740 tyre speed rating

[timofthomas]

Allo all,
After taking my wheels off to bleed the brakes yesterday I got a nasty shock looking at my rears - pretty much bald in the middle (I had run with them at high pressure for full load and speed for a while and they were cheap tyres)

Anyways, my spare has been duff for a while so I decided to replace 4 and put one of the good fronts back as the spare.

However, I really struggled to get the right tyre size around here - should have been 185/70 R14 88H (prefer 90 or 92 but none to be had up here). The only tyres in that size and speed rating out of 5 garages were cheap as chips eastern tyres some make I'd never heard of. Garage chap said they were designed for small cars and on the volvo they'd barely make 5000 miles use - less than 6 months commuting for me.

The only alternative was Continentals - which I duly purchased only to find out once fitted, they were 88T (T= speed rating up to 119mph, H=up to 129mph). Now this concerns me on two counts - I'm pretty sure the beast is still (just) capable of exceeding 119mph (though I'd only ever find out in Germany!) and secondly where do I stand on the insurance company? What were the original specifications for tyre speed ratings? The Beast is a 1988 740GL Estate.

Cheers in advance for what I know will be helpful advice here

T

PS I checked the owner's handbook from the car just now and nowhere does it actually specify a speed rating - they do talk about tyre info and give an example - that example happens to be for a T rated tyre, but it does not mention that this is specified....

[gpl1968]

Continentals are good tyres and I sure your insurance would only be concerned if you had an accident at over 119mph.
I had T rated Continentals on my last 940 turbo with no issues.

[Michael J]

The speed rating is all but irrelevant unless you actually intend travelling at those speeds.

[Daim]

T = 190 km/h (which is about 118,5 mph)
H = 210 km/h (which is about 131,25 mph)

No matter where you live, and which insurance you have, you should have the minimum speed index on... BUT... now comes the part about the speed index itself... IF you have a tire, like an M (which is limited to 130 km/h) and have an accident OVER that speed limit, then your insurance won't cover you. At the same time - at least here in Germany - the law requires you to put a sticker or reminder in the speedo area saying the tire speed allowance.

As you don't "really" drive fast in GB (112 km/h/70 mph) basically any speed index is suitable... The most important part is the weight index - which is the two digit figure in the tire code (88, 91, 93, etc.). This must be over that, of what your car can load.

A 88 rated tire can carry up to 560 kg. That is limit... On top of that, if you exceed speeds of 210 km/h (131 mph), you'll have to add a bit more to it, as "high speed tires" have to have more than minimum.

So, an 88 rated tire with a T index is more than enough for a 740 non turbo. Even if it is a turbo, then a T can just be enough. The weight still is okay, as 4x560=2240kg -> no Volvo can weigh that mich Not even (legally) loaded

[Michael J]

The weight limit is per tyre. My 240 estate can be as much as 1950kg gross: max. 830kg on the front axle; up to 1160kg on the rear axle - which would overload a pair of 560kg rated tyres.

[timofthomas]

Should be ok there then- the owner's manual reckons 1500kg is the heaviest 740 model they did in 1988 although there is the front/rear split to consider when fully loaded - though I've had a full load of wood, bricks and earth in the back with the seats down with no ill effect on 88's before...but that is a rare thing indeed!

[minesa240x3]

The weight still is okay, as 4x560=2240kg -> no Volvo can weigh that mich Not even (legally) loaded [/QUOTE]

"NO volvo"?
Mine is a volvo and weighs 2250Kg?
OH ok it is a 940 six door Limousine Ha Ha.
Good info though,Thankyou very much.
Regards Brian.
I had to have R rated tyres which have reinforced sidewalls.

[Daim]

Originally Posted by Michael J

The weight limit is per tyre. My 240 estate can be as much as 1950kg gross: max. 830kg on the front axle; up to 1160kg on the rear axle - which would overload a pair of 560kg rated tyres.

Course you have to look at it per axle, but on a standard 740 a simple 88 rated tire is MORE than enough... Even the "heaviest" models.

I had, as my last 740, a 1990 744 GLE with A/C, automatic, sunroof, 4x power windows, towbar, 80l tank, diff-lock, wipers on headlights, foglights, additional headlights (from Volvo), leather seats, cruise control, well, basically EVERYTHING you could order was in it. Even then the weight didn't exceed the 1520 kg, which was listed in the vehicle papers. And fully loaded it was allowed to weight 2050 kg. My last Volvo 965 (1991 model) had everything too. It weighed empty (with full tank) bang on 1500 kg. That too was only allowed to weigh max. 2050 kg. With the weight distribution of something like 1200 kg rear (max!) and 850 kg front (max!) or so... Haven't got the papers anymore, as the car was sold...