Hi,

A newbie tire question - does speed rating of a tire affect performance in snow or does it only depend on tread design? I live in Edmonton (heavy snow) and am choosing between Bridgestone Blizzak LM25s on Tirerack. For the front, I am going with 225/45/18 95 V (no H option). For the rear, should I be going with 245/45/18 100 V or 96 H?

Thanks.

 

I think it must, for some reason. Here's the latest CR ranking of Performance Winter tires. Notice the the speed ratings on each tire. Notice the Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3s; the V speed rating tires were ranked significantly higher than the H speed rated tire in the same model.

From this list however, there doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule regarding speed ratings. It appears to be purely on a tire by tire basis.

85 - Goodyear Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 H
73 - Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 H
68 - Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 H
66 - Nokian WR All Weather Plus V
66 - Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 V
65 - Continental ContiWinterContact TS810S V
65 - Nokian WR All Weather Plus H
62 - Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2 H
56 - Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero H
50 - Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 H

Certainly the whole situation is convoluted by the fact that as hard as they might try, evaluating snow performance is pretty subjective and exact testing conditions (i.e. moisture, snow thickness, ice thickness, temp, etc.) are very hard to keep identical for all of the tires being tested.

BTW - those Goodyears GW3s are really hard to find so so far this year; I found a set, but only in run flat, and I don't want run flats. They may be discontinuing it for their Ultra Grip Performance line.

 

if its on stock non-staggered wheels I would run the same size all around, they typically suggest one width size smaller than OEM because it helps put more weight down for traction...I compromised and went with 235's