General Tyre Query

Author
Discussion

Donbarto5

Original Poster:

39 posts

41 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Happy to admit tyres are not my area of speciality so reaching out to you guys for a bit of advice.

My E Tron has 265/45/21 W (108) tyres currently and when searching by the regi this is the recommended tyre.

My question relates to the load rating of 108. I have found a number of tyres with the same 265/45/21 W but with a load rating of 104. So my question is would the 104 load rating be safe? Difference in cost is around 100 a corner so not insignificant.

Appreciate any advice

Sheepshanks

35,059 posts

126 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all
Donbarto5 said:
Hi guys,

Happy to admit tyres are not my area of speciality so reaching out to you guys for a bit of advice.

My E Tron has 265/45/21 W (108) tyres currently and when searching by the regi this is the recommended tyre.

My question relates to the load rating of 108. I have found a number of tyres with the same 265/45/21 W but with a load rating of 104. So my question is would the 104 load rating be safe? Difference in cost is around 100 a corner so not insignificant.

Appreciate any advice
No. You can user lower speed ratings but you can’t use lower load index tyres. Assuming 108 is the correct original spec for the car, of course.

Scrump

22,944 posts

165 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all
The load rating is part of the spec for the approved tyres.
You can go higher but should not go lower.
Depends if your car is approved for 108 or 104 tyres.

Rough101

2,299 posts

82 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all
Absolutely no way I’d take the risk, but check the manual for the actual spec.

It’s a heavy old machine.

Scootersp

3,402 posts

195 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all

Government MOT site states

"Check the manufacturer’s plate to find the maximum laden weight of an axle. You must check that the tyres fitted have a load rating that can carry the laden weight of the axle."


108 is 1,000kg supporting
104 is 900kg supporting

If would 'suggest' the 104's would be ok, if your car is overall sub 3,600kg? or sub 1,800 on each axle.

Pica-Pica

14,486 posts

91 months

Monday 28th October
quotequote all
I would never go lower than the allowed load factor, the same with the speed rating.

On the subject of speed rating, while the speeds seem ludicrously high, it has to be remembered that a speed rating also includes the tolerance of a tyre to the acceleration it may be subjected to.