Dangerous tires on the Aero?

[kurwa311]

I always believed that 9-4X with it's top speed 233km/h should be equipped with at least V (240km/h) rated tyres. On early photos i've seen it had Continental CrossContact UHP which is W (270km/h) rated at Aero size (235/55R20) which is all-right.

2012 Saab 9-4X Aero - Photo 17/18 - Cardotcom.com

Today i was looking on some kind of review and noticed that Aero had Michelin Latitude Tour HP H (210km/h) rated.

2011 Saab 9 4X Wheel - High Resolution Photo 15

I checked for more Aero pictures and found that all cars had Michelin.

How could that happen? It is just not safe to high speed with tyres which can't handle it and probably overheat very fast and be destroyed.

[nordwulf]

The Saab 9-4X is limited to 210 km/h. I don't know what the actual 9-4X top speed is without the limiter.

[kurwa311]

Saab 9-4x: Technical Specifications | SaabsUnited.com
Hirsch Performance Extranet

I ve seen in 2 places about 230~, so was confused. As soon as i finish break in- i will test top speed myself. Hope Hirsch did not limit it.

[rpiereck]

On a related note, I was driving a rental Honda CR-Z on the Autobahn, I pushed the car to 180 km/h... and started to smell rubber, so I slowed down. When I got off and was able to stop I checked the tires and they were some cheap snow tires rated to 160km/h (Q rating). There was no damage to the tires and plenty of thread left, but I can imagine pushing the car for a while and either wearing out the rubber or having a blow out! When I returned the car to Enterprise I reminded them of a German law that says that if your tires have a lower speed rating than the car's top speed they must have a sticker somewhere in the dash notifying the driver about that...

[nordwulf]

I don't think I'll be pushing the limit of 130 mph on my 9-4X anytime soon. According to those specs, the 3.0i only has a 130 mph / 210 kph anyways.

Do you have any pictures of your 9-4X? What Hirsch upgrades do you have? It's probably the only 9-4X in Russia and perhaps the only privately-owned 9-4X outside North America.

[kurwa311]

It is just back Aero with full option list. I will make pictures as soon it arrive. Only 330HP, i think no more options from Hirsch for 9-4. Probably, that was one of the reason I elected it instead of 9-5.