Why did a tire dealer steer me away from H rated tires?

[sip]

A tires dealer was adamant that I should go with T rated tires when I wanted to change my new stock Toyo H rated tires to tires that would offer more ride comfort. He kept on telling me that the right tire for Mazda 3 is a T rated tire although door sticker stated it should be H. Finally, he convinced me to buy the T rated tires. Now, I find that the new tires, the car does not stop as good as it did when I had the Toyos. BTW, the price for T rated was more than the H rated. Was the dealer correct in recommending T rated tires to Mazda 3?


Click here (http://www.wheels.ca/Tire%20Talk/article/250663) for a Toronto Star article about stepping down in speed rating.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

A tires dealer was adamant that I should go with T rated tires when I wanted to change my new stock Toyo H rated tires to tires that would offer more ride comfort. He kept on telling me that the right tire for Mazda 3 is a T rated tire although door sticker stated it should be H. Finally, he convinced me to buy the T rated tires. Now, I find that the new tires, the car does not stop as good as it did when I had the Toyos. BTW, the price for T rated was more than the H rated. Was the dealer correct in recommending T rated tires to Mazda 3?


Click here (http://www.wheels.ca/Tire%20Talk/article/250663) for a Toronto Star article about stepping down in speed rating.

You can do it, sure. However, you will typically sacrifice performance as it pertains to braking and overall grip. A lot does depend on the overall traction and heat rating of the individual tires though... If you're not a really agressive driver, than you're probably okay with the T-rated tire, but obviously the speed rating of the tire is lower too.

Personally, I wouldn't step down, but yah, you can do it... I think next time, or if you decide you don't want to keep the T-rated tires, maybe you should go see Allen at Simply Tire...

P.S.- A little shocked that the T-rated tire was more expensive compared to the H-rated one. What two tire varieties were you comparing here?

[sip]

P.S.- A little shocked that the T-rated tire was more expensive compared to the H-rated one. What two tire varieties were you comparing here?


COOPER CS4 T vs H

[sip]

Was the tire dealer more knowledgable than the Mazda engineers that specified an H-rated tire for Mazda 3? I don't know.

I thought that Mazda may have built in a too much of a safety net by specifying a H rated tire when I agreed for T rated tires but now I wish I would have gone with my instinct and have insisted on H rated tires.

Honestly, I do not feel any difference in ride comfort between H rated stock Toyo and T rated Cooper CS4. Only poor brake performance with the T Cooper.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

perhaps there was more profit to be made in the T rated?

[JashiK]

i'm with jeff on this one...

[Olestra]

Some tire manufacturers offer 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not happy with the tires, you simply go back to your tire dealer and return/exchange them for a different set.

Edit: I think Cooper only offers this in the US and it's 45 days...
I guess learn from mistakes and never go lower rated tires. Also never go back to that tire shop. =)