Speed rating vs Fuell effeciency & wet grip rating

[wemorgan]

Has anyone else noticed any oddities in the new tyre rating system? Below is an example of one tyre size and the 'same' Michelin Energy Saver tyre yet with different fuel efficiency and wet grip ratings. It's especially interesting to see how the last tyre is E rated for fuel efficiency but the tyre is branded as an Energy Saver.

And there was me thinking the new tyre rating system would be an end to tyre treads......err I mean threads.

Michelin Tyres / Car / Michelin Energy Saver - 195/55 R16 87T (S1) TL
(Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 70dB)

Michelin Tyres / Car / Michelin Energy Saver - 195/55 R16 87H (G1) TL
(Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 70dB)

Michelin Tyres / Car / Michelin Energy Saver - 195/55 R16 91T XL TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 70dB)

Michelin Tyres / Car / Michelin Energy Saver - 195/55 R16 91V XL TL
(Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: A NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 70dB)

Michelin Tyres / Car / Michelin Energy Saver - 195/55 R16 87V (S1) TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 2 Noise: 70dB)

 

[grober]

My guess there's often a change in tread pattern as you go up the speed ratings and possibly and/or the tread rubber mix -- remember most tread patterns depicted online are " generic" rather than actual. As a general observation lower speed rated tyres often seem to have a closer tread pattern i.e. a higher rubber to void ratio than higher speed tyres which have a more open tread possibly to remove more water at speed. Likewise higher speed tyres often have a softer rubber to give them more grip at the expense of mileage. That's why its vital when looking at the tyre reviews to look at the exact tyre size/speed the review is about since another size speed rated version of the same tyre model may not perform the same.

 

[Ierton]

Load rating is down to sidewall stifness which will have a bearing on fuel efficiency rating. Also there's a temperature range for self-certification on wet grip so in reality the new system is pretty pointless.

 

[wemorgan]

Load rating is down to sidewall stifness which will have a bearing on fuel efficiency rating. Also there's a temperature range for self-certification on wet grip so in reality the new system is pretty pointless.

Looking at other tyres data though there seems to be no correlation between load and speed rating and fuel effeciency

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip - 205/55 R16 91V FP TL
(Fuel Eff.: A Wet Grip: C NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop FastResponse SP Dunlop Fast Response - 205/55 R16 91H MFS TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: C NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop Sport01 SP Dunlop Sport 01 - 205/55 R16 91V (TO) MFS TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop Sport01 SP Dunlop Sport 01 - 205/55 R16 91V (TO) MFS RHD TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip - 205/55 R16 91W (AO) FP TL
(Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 66dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop SportMaxx RT SP Dunlop Sport Maxx RT - 205/55 R16 91W (AO) TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop SportMaxx RT SP Dunlop Sport Maxx RT - 205/55 R16 91Y MFS TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop SportMaxx RT SP Dunlop Sport Maxx RT - 205/55 R16 91Y MFS TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB)

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear GSD3 Eagle F1 Goodyear GSD 3 - 205/55 R16 91W TL
(Fuel Eff.: F Wet Grip: C NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 66dB)

Dunlop Tyres / Car / Dunlop Sport01 SP Dunlop Sport 01 - 205/55 R16 94H XL TL
(Fuel Eff.: E Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 66dB)

 

[Dieselman]

As the general public become more aware of the rating system, manufacturers will start to ensure tyres give the best results.

 

[wemorgan]

So do you see this an anomaly due to tyres being developed before and after the ratings system? So within a few years all same brand&marque tyres, though with different speed/load ratings, will have very similar ratings?

 

[Dieselman]

So do you see this an anomaly due to tyres being developed before and after the ratings system? So within a few years all same brand&marque tyres, though with different speed/load ratings, will have very similar ratings?

Just like car C02 ratings and electric appliance ratings, it takes a while for the general public to get used to what they mean and change their buying habits.

Ncap ratings are a case in point.

 

[G.P]

As the general public become more aware of the rating system, manufacturers will start to ensure tyres give the best results.

Lets hope so, as at present some manufactures are not been so honest with there results, I can see the truth been slightly incorrect with results above from Michelin. .

 

[mersum1es]

I just had time to read winter tyre test in large finnish car/tech magazine... overall, the statement was that stud/spike tyres are superior in all categories except noise and fuel consumption but let's forget it because UK studs are forbidden...

There was test in studdles tyres class, where 2 different speed rate Nokians (though different models) were tested. And now must keep in mind that lower speed rate Nokian is done specially for Northern climate, not for mid-european mild winters.

Results:
Ice - Hakkapeliitta R - WR D3
Brake - 7 - 5
Acceleration - 6 - 5
Handling - 8 - 6
Driveability - 8 - 6

Snow - Hakkapeliitta R - WR D3
Brake - 9 - 8
Acceleration - 8 - 6
Handling - 9 - 8
Driveability - 9 - 7

Wet - Hakkapeliitta R - WR D3
Brake - 5 - 8
Handling - 7 - 8
Driveability - 7 - 8

Dry - Hakkapeliitta R - WR D3
Brake - 7 - 9
Driveability - 6 - 8

Economy/comfort - Hakkapeliitta R - WR D3
Direct. stability - 6 - 9
Noise - 9 - 10
Rolling friction - 10 - 8

Conclusion: High speed rate tyres are superior on dry/wet, on snow ok, but on ice dreadfully poor... and now we are talking 'premium' tyres, I wonder what are the results when testing linglongpingpong far-east-made tyres...