Tire speed rating chart
The letter after the load index is the tire's speed rating: the top speed it can sustain at its rated load.
Read it from the sidewall: in 225/65R17 102H, H means 130 mph.
| Rating | Max mph | Max km/h |
|---|---|---|
| L | 75 | 120 |
| M | 81 | 130 |
| N | 87 | 140 |
| P | 93 | 150 |
| Q | 99 | 160 |
| R | 106 | 170 |
| S | 112 | 180 |
| T | 118 | 190 |
| U | 124 | 200 |
| H | 130 | 210 |
| V | 149 | 240 |
| Z | over 149 | over 240 |
| W | 168 | 270 |
| Y | 186 | 300 |
| (Y) | over 186 | over 300 |
The rating is set by the tire maker's lab test, not the size, so two tires in the same size can carry different letters. For the number in front of the letter, see the tire load index chart; for the size itself, start from the tire size chart.
Speed rating questions
Where is the speed rating on a tire?
It is the letter at the end of the service description after the size, as in 225/65R17 102H: 102 is the load index and H is the speed rating.
Can I use a lower speed rating than my car came with?
The vehicle maker's placard sets the minimum. Fitting a lower rating lowers the tire's top speed and usually its handling at speed, so stick to the placard rating or higher. Winter tires are the common exception, and some makers allow a lower rating for them.
Why does H come after U?
H is left over from an older system ("HR" tires) and kept its place by speed, between U (124 mph) and V (149 mph), so the alphabet is out of order there.