"V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
Post Reply
Topic Author
Leesbro63
Posts: 10581
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:36 pm

"V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Leesbro63 »

I'm driving a 2020 Lexus RX350 with Bridgestone Ecopia 235/55/R20 102V OEM tires at 6000 miles. I'm not happy with them for a number of reasons, including wear. I've decided that rather than fight with the dealer, I'll just buy new tires. I was thinking of putting on Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II tires that I had on my old 2017 Lexus RX350. But I noticed that these tires are "H" rated and therefore the Sam's Club website won't let me buy installation because "these tires do not fit your car".

What's REALLY the difference between V and H rated tires. I can't image ever driving faster than 85MPH and even that would be just to pass in an extreme situation.

I know it might seem odd to buy new Lexus tires at Sam's Club, but I've been doing this for years and it works for me. Mainly because I'm in Pittsburgh and I can't find a tire yet that lasts past 25,000 miles here. Sam's is easy-breasy on the pro-rating....so not only do I get the tires at probably the best possible price, but I end up getting the second set, about 18 months later, for about half price or less.
Jack FFR1846
Posts: 18461
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 6:05 am
Location: 26 miles, 385 yards west of Copley Square

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

In general, V rated tires will have a stiffer sidewall and softer compound. These help make crisper turns and higher lateral grip in corners. Why they put tires like this on your truck is beyond me. H rated tires will feel different for handling. I would imagine that they also will last longer. I've only had one car ever that went through tires in 20k miles and that was the rear tires on a Lotus Elise, where almost all the weight of the car is over the rear tires and the tires are a special Lotus designated Avon tire with extremely soft compound. So much so that they strongly recommend not driving the car in temperatures under 40F.
Bogle: Smart Beta is stupid
simplextableau
Posts: 436
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2016 9:20 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by simplextableau »

The difference is better tire construction, better heat dissipation, etc. None of which matters for your use case given that H rated tires are good for 130 mph and you don't plan to exceed that. The V rating is theoretically even safer because the safety margins at 85 would be larger, but almost every SUV and truck on the road is running H rated or even lower for those beefy all terrains (they're often T rated, 118).

The tire shop doesn't want the liability if your vehicle is capable of 130+ mph and you have a blowout. In an ideal world you'd sign a simple waiver acknowledging it was no longer safe to exceed 130 and they'd agree to mount the tires. But I understand why they'd refuse as it's much simpler and safer for them. Try another shop.
User avatar
Kenkat
Posts: 9539
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:18 am
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Kenkat »

It’s a speed rating - your car must be rated to be capable of a top speed that exceeds the limit of the H rating. A quick Google shows that Pirelli makes the tire you want in a V rating but not for the specific size you need (the 20in. must be a newer size).
User avatar
rob
Posts: 5236
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:49 pm
Location: Here

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by rob »

If your relying on the wear guarantee to get a second set.... I expect putting on H rated will void that plan. In real life they are fine.
| Rob | Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
tibbitts
Posts: 23589
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 5:50 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by tibbitts »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am What's REALLY the difference between V and H rated tires. I can't image ever driving faster than 85MPH and even that would be just to pass in an extreme situation.
I'm trying to envision the situation you're describing of needing to exceed 85mph while passing and can't.

But many tire retailers won't install a tire not rated for your vehicle just based on liability concerns. I'm sure some will.
Topic Author
Leesbro63
Posts: 10581
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:36 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Leesbro63 »

rob wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:27 am If your relying on the wear guarantee to get a second set.... I expect putting on H rated will void that plan. In real life they are fine.
Yeah, I think that's right. If I want to be sure to get the pro-rata effective low price when they wear out in 20,000 miles, I'll need to stick to the "V" rated tires that are recommended. The Tire Rack chart shows the (not manufacturer rated "H") Pirelli tires rated at 8.7 for snow versus 8.0 for the (manufacturer rated "V") Goodyear Assurance Max Life tires. I guess it's a slight trade off that I can live with. Both tires are priced similarly.
sport
Posts: 12084
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:26 pm
Location: Cleveland, OH

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by sport »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am Mainly because I'm in Pittsburgh and I can't find a tire yet that lasts past 25,000 miles here.
What is it about Pittsburgh that is unusually hard on tires?
jeff1949
Posts: 876
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:43 am
Location: Salem, OR

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by jeff1949 »

