Tyres - ZR16 vs R16 whats the difference?

[A1BMW325iSport]

Evening guys,

My father needs some tyres for his E36 Touring, wheels are the stock BMW 16" alloys and the tyres fitted are 225-50-ZR16 92W

Handbook confirms above tyres are correct but would it be possible to use 225-50-R16 92W, are they the same?

Thanks

[Rav335uk]

That's the speed rating.
Unless he's going to break the speed barrier, they'll be ok

[A1BMW325iSport]

Hi, thanks for the reply, its only a 318i so I don't think he'll be going for a speed record lol.

If both are 92W though does that mean they are the same or does ZR mean a different rating all together?

[Rav335uk]

"W" is the speed rating.

[A1BMW325iSport]

Yea just the ZR confused me, thanks

[ImysE30]

Got this off a website:

Radial Vintage Tyres Speed Ratings

Speed ratings for radial tyres are given below. New speed ratings are currently being developed to subdivide the Z rating.
Speed
Rating mph Km/h
J ----------- 100
K ----------- 110
L ----------- 120
M ----------- 130
N ----------- 140
P ------93 -- 150
Q ----------- 160
R ----------- 170
S ------112 -180
T------ 118- 190
H------ 130- 210
V ------149- 240
W ----- ------270
Y ------------ 300
VR ----------- 210
ZR -----149 --240

[lunatixantix]

Iirc W is for speeds over 149 mph or something like that, the same goes for the Y rating, ZR means that it is capable of handling speeds over 186 mph...

But I could be wrong

[sihooker]

I thought that ZR rated tyres meant that they were 'directional',ie. they have to be fitted with the arrows on the sidewall facing in the direction of forward motion....

[ImysE30]

Definitely speed rating AFAIK

[lunatixantix]

As Imy said, speed ratings, directional tyres have an arrow with the word "rotation" pointing in the direction the wheels should be travelling

[A1BMW325iSport]

cheers all