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Speed Rating Chart

AutomotiveVehicle Ownership Costs
Speed unit

In the unit chosen above.

Maximum rated speed (chosen unit) —
Maximum in km/h
—
Maximum in mph (rounded)
—
Headroom below the rating
—
Next symbol up
—

A tire speed rating is the letter after the load index on the sidewall, such as 91H. It gives the highest speed the tire is certified to sustain under its rated load: S is 180 km/h (112 mph), T is 190 km/h (118 mph), H is 210 km/h (130 mph), V is 240 km/h (149 mph), W is 270 km/h and Y is 300 km/h.

About this tool

Anyone replacing tires, fitting winter sets or reading a used-car listing meets the speed symbol: the single letter at the end of a code like 205/55R16 91V. This chart turns that letter into its maximum certified speed in both km/h and mph, lists every symbol from L to Y, and compares the rating with the speed you usually drive so you can see how much margin is left. It also shows the next letter up, which helps when a shop offers a substitute. One limit: the rating is a laboratory figure for a correctly inflated tire carrying its rated load; underinflation, overloading, damage or repairs lower the speed a tire can safely hold, and the chart cannot account for those.

How to use it

  1. Pick the letter

    Choose the speed symbol printed after the load index on your tire sidewall.

  2. Choose km/h or mph

    The headline figure and the headroom use the unit you select.

  3. Enter your highway speed

    Type the speed you normally cruise at to see the margin below the rating, or a warning if you exceed it.

  4. Read the full table

    The table lists all thirteen symbols with km/h and rounded mph values for comparison.

Examples

H-rated tyre at 70 mph

Speed symbol on the sidewall
H
Speed unit
mph
Your typical highway speed
70

Result Maximum rated speed (chosen unit): 130
Maximum in km/h: 210
Maximum in mph (rounded): 130
Headroom below the rating: 46.4%
Next symbol up: V (240 km/h)

  1. Speed symbol H = 210 km/h maximum (ISO 4000-1 table).
  2. In mph: 210 ÷ 1.609344 = 130.5 mph.
  3. Headroom at 70 mph = (130.5 − 70) ÷ 130.5 × 100 = 46.4%.

The most common touring-tyre letter is good for 130 mph, so a 70 mph cruise uses a bit over half of it.

V-rated tyre on a 130 km/h autobahn stretch

Speed symbol on the sidewall
V
Speed unit
km/h
Your typical highway speed
130

Result Maximum rated speed (chosen unit): 240
Maximum in km/h: 240
Maximum in mph (rounded): 149
Headroom below the rating: 45.8%
Next symbol up: W (270 km/h)

  1. Speed symbol V = 240 km/h maximum (ISO 4000-1 table).
  2. In mph: 240 ÷ 1.609344 = 149.1 mph.
  3. Headroom at 130 km/h = (240 − 130) ÷ 240 × 100 = 45.8%.

V tyres are rated to 240 km/h; the next letter up, W, adds another 30 km/h.

Q winter tyre driven at 105 mph

Speed symbol on the sidewall
Q
Speed unit
mph
Your typical highway speed
105

Result Maximum rated speed (chosen unit): 99
Maximum in km/h: 160
Maximum in mph (rounded): 99
Headroom below the rating: -5.6%
Next symbol up: R (170 km/h)

  1. Speed symbol Q = 160 km/h maximum (ISO 4000-1 table).
  2. In mph: 160 ÷ 1.609344 = 99.4 mph.
  3. Headroom at 105 mph = (99.4 − 105) ÷ 99.4 × 100 = -5.6%.

Q is 160 km/h, about 99 mph, so this speed sits above what the tyre is certified for.

How it is calculated

max mph = max km/h ÷ 1.609344; headroom = (max − cruise) ÷ max × 100

max km/h
the speed assigned to the symbol in the ISO 4000-1 / ETRTO table
1.609344
kilometres in one international mile (exact)
cruise
your typical highway speed in the chosen unit

Speed symbols are defined in km/h; the mph figures printed in charts are conversions rounded to whole numbers, which is why H shows as 130 mph rather than 130.5. Letters run alphabetically from L to U, then H sits between U and V for historical reasons. Headroom is the share of the rated speed you are not using at your cruising speed.

When not to use it

  • Do not use it to judge a tire that is underinflated, overloaded, plugged or damaged.
  • It does not cover ZR tires above 300 km/h, whose limit is set by the maker.

Common mistakes

  • Reading the load index number as a speed; the speed is the letter after it.
  • Assuming H comes after S and T alphabetically only; it ranks above U.
  • Fitting lower-rated winter tires without checking the vehicle's posted limit sticker.

Frequently asked questions

Which character on the sidewall is the speed rating?

It is the last character of the service description that follows the size, for example 225/45R17 94W. The number 94 is the load index and W is the speed symbol, worth 270 km/h or 168 mph.

Why does H rank above U?

H was introduced early for high-performance tires at 210 km/h, before the alphabetical sequence was extended. When U at 200 km/h was added later, H kept its letter, so it sits between U and V.

Can I fit a tire with a lower speed rating than the original?

Many manufacturers and some jurisdictions require at least the original rating. Winter tires are a common exception, often allowed with a lower letter if a reminder sticker shows the reduced limit. Check the vehicle handbook and local rules.

What does ZR or (Y) mean?

ZR in the size marks a tire capable of more than 240 km/h. A Y in brackets, as in 275/35ZR19 (100Y), means the tire is rated above 300 km/h with a limit stated by the tire maker rather than the letter.

Does a higher speed rating mean better grip?

Not directly. Higher-rated tires tend to use stiffer construction and compounds suited to heat at speed, which often sharpens steering, but they may wear faster and ride firmer. Grip depends on compound and tread design.

Is the rated speed safe to drive at all the time?

The rating is the maximum the tire passed in a controlled lab test at full load and correct pressure. Real roads, heat, low pressure and age reduce the margin, and posted speed limits always apply regardless of the tire.

Cite this tool

Using this tool in an assignment, article or report? Copy a citation, or a link for your website.

APA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. (2026, October 9). Speed Rating Chart. Tools Directory. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://tools.milunir.com/automotive/vehicle-ownership-costs/speed-rating-chart/

MLA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Speed Rating Chart.” Tools Directory, 9 Oct. 2026, https://tools.milunir.com/automotive/vehicle-ownership-costs/speed-rating-chart/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Speed Rating Chart.” Tools Directory. Last modified October 9, 2026. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://tools.milunir.com/automotive/vehicle-ownership-costs/speed-rating-chart/.

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