Why do all low profile tires have to be of high performance design?

[grampi]

Maybe there are some tire experts in here who can help me out with this one. For the life of me, I can't figure out why all low profile tires have to be either H, V,W, or Z speed rated. Why can't tire manufacturers make 50 and lower series tires in an S or T speed rating?

There seems to be quite a few people in this forum who like the looks of the low profile tires, but they hate the fact that 1) they have to pay a higher price to purchase these tires because they are high performance tires and 2) the compound these tires are composed of is so soft they just don't last very long. In fact, if we were to take a poll, I would bet money that more people would rather have these tires available in a high mileage compound than in a high performance compound. At the very least, they should be available in both forms.

Is there some ligitimate reason why these tires couldn't be made available in an all-season, 80K mile touring tire?

[Imagine]

I'm guessing that they figure most people buy low profile tires buy them for the performance advantages over regular tires. Less side wall flex, etc. Id imagine they figure is doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a tire that is made of a harder compound and doesn't stick as well if you are worried about side wall flex. I know what you are saying though. It would be nice. Then again.. How can they charge the same price for a Low pro tire that you pay for a HUGE mudder tire. You know it takes a lot more rubber to make those larger tires. It's all a way to make more money.

[blacksan]

The inherit limitations of the short sidewall design is my guess.

[grampi]

The inherit limitations of the short sidewall design is my guess.

Someone else mentioned the sidewall thing in a similar discussion in another forum and said the shorter siewall needs to be stiffer. I guess my counter to that is; isn't the shorter sidewall stiffer than a higher profile tire simply by virtue of being shorter? Why the need to make it even stiffer still? Just seems like overkill to me.

[Imagine]

Someone else mentioned the sidewall thing in a similar discussion in another forum and said the shorter siewall needs to be stiffer. I guess my counter to that is; isn't the shorter sidewall stiffer than a higher profile tire simply by virtue of being shorter? Why the need to make it even stiffer still? Just seems like overkill to me.'

Yes it is stiffer because it is shorter, my guess is that they make them thicker for rim/blowout protection. For things such as potholes. I had a 40 series Toyo go flat due to a nail once. I could hardly tell because the sidewalls were so stiff.

[grampi]

'

Yes it is stiffer because it is shorter, my guess is that they make them thicker for rim/blowout protection. For things such as potholes. I had a 40 series Toyo go flat due to a nail once. I could hardly tell because the sidewalls were so stiff.

My guess is there's a more sinister reason for it. I obviously don't have any proof to back this assertion up and it's just a theory, but I think it's all about money.Tire makers have never made low profile tires available in a non-high performance design, therefore anyone who wants them must buy them as high performance tires. This basically results in double payments to the tire makers from consumers because 1) the tires are more expensive to purchase than regular touring tires BECAUSE they're high perfromance tires, and 2) they're purchased twice as often because they only last half as long as touring tires. It would also cost tire makers more money to make a given tire model available in both high performance and touring designs so they choose to make them only in a high performance design.

No, my guess is (and again, it's just my theory) a T speed rated touring tire in a 40 or 50 series would be just as safe and durable as a Z speed rated tire, but they aren't made available because tire manufacturers would lose money by doing so.

For what it's worth, I emailed these questions to a specialist at the Tire Rack and am waiting for a reply. However, I realize that the Tire Rack is a business, and businesses exist to make money, and I'm sure they know they make more profit selling a high performance tire than they do selling a touring tire, so they have a vested interest in promoting what makes them the most money, so there's a good chance the response I get will be slanted. I wish there was a true tire expert I could ask these questions of who doesn't have any alterior motives so I could get the REAL answer on this issue.

[501]

they make all kinds of non performance low profile tires, but then again any tire that lasts more than 20,000 miles really isnt that much of a performance tire to me

[grampi]

they make all kinds of non performance low profile tires, but then again any tire that lasts more than 20,000 miles really isnt that much of a performance tire to me

Name any that aren't H, V, W, or Z rated.

[Imagine]

I agree with your theory complete grampi. That same thing goes for a lot of other businesses as well. Unfortunately, it's kinda the nature of the beast.

[WRBlue]

T rated winter tires exist in 45% sidewalls

Speed rating has nothing to do with the performance or life of the tire.

For example, continental makes a 205/45 - 17 that is V rated, but a base passenger all season tire, with a tread wear of 400. It is $70 less than a Pirelli V rated summer tire that has a tread wear of 180. They are also $20 more than a continental V rated performance all-season with a tread wear of 280. The base tire will last 1.4 times the perfromance all-season for 1.1 times the price, but less grip.

To answer the original question, all low profile tires are not high performance design. The Continental ContiProContact SSR is defiantly not high performance. Bridgestone and Pirelli also make winter tires in low profile and those are most definatly not high perform. Almost all cars that come from the factory with low profile tires do not come with high performance tires due to the liability created by the tires not accommodating water or snow. For my WRX, I can find 8 non-performance designed low profile tires. All are V or Z rated, but none are performance design.

[501]

Name any that aren't H, V, W, or Z rated.

i understand what you looking for in a tire, but you misunderstood me, i was just voicing my opinion that i dont think a tire that lasts over 20,000 miles is much of a performance tire at all. its just hard to find that tire that has the best of all worlds, like quiteness,dry weather, wet weather, handling, and longevity:iono: i just give up a lot just to have good cornering grip

you could just get a touring style tire and have it streched for the low profile look and still retain some quiteness and longevity. there are still some cons to this method but if you dont drive to aggressive it should work good. it is done in the euro scene alot

good luck

[grampi]

you could just get a touring style tire and have it streched for the low profile look and still retain some quiteness and longevity.

Is that kind of like a metric, left handed cresent wrench?

[grampi]

T rated winter tires exist in 45% sidewalls

Speed rating has nothing to do with the performance or life of the tire.

For example, continental makes a 205/45 - 17 that is V rated, but a base passenger all season tire, with a tread wear of 400. It is $70 less than a Pirelli V rated summer tire that has a tread wear of 180. They are also $20 more than a continental V rated performance all-season with a tread wear of 280. The base tire will last 1.4 times the perfromance all-season for 1.1 times the price, but less grip.

To answer the original question, all low profile tires are not high performance design. The Continental ContiProContact SSR is defiantly not high performance. Bridgestone and Pirelli also make winter tires in low profile and those are most definatly not high perform. Almost all cars that come from the factory with low profile tires do not come with high performance tires due to the liability created by the tires not accommodating water or snow. For my WRX, I can find 8 non-performance designed low profile tires. All are V or Z rated, but none are performance design.

I see. So what I need to be looking at is the treadwear rating, not the speed rating?

[Imagine]

I see. So what I need to be looking at is the treadwear rating, not the speed rating?

Yes! The UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards) Treadwear grades is how they rate the longevity of the tire. Not the speed ratings.

[WRBlue]

But the name is misleading ;) Its uniform throughout one manufacturer but not between manufacturers.

A tire from company X with a treadware of 125 might be harder and last longer than a tire from company Y with a treadware of 175. But a Kumho Estca MX with a treadware of 220 will definaly wear out quicker than their Solus KR21 with a treadware of 640 ;)

[501]

Is that kind of like a metric, left handed cresent wrench?


why sir you are correct:thumbup: