<snip>

"Handling" is a very subjective thing. If someone could codify
"handling", then tires could be tested and rated accordingly, plus
there's always the marketing hype.

I know what they want, but I am not sure that they get it just by
buying a V-rated tire.  Especially when they get it at Costco and it
has the same model designation as an H-rated tire.

That is one thing I don't like about buying tires.  You don't know how
they will handle until they are installed on the car.

On Jan 24, 12:53 am, Gordon McGrew <gRmEcMgOrV...@mindspring.com>
wrote:

not inherently, but marketing logic suggests that in general, the
folks who want the highspeed rating are also going to want stiffer
sidewalls for tighter handling.

I often wonder about the differences (if any) when a tire model comes
in different speed ratings.  The rating refers only to the tire's
resistance to coming apart at high speed.  This attribute doesn't
guaranty that the tire handles well.  Of course, high performance
tires tend to come with higher speed ratings than Costco all season
radials.  But is there any inherent correlation between speed rating
and handling, especially when you can get nominally the same tire in
different ratings?

the energy is not a performance tire - it's a high mileage low rolling
resistance tire.  you're not going to gain anything paying to replicate
their "speed" rating.

It's time for some new shoes for my '03 Accord V-6.  I know people on
this usenet group are not all that fond of the OEM Michellin Energy
MVX4 91V tires, but I have been happy with them.  Good snow and wet
pavement performance, quiet and good mileage.  That's good enough for
me.  I buy my tires at Costco, so straying away from the mainstream in
tires is not an option for me.

I see that the Energy tire has been replaced with the Primacy.  It's
supposed to be a blend between the old Energy and another higher-end
Michellin tire.  There is a $30 per tire difference between the V and
the H ratings in the Primacy.  Is there any real reason to spend the
extra $120 to get the V rating again?  I do spend some time on the
road, so 80 mph is not uncommon.  I don't know why Honda uses the V
rating in the first place, unless it is just a marketing tool.

Dick