Tyre load rating

I've decided I want Yoko AD08Rs to go on the 17" Pro Race 3 wheels I will be fitting later in the year but just noticed an old thread on here in which Nigel mentioned tyre load ratings. Apparently the Coupé needs 87.

AD08Rs in 215/40/17 are rated at 83 which is ringing alarm bells. Having read through a lot of reviews and tests of this tyre, I'm sold on it. So what do I do? I does come in 205/50/16 but I really want to get some bigger wheels now.

Does the Coupé need 87?

Are there any other tyre sizes that can go on a 17" rim that can be used on a 20vT?

Does the rating matter that much?

87 is rated to 545KG, 83 to 487KG.

Given the front heavy weight distribution of a 20vt coupe and how that changes under cornering/braking, personally I wouldn't use less than the recommended 87 rated tyre on the front wheels.

When I was looking for my first replacement tyres for the 20V and asked the TüV guys whether a Y-rated tyre, as specified in the little green card we get, was necessary, they went away and checked and said "V" was fine for my "slow" car but maintaining the 86 load rating for the 15" tyres was important. The VT is a bit heavier so may need 87 or the 205/50 16 are typically rated at 87. Either way, you really do need to be in that ball park. 83 is too low.

Hi,yes the rating is important.20VT with 205/50 is 87 and rating for 225's is 89.
If it is not the right rating the handling will suffer.

The load rating does not really have much positive to do with handling. It is exactly what it says on the box - a load rating - how much weight the tyre can take at the maximum rated speed of the tyre. Take a higher than necessary load rating and you are buying a tyre that is stronger, which usually means harder and heavier and then the ride and handling may noticably suffer. Bigger tyres usually have a higher load rating because they are primarily designed for bigger, heavier cars. Hence the 89 on the 225 as opposed to the 87 on the 205. A 225 with a load rating of 87 would actually be ideal as long as it has been designed to be that bit lighter!

a 20VT, while standing still, is putting about 500kg onto each front tyre (based on an all-up weight [inc driver] of around 1500kg and a 2/3 front weight distribution)

a 20vt braking very hard, or cornering very hard is going to be putting a LOT more than 500kg through the tyre

IMHO, 83W is probably too low - I've always used 87W and would prefer 89 if I can get it

I'm currently on 87Y, (Continental Sport Contact 3)but I fancy a try with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 or Toyo R1R

PS - Trappy - have a look at the 235/40 17 Toyo R1R - comes in 90W load rating and the size is only a bit up on the 215/40

Try the Michelin Pilot Super Sport Nigel, such a great tyre, not sure on the wear rating for your mileage though?

Black Circles

irrelevant nowadays - only doing a couple of thousand a year now - Alfa GT is doing all the grunt work

EDIT - Michelin Pilot Super Sport not available in the size I need

What size are you looking for?

I've read the PS2 is an in between the PSS and PS3, I've got PS2's on the scirocco at the moment, again, great tyres.

Thanks for the feedback everyone



Nigel, I hadn’t considered that size but I’ve now looked into it a little it looks like a pretty good fit. The Yoko AD08R also comes in this size AND it’s a 90W as well.

Would being around 8mm bigger than 205/50/16 and 16mm bigger than 215/40/17 in terms of overall circumference (as well as being wider) cause them to rub? I would imagine that the slightly smaller profile wouldn’t ‘squish’ as much leaving the total rolling radius even higher still…

Has anyone tried tyres at this size?

Just discovered that my wheel of choice, the Pro Race 3, doesn't come in 17x8"... so the 235/40/17 tyre won't fit

What about 225/40 17?

ISTR that the AD08 comes in this slightly unusual size

I doubt this will help much but the AD08R 225/45/16 is 89W rated.

I looked it up and but couldn't find any reference to this...



I've considered this, but I need bigger wheels now. Everytime I approach the car they just look too small now

I have narrowed it down to two choices:

Pro Race 3 17x7 (8.2kgs)
AD08R 215/45/17 87W (23lbs)
Pros: Favourite wheel style, same weight as standard, slightly smaller sidewall
Cons: Larger than standard rolling radius

OR

Pro Race 1.2 17x8 (8.9kgs)
AD08R 235/40/17 90W (25lbs)
Pros: Better load rating, correct rolling radius, slightly smaller sidewall, FAT tyres!
Cons: 1kg heavier than standard, washing them...

Thoughts?