# Tire Size 215/60 R16 H **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 29, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265 "2008-02-29T05:18:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![skochel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@skochel](https://community.cartalk.com/u/skochel)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/1 "2008-02-29T05:18:50Z")
I need new tires on my 2007 Subaru Forester. The present tires are rated as H and my local tire dealer says I don’t need an H and I should by 215/60 R16 S. The owners manual calls for H tires. Should I go along with my dealers advice. Thanks for your reply. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/2 "2008-02-29T11:06:47Z")
The owner’s manual rules. Now if you really want to cheap out and buy something less and you or another driver will never drive on the freeway, go ahead. I have no idea why the dealer said something like that. If you were to follow that advice and if there was a high speed tyre related accident he could be held responsible. Really dump dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 12:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/3 "2008-02-29T12:01:57Z")
see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire\_code](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code) for a full explanation of tire codes. H is rated for 130 mph, S is 112 mph ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/4 "2008-02-29T13:16:15Z")
There are a couple of reasons why H rated tires are specified - and one of them is that they are more dimensionally stable - which is of particular importance for an AWD that seems to be sensitive to tire diameter. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/5 "2008-02-29T13:40:55Z")
You probably don’t NEED H rated tires, but it’s a good idea to keep them. Going to a S rated tire you’ll notice a difference in how the car handles. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/6 "2008-02-29T16:58:37Z")
[www.carbibles.com](http://www.carbibles.com) is another good resource in understanding tires. I agree that you should stick with the H rating. While S may not be unsafe, assuming you don’t plan on actually cruising above 112 mph, you’ll likely feel a difference in handling. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/7 "2008-03-01T03:00:08Z")
While I’ll tout this tire: [http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Exalto+A%2FS&partnum=16VR6EXAS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=29&speed\_rating=H&speed\_rating=V&speed\_rating=Z&speed\_rating=W&speed\_rating=Y&speed\_rating=(Y)](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Pilot+Exalto+A%2FS&partnum=16VR6EXAS&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=29&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=(Y)) there are plenty of others available in your tire size. [http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?sortValue=1&resultsNumberSelected=Y&displayResults=38&compare=true&compareList=&RunFlat=All&goWhere=%2Ftires%2FCompare1.jsp&sortCode=&width=215%2F&ratio=60&diameter=16&speed\_rating=H&speed\_rating=V&speed\_rating=Z&speed\_rating=W&speed\_rating=Y&speed\_rating=(Y)&performance=UHPAS&performance=HPAS&performance=PAS&performance=GTAS&performance=ST&performance=AS&startIndex=0](http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?sortValue=1&resultsNumberSelected=Y&displayResults=38&compare=true&compareList=&RunFlat=All&goWhere=%252Ftires%252FCompare1.jsp&sortCode=&width=215%2F&ratio=60&diameter=16&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&speed_rating=%28Y%29&performance=UHPAS&performance=HPAS&performance=PAS&performance=GTAS&performance=ST&performance=AS&startIndex=0) ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size-215-60-r16-h/11265/8 "2008-03-01T03:34:43Z")
Any difference in handling is going to be negligible at sane speeds, so the S-rated tires should be just fine.