I have had good luck with "Discount Tires" on this subject and I see they have two stores in the Pittsburgh area.
Topic Author
Leesbro63
Posts: 10581
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:36 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Leesbro63 »

sport wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:48 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am Mainly because I'm in Pittsburgh and I can't find a tire yet that lasts past 25,000 miles here.
What is it about Pittsburgh that is unusually hard on tires?
Winter, hills, potholes, hills, bad roads, hills and hills. I fully fess up that there are better drivers who get longer tire life than me, but overall those same drivers still get about half the tire life they'd get on better roads in areas without winter.
Brake pads/rotors/shoes only last 1/2 as long around here too.
sport
Posts: 12084
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:26 pm
Location: Cleveland, OH

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by sport »

Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 11:19 am
sport wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:48 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am Mainly because I'm in Pittsburgh and I can't find a tire yet that lasts past 25,000 miles here.
What is it about Pittsburgh that is unusually hard on tires?
Winter, hills, potholes, hills, bad roads, hills and hills. I fully fess up that there are better drivers who get longer tire life than me, but overall those same drivers still get about half the tire life they'd get on better roads in areas without winter.
Brake pads/rotors/shoes only last 1/2 as long around here too.
Well, we have worse winters in Cleveland (lake effect) and our share of potholes. We don't have the hills. I normally get about 40K from a set of tires. I can understand the effect of hills on brakes, but it seems strange for tires.
Topic Author
Leesbro63
Posts: 10581
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 3:36 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by Leesbro63 »

sport wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 11:48 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 11:19 am
sport wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 10:48 am
Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am Mainly because I'm in Pittsburgh and I can't find a tire yet that lasts past 25,000 miles here.
What is it about Pittsburgh that is unusually hard on tires?
Winter, hills, potholes, hills, bad roads, hills and hills. I fully fess up that there are better drivers who get longer tire life than me, but overall those same drivers still get about half the tire life they'd get on better roads in areas without winter.
Brake pads/rotors/shoes only last 1/2 as long around here too.
Well, we have worse winters in Cleveland (lake effect) and our share of potholes. We don't have the hills. I normally get about 40K from a set of tires. I can understand the effect of hills on brakes, but it seems strange for tires.
All the braking going down hills wears on the tires.
inbox788
Posts: 8372
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:24 pm

Re: "V" Rated Tired vs "H" Rated Tire

Post by inbox788 »

"Q: So if the governor is set this low on the RX's, why the V rated tires?
A: Because Michelin is able to charge a lot more for the same tire if there is a V on the side instead of an H. That's the real reason. For many people, a higher speed rating equals a better tire, so Lexus and Michelin are just playing to the incorrect notions of the average consumer."
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-3rd ... ost9701085
Leesbro63 wrote: Sun Apr 04, 2021 9:52 am I've decided that rather than fight with the dealer, I'll just buy new tires. I was thinking of putting on Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II tires that I had on my old 2017 Lexus RX350. But I noticed that these tires are "H" rated and therefore the Sam's Club website won't let me buy installation because "these tires do not fit your car".
I think the Michelin - Premier LTX is also OEM and is a good tire, aside from the same issue of wear. It's rated 60k and you're lucky if it goes half that. Still, that's my default choice for the moment. The size and speed rating are odd, so these tires cost nearly twice as much as my other car that has more common tire size. I wouldn't worry about H tires if your installer is willing, but they're worried about liability or at least using that as excuse to sell you a more expensive tire.

The Scorpion Verde is well rated, and I'll have to ask my installer if that's something he'd put on my car next time.

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus II tires
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyre ... e&filter=y

I've never gone over 100 (or even near), but supposedly the top speed is limited to 124 mph. I couldn't find the top speed with limiter turned off.
https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/spec ... 114072732/

FWIW, 130/124=1.048 vs 149/124 = 1.20. Some engineer might have thought, that's less than 5% on paper, so let's just bump up the spec one.
Lexus GS450h Top Speed on German Autobahn 265 km/h 165 mph A99
2007 Hybrid model
Tires: Sava Intensa 225/45 R18 (summer)
Top Speed according to speedometer: 265 km/h (165 mph)
Top Speed according to manufacturer: 250 km/h (155 mph) (electronically limited)
User comment: "The 3rd gen 450h was a lot faster than the 4th gen!"
Might be a Y rated tire 186 mph!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfj3Tw9k0rc
Post Reply