on mine they show 2.5mm,maybe certain countrys require tyres to have different wear indecator depths depending on the minimum tread depth in that country. As a side thing how do u find the conti sports,i have got this pair to go on the back of my Porsche to replace some pirellis,which i have always had b4 on the car,thanks



 
Thanks all, I suspect a typo! I'll check the tyres with a digital gauge, don't want to change too early given the costs.

DWard - sadly I don't have anything to compare the Conti's to, the car was fitted with its current boots when I purchased it last year.

Regards,
 
Darren, like Phil I have only ever had Contisports on mine but am now on my sixth or seventh set. First Contisports then six or seven years ago moving onto Contisport 2's. I believe it's what the car originally came with and it drives well on them. There may be better tyres out there but there's probably worse as well, I don't like the idea of a £600 gamble. The 2's are definitely better than the originals and I find that they provide a good all round grip wet or dry when new but don't feel quite so good in the wet after they become half worn or so but are predictable.

Wear rate isn't great but then they're not as dear as Michelins for example, so that kinda balances out

 
thanks for the advice,have had the new contisport 2s in the garage 4 a while,but could not decide if to fit them or just sell them & get pirrelis fitted as thats what i've always had on the car.anyway think i'll put the contisport 2s on :)
 
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