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Don't focus on tire speed rating. Speed ratings are indictive of how the tire is designed and build, max speed ratings are only one attribute.
As I have explained many many times:
When you opt for a lesser tire, one with a lower performance rating, you are getting less wet and dry traction. And your ability to make emergency stops take accident avoidance measures can never be better than the traction that the tire patch can generate. Yes, ABS will stop tire skidding in many cases, but a lesser tire will still take longer to stop!
And these lower speed rating tires are aimed at a market where mileage ratings are a primary buying consideration. So these tires have a harder longer wearing tread. So its no surprise that these tires will have less braking and cornering performance in an emergency. These tires, in lasting longer, especially for a gentle driver, will be subjected to more time and heat. The tread compound will age harden. These aged tires having less tread and hardened rubber can really loose traction and braking, wet and dry grip becomes dangerously affected. Evasive steering suffers the same. On a cold rainy day these tires can be very dangerous. Often these tires should be tossed out when there is a generous amount of tread left. So the economy of high tread life is false. If you keep using them you place your life and the lives of your family and others at risk. But you will not be alone, many are ignorant to such issues. The age hardening may be much worse in hot climates like Kansas or south.
So my point is that a performance tire may save your life, or your Saab and that you don't need to be an agressive driver to be driving at typical highway speeds and be presented with a sudden life threatening situation which requires all that your tires can deliver. It is a life or death situation. The 9-5's have really good brakes and good steering stabilty. But this is always limited by the traction of the tire patch. Superior performance requires superior tires. Consider the added cost insurance, with the benefit of avoiding the need for a payout on life insurance or vehicle repair. (Yes, I make similar arguments for dedicated snow tires, even in climates where the snow fall is considered minor and infrequent.)
A non agressive driver can expect to get 40-45K miles from performance tires. Don't be put off by the reports of low miles from agressive drivers.
posted by 207.43.195...
, Wed, 11 Jun 2003 20:51:36, Wed, 11 Jun 2003 20:53:13
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