Everything You Need To Know About Car Tire Speed Ratings

What Is Tire Speed Rating And Why Is It Important?

As fellow car enthusiasts like you, we know how essential the right set of tires is for your car build. If you have a tire that can take you faster and keep a good grip on the road, it's super easy to throw down as much power as you want and know that you'll stay safe and get every ounce of performance your car can produce.

One of the best ways to do this is by knowing what speed rating your tires have before you buy. If you're not aware of what a speed rating is, why you need it, and which types are best for your build, we've got all the answers you need below. Come with us today and see what tires are best rated for you!

Table Of Contents

-How To Measure The Speed Rating Of Your Tires

-What Are The Most Popular Car Tire Speed Ratings?

-Best Car Tire Speed Ratings For Track and Racing Applications

-Shop Car Tires In Your Speed Rating

How To Measure The Speed Rating Of Your Tires

Speed ratings are usually pretty easy to find for two reasons. First, you'll spot them as part of the full number/letter pattern on the tire's sidewall - also, the speed rating is the last item in the sequence with rare exception.

As an example, let's take a tire with a size code of 215/35ZR18 84W. In this instance, the tire is 215 millimeters wide, has a 35 degree aspect ratio, fits an 18 inch wheel, has a load index of 84, and features a speed rating of W. Of course, as you look for tires you can also find the speed rating easily on our store pages - we have all this info ready to go for you.

Knowing this, what exactly is a speed rating, anyway? In simple terms, it's the maximum amount of speed your tire can reasonably accommodate before you start to see your performance diminishing. In our example above, a tire with a W speed rating will keep its structural integrity and performance features intact up until you reach around 168 miles per hour, meaning that it's a perfect fit for most types of vehicles and drivers.

What Are The Most Popular Car Tire Speed Ratings?

The most popular car tires on the market will have speed ratings that allow you to get up and over 100 miles per hour comfortably. You'll see tires throughout our inventory with speed ratings ranging from S (112 miles per hour) to Y (186 mph) and above for higher performance capabilities.

Below are a few of the best-selling tire speed ratings, along with the speeds they can reasonably accommodate - once you get up to ZR ratings, you've firmly entered Ultra High Performance (UHP) territory, perfect for those muscle cars and supercars you've got your eyes on.

Best Car Tire Speed Ratings For Track and Racing Applications

If you're planning on using your car for any kind of track application, obviously a higher speed rating will serve you much better, especially to avoid any wear and tear as you go faster. We'd recommend having tires with at least a speed rating of V (150 mph or so), although tires with Y and ZR ratings will pretty much assure that added peace of mind that you won't have any problems with blowouts on the track.

However, the other side of the equation is treadwear, and in that case, lower is definitely better. The lower your treadwear rating, the grippier your tires will be on the road, and that's especially great for cornering and straightaways. For the most part, any UHP tire will be your best bet for tracking.

Shop Car Tires In Your Speed Rating Online At Fitment Industries

Now that you know how speed ratings work, hopefully this makes your buying journey a bit easier for your driving style. Keep in mind that when you package wheels and tires together, we can offer free mounting, balancing, and shipping to the lower 48. Check out our store and gallery to see how your favorite tires will fit on your car before you buy - we're always standing by and happy to help with whatever you need.