by Lauren Henderson
April is National Car Care Month and a great time to remind customers of general car maintenanceoften share speed ratings with those developed for ultra-high performance sports cars."High speed ratings — which indicate how fast a tire can roll at specified sustained speeds safely carrying a load
Falken Tire recommends reminding customers of these three things before changing their tires:
1. Never downgrade: A tire's speed rating indicates how fast a tire can roll while carrying a maximum load. Always selecta replacement tire that at least matches the rating of the tires that were on the vehicle when it was purchased. You can always go up with the speed rating but never go down.
2. Don't rely on a tire's speed rating to tell you how much grip or cornering ability the tire provides: The speed rating tells you how fast a tire can roll safely, not how much cornering capability it has. If you're looking for a tire that provides better handling or grip, you must research what the individual tire was designed to do. Consult the tire manufacturer's website or ask the sales person at the tire dealer.
3. Never mix and match tires with different speed ratings: Doing so limits the speed you can drive your vehicle to the lowest rated tire on your car, which could be lower than the speed your car can reach. It can also expose you to potentially serious vehicle handling problems, including unpredictable steering.