Tyres - load rating versus speed rating

[corned]

Reading the MO or not to MO thread got me thinking about something I don't understand in my car's handbook.

E320CDI estate, 2005 vintage. The book states that normal summer tyres are 225/55R16 95W.

However.

The same handbook states for the E320CDI saloon - 225/55/R16 95V.

This puzzles me. We can expect the estate to have the potential to carry greater load than the saloon. So why is the load rating no different?

And why, when the estate is not as fast as the saloon (aerodynamics and slightly shorter final drive), does it need a higher speed rating?



Please can someone explain that to me!

 

[BTB 500]

We can expect the estate to have the potential to carry greater load than the saloon.

Not necessarily, depends what the plated max. gross (laden) weight is for each. Could be the same.

 

[C240Sport97]

estate more likely to be used a get away car due to carrying capacity?

 

[corned]

Valid point Bill.

I've just checked the handbook again. "Maximum permissible gross vehicle weight" - saloon 2260kg, estate 2460kg.

So, taking everything on face value, it appears that Mercedes have themselves confused the tyre load and speed ratings for the car.

 

[corned]

estate more likely to be used a get away car due to carrying capacity?

Ha ha!