Speed Rating Chart for your Motorcycle Tyres
B - max 31 mph
J - max 62 mph
L - max 75 mph
M - max 81 mph
N - max 87 mph
P - max 93 mph
Q - max 99 mph
R - max 106 mph
S - max 112 mph
T - max 118 mph
H - max 130 mph
V - max 150 mph
Z - over 150 mph
W - max 167 mph
(W) - over 167 mph
NHS - Not for Highway Service - off road use only.
Some considerations regarding Speed Ratings.
Always choose an appropriate tyre for your motorbike with either the specified speed rating where possible.
It is possible to mix and match some speed ratings, eg. H and V, or S and P ... but you must then consider the pair of tyres to be rated at the slowest rated tyre. eg, a H (130mph) and a V (150mph) must be considered a H rated pair.
Changine the style of your tyre may mean a large decrease in speed rating.
Your BMW 1250GS may be good for 150mph with V rated radial road tyres on, but swapping onto knobbly off-road adventure tyres will significantly lower the approved top speed of your bike, and you must aride accordingly.
Putting under rated tyres on your bike could be dangerous and will not be covered by any warranty if an issue arises.
Putting over rated tyres on your bike could also be dangerous and can alter the handling and power of your bike. Putting ZR rated tyres on your 125cc sports bike will slow it down as the engine will need to work harder to spin those tyres up. Also the gyroscopic forces of the heavier tyres will make your bike harder to turn.
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