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MOTORCYCLE TIRE SPEED RATING

TIRE SPEED RATINGS

Some tires bear a letter "speed rating" designation indicating the tire's design speed capability. This speed rating system is intended to allow you to compare the speed capabilities of tires. When purchasing or replacing speed-rated tires, make sure to: (a) use the rankings in the chart below to compare the speed ratings of all the tires, and (b) follow the motorcycle manufacturer's recommendations, if any, concerning the use of speed-rated tires. To avoid reducing the speed capability of the motorcycle, replace a speed-rated tire only with another tire having at least the same speed rating. Remember, it's the "top speed" of the "slowest" tire on the vehicle, which cannot be exceeded without risk of tire failure. The letter symbols and corresponding design speeds are: Speed-Rating Symbol Speed Category* J Up to 62mph (100 km/h N Up to 87mph (140 km/h) P Up to 93mph (150 km/h) S Up to 112 mph (180 km/h) H Up to 130 mph (210 km/h) V (with service description) Up to 149 mph (240 km/h) W Up to 168 mph (270 km/h)*** Z (with service description) Over 149 mph (240 km/h)** * In laboratory tests that relate directly to highway speeds. Reminder: Actual tire speed and performance capability depends on factors such as inflation pressure, load, tire condition, wear and driving conditions. ** Although no upper limit speed is specified here, the indicated tires nonetheless have limited rated speed capability. Call 1-800-367-3872 for a referral for more technical information. *** Any tire with a speed capability above 149 mph (240 kph) can, at the tire manufacturer's option, include a "Z" in the size designation (120/70ZR17). If a service description IS NOT included, the tire manufacturer must be consulted for the maximum speed capability. If a service description is included with the size description, the speed capability is limited by the speed symbol in the service description. These speed ratings are based on laboratory tests under specific, controlled conditions. While these tests relate to performance on the road under those conditions, remember that real-life driving is rarely identical to any test conditions. Your tire's actual speed capability may be less than its rated speed, since it is affected by factors such as inflation pressure, load, prior alteration or damage, driving conditions, alignment, wear, vehicle condition, and the duration for which high speed is sustained. A tire's speed rating becomes void if the tire is repaired, retreaded, damaged or abused, or otherwise altered from its original condition. Thereafter, it should be treated as a non-speed-rated tire. The tire's speed rating designation appears on the tire sidewall with the tire size. Examples: 120/60ZR17 55W - 140/70V18 67V In these examples, the "Z" and "V" respectively, are the speed-ratings ("R" indicates that each of the example tire sizes are radials). The "55W" and "67V" in these two examples are called "service descriptions."

HIGH SPEED

Riding at high speed is dangerous, and can cause a motorcycle accident, including serious personal injury or death. Regardless of the speed and handling capabilities of your motorcycle and its tires, a loss of control can result from exceeding the maximum speed: (a) allowed by law or (b) warranted by traffic, weather, vehicle, or road conditions. High-speed riding should be left to trained professionals operating under controlled conditions. No tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has unlimited capacity for speed, and a sudden tire failure can occur if its limits are exceeded.

RACING TIRES

Never use race only tires on public roads. Race tires are constructed in such a way that they are very unstable under normal street riding conditions. These tires also require higher operating temperatures for proper performance. These temperatures cannot be obtained within legal speed limits.

DYNO TESTING

Do not use a tire on the road that has been subjected to motorcycle dynamometer testing. The stress from this process may result in tread compound degradation and possible tire failure.

TIRE SPINNING

Spinning a tire to remove a motorcycle stuck in mud, ice, snow, or wet grass can be dangerous. A tire spinning at a speedometer reading above 35 miles per hour (55 km/h) can in a matter of seconds reach a speed capable of disintegrating a tire with explosive force. Under some conditions, a tire may be spinning at a speed twice that shown on the speedometer. This could cause serious personal injury or death to a bystander or passenger and extensive motorcycle damage. Never spin a tire above a speedometer reading of 35 mph (55 km/h).