I know this is an FAQ, but Tyres for the V8S - rating needed

[Psychobert]

After far too long of not being used, with a little coaxing the V8S is going to pass the MOT once I sort a suspension bush, (its been creaking like an old pram for a while) and fit 2 new rears.

Looks to me like ER300s or CF1s are the current recommendation, but my insurer has just told me I need Z rated not V rated when I called to up the insurance to enable me to drive it again rather than just be stored.

Its never had Z rated on it as far as I know and a few quick searches online leave me thinking that most people fit Vs and the maximum I can find is W (P7s).

Anyone any ideas? Its on a classic policy 5 K a year..

[Barkychoc]

I was under the impression most insurers (except yours!) would accept VR rated tyres as Z rated are now pretty scarce in the original size.
I hope so anyway as I have VR tyres on mine!

VR are rated to 149mph, the V8S is quoted as a 150mph top speed isn't it?

[jimed]

You do need to ensure your insurer is OK with the 'non- std' tyre rating. In reality a V rating is almost certainly fine as that is a continuous speed of up to 149mph which you aren't ever really likely to do. Z rating is 150mph + whilst W rating is up to 168mph. All the above is likely to be fine for a V8s. I've recently put new Toyo T1R's on the Griff (500) and the insurers were fine with Vs on the front and Ws on the rear but I did check and get it in writing before I put them on - also as I'm currently with Hagerty and will have to change insurer at the end of the year I did check with some other TVR insurers and they were all fine with it as well.
Jim

[zombeh]

Barkychoc said:

VR are rated to 149mph, the V8S is quoted as a 150mph top speed isn't it?

According to the spec sheet on tvrsseries.com top speed is 148, but then that sheet also says it has 240bhp and a 12 gallon fuel tank.

[Pop Pop]

When I was with Hagerty they were ok with VR.
Am now with Classic Line and they too are ok with VR. In both cases they gave me a written confirmation.
You shouldnt have a prob but I did explain the circumstances, ie that the original equipment is no longer available in ZR rating.

[Psychobert]

Pop Pop said:

When I was with Hagerty they were ok with VR.
Am now with Classic Line and they too are ok with VR. In both cases they gave me a written confirmation.
You shouldnt have a prob but I did explain the circumstances, ie that the original equipment is no longer available in ZR rating.

Also with Classic Line.. I'll give them a call again in the morning as they've been ok with VR up until now.. Cheers all..

[JR]

Barkychoc said:

I was under the impression most insurers (except yours!) would accept VR rated tyres as Z rated are now pretty scarce in the original size.
I hope so anyway as I have VR tyres on mine!

VR are rated to 149mph, the V8S is quoted as a 150mph top speed isn't it?

This is the general situation however some people do make life hard for themselves. eg:

Psychobert said:

the maximum I can find is W (P7s).

jimed said:

the insurers were fine with ... Ws on the rear but I did check and get it in writing before I put them on

Pop Pop said:

I did explain the circumstances, ie that the original equipment is no longer available in ZR rating.

It's worth learning a bit about tyres. http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/car-tyres/page/feat... Recently Z has been split into three groups; one of which is W(ZR) commonly referred to as W but it is a Z rating. A quick scan at Mytyres will show that the original spec is available. You're better off fitting 205s all round and if the 10mm drop bothers you fit longer springs. Happy motoring, Jonathan

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All
Also as well as the speed rating there is the weight rating, This tells us how much the tyre can stand at max speed.



Alan









PS
This includes any down force applied to the tyre at speed not just static weight i.e. corner weighting

Edited by Alan Whitaker on Saturday 8th May 09:06

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All


Could not get this one to load before

Alan

PS note
Speed rating
This indicates the maximum permitted
speed that the tyre can endure for a
period of ten minutes without being in
danger of sustaining damage. The speed
rating of the tyre must match or exceed

Edited by Alan Whitaker on Saturday 8th May 09:57

[JR]

Alan Whitaker said:

Hi All
Also as well as the speed rating there is the weight rating, This tells us how much the tyre can stand at max speed. Alan

Hi Alan, I wonder whether you clicked on my link? The tables that you've shown are a distraction here I think: the load rating is nominal for TVRs since they are light cars and become lighter at speed - try some figures on the lowest load rating. Your speed rating table is the sort of misleading info that started this thread by omitting Z and pretending that W and Y are stand alone ratings. J

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi Jr.
I did look at your link, ( The tables that you've shown are a distraction)(Your speed rating table is the sort of misleading info) to that I say not so, tyre ratings are very important especially ratings to a performance sports car, there are many TVr's that have been tuned above the factory data and any tyre information is very essential to choosing the right tyre to suite your car.
On the car being lighter at speed, I don't think you can say that, downforce makes a big differanct to tyre loading especialy at speed.

Alan

Alan

[JR]

Alan Whitaker said:

On the car being lighter at speed, I don't think you can say that, downforce makes a big differanct to tyre loading especialy at speed.

TVRs are not in the same class as current F1 cars with loads of downforce at speed. The only thing that worried TVR in this era was that the car did not take off. Have a look at the basic shape of a car - it's the same as a wing. This is why weight has no effect on top speed.

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi JR
From your statements you really don't know much about tyres and speed do you.
Not going to get into a P###ing competition re tyres.

Alan

[paul.deitch]

I know nothing about tyres, but it looks like handbags at dawn which is unusual for this part of PH.

[Pop Pop]

JR said:

Barkychoc said:

I was under the impression most insurers (except yours!) would accept VR rated tyres as Z rated are now pretty scarce in the original size.
I hope so anyway as I have VR tyres on mine!

VR are rated to 149mph, the V8S is quoted as a 150mph top speed isn't it?

This is the general situation however some people do make life hard for themselves. eg:

Psychobert said:

the maximum I can find is W (P7s).

jimed said:

the insurers were fine with ... Ws on the rear but I did check and get it in writing before I put them on

Pop Pop said:

I did explain the circumstances, ie that the original equipment is no longer available in ZR rating.

It's worth learning a bit about tyres. http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/car-tyres/page/feat... Recently Z has been split into three groups; one of which is W(ZR) commonly referred to as W but it is a Z rating. A quick scan at Mytyres will show that the original spec is available. You're better off fitting 205s all round and if the 10mm drop bothers you fit longer springs. Happy motoring, Jonathan

Nice.
I try to run my S as original and I couldnt find appropriate Bridgestones or alternative.

[Alan Whitaker]

Hi All.
I was talking to a friend yesterday re tyres and insurance companies and they will leave you in the st if you have a tyre rated less than the speed rating of your car as stated by the manufacture or any information you give as to its performance increase / modifications, A nice get out clause for them, they won't except that is what they put on when new, if you can do over 149 then its got to be above the V rating, not to say some won't ask your tyre rating when you take out your policy with them.

He did come back with 2 tyres that are made in 205/60/15-w rated,
Pirelli P7/PR-P7-91W and the Continental Premium Contact CT-Prem-Cont-91W
both are good low noise and good in the wet.
He also said that the norm today is for 16" and 17" wheels with low profile tyres, so if you have 17" rims you have a larger choice of tyre, A 205/60/15 stock tyre in a 17 " rim would be a 225/45/17, lots more choice of w rated tyres. The speed would be 60.7 as to 60 or 1.2% faster.

Alan


[

Edited by Alan Whitaker on Sunday 9th May 08:53

[Psychobert]

paul.deitch said:

I know nothing about tyres, but it looks like handbags at dawn which is unusual for this part of PH.

i'm starting to wish I'd never asked the question..

[Dave_M]

It's the revenge of normal people against psychologists

Hi Si