Tyre speed rating explained: what H, V and other letters mean

A tyre speed rating is the letter at the very end of the size, as in 205/55 R16 91V. It stands for the maximum speed the tyre is rated to sustain while carrying its rated load: T means 190 km/h, H means 210 km/h, V means 240 km/h, and so on up to Y at 300 km/h. The letter is earned in a laboratory test, not a promise that the tyre is safe at that speed on any road, in any state of wear or at any pressure. What matters for an Indian car owner is simple: fit replacement tyres with a speed rating at least as high as the one your car maker specified, and never lower. The full chart is below.

Tyre speed rating chart

These are the speed categories used for car tyres, from the international tyre standards:

Speed rating	Maximum speed
L	120 km/h
M	130 km/h
N	140 km/h
P	150 km/h
Q	160 km/h
R	170 km/h
S	180 km/h
T	190 km/h
U	200 km/h
H	210 km/h
V	240 km/h
W	270 km/h
Y	300 km/h

The letters run alphabetically, with one exception: H, at 210 km/h, sits between U and V. For a quick lookup of any letter, including the slower codes used on other vehicles, use our load index and speed rating chart.

What the speed rating actually certifies

The rating comes from a load and speed test on a laboratory drum. The standards describe a stepped test: the tyre is loaded and run at a series of increasing speeds, rising in 10 km/h steps, up to the maximum for its category. Michelin defines the result as the maximum speed at which the tyre can carry its maximum load.

That is a measure of how the tyre’s construction copes with sustained speed under load. It is not a recommended driving speed, and a tyre that is under-inflated, overloaded, damaged or old cannot be relied on to perform to its rating.

Speed rating and load: the V, W and Y rules

At the top of the scale, speed and load are linked. The standards reduce the load a tyre may carry as its speed climbs past 210 km/h:

• V-rated tyres carry their full rated load up to 210 km/h, falling in steps to 91% of it at 240 km/h.
• W-rated tyres carry their full load at 240 km/h, falling to 85% at 270 km/h.
• Y-rated tyres carry their full load at 270 km/h, falling to 85% at 300 km/h.

So a 91V tyre, rated for 615 kg, may carry about 560 kg at 240 km/h. This is why fast cars need both the right letter and the right load index. Our guide to the tyre load index explains the numbers.

ZR and (Y) on the sidewall

On very fast tyres the speed capability also appears inside the size. The standards allow radial tyres rated W or Y, above 240 km/h, to show “ZR” in place of “R”, as in 245/40 ZR18. For tyres able to exceed 300 km/h, ZR is required and the service description goes in brackets, as in (95Y). Brackets mean the tyre’s true maximum is above 300 km/h, and the maker publishes the exact figure. Our guide to reading a tyre size covers the other markings.

Does the speed rating matter if you never drive that fast?

Yes, for two reasons.

First, the rating reflects how the tyre is built to cope with sustained speed under load, and the car maker chose it for that particular car. A lower-rated tyre gives away margin the car was designed with.

Second, it is part of the approved specification. Indian rules tie the selection and fitment of tyres to the vehicle. For imported vehicles and tyre sizes taken from international standards, rule 95 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules requires testing agencies to satisfy themselves about the load and speed rating with reference to Indian conditions. Keep to the rating your car was approved with or above it.

Can you fit a higher or lower speed rating?

Higher: yes. Michelin says it is perfectly possible to fit tyres with a higher speed rating than the originals. Its sport ranges now often come in versions with higher load and speed ratings than the originals in the same size; Michelin’s example is a 225/45 R17 94Y offered as a replacement for a 225/45 R17 91V.

Lower: no. Michelin’s guidance is never to fit a lower speed rating than the original, with one exception that rarely applies in India: tyres with winter capability (marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake) may carry a lower rating, and the driver must then stay below it. Michelin also advises talking to the dealer for W, Y and (Y) rated cars, which are designed for very high speeds.

Speed rating when you change tyre size

Moving to a different size, such as a wider tyre or a larger wheel, does not change the rule. The new tyre still needs a speed rating at least as high as the original and a load index at least as high, and its overall diameter should stay close to the original so the speedometer still reads correctly. Our tyre size calculator compares an alternative size with your original.

Where to find your car’s speed rating

• On the sidewall of the original tyres, at the end of the size.
• On the tyre placard on the driver’s door pillar or fuel flap.
• In the owner’s manual, under tyres or specifications.

If the original tyres and the placard disagree, for example because a previous owner fitted something different, follow the placard and the manual. For choosing between tyres that all meet the rating, see our guide to the best tyres for your car.