Hey you guys that are removing the spped limiter be sure to buy speed rated tires for your truck cause if you go over 100mph with the stock ones you risk a blowout as these high profile tires are not designed for these speeds.
This is why Ford put the speed limiter there in the first place.
Having a blowout in a 4000+ lbs truck at over 100mph would not be good.
I not even sure you can get speed rated tires in a 70 or 75 series.
Drive safe we don't want ot lose any members.
BTW where is it safe to do over 100mph?

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99 XLT 5.4L reg cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Jensen 50x2 RMS for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
Looking for reasonably priced used running boards
54regcab@duesouth.net in Columbia SC

 

Go West, young man, go West.

Texas to be exact to answer your last question. Been there last week, done that and didn't endanger anyone but myself, the bugs and the critters. Armadillos I think they are called.

Too bad I am so entangled here in Ga., or I would seriously consider moving there. Great state, great people.

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Bill Murray
99.5 Lightning
Oxford White
Bedrug/ARE LSII lid

Tow Package CD Player
Superchip
HobbyTownUSA Graphics
Identical 1/10 Scale Tamiya RC Truck incl. graphics.
Truck interest e-mail:
fastwhitey@myf150.com
4 heavy decals!
Kennesaw (Atlanta) Ga.

 

Sorry Bill, I wasn't referring to the Lightnings that do in fact have speed rated tires.
I was talking about the rest of us that wish they had a Lightning.

 

Ive hit 90 before, and thats movin. And yes, got to be careful about the tires at that speed. But I would believe they should handle atleast 105mph. Just dont do any evasive manuevers.

 

They as all "P" series tires are rated 113mph.
Evasive manuvers are out of the question.

 

How do you figure out what the speed rating is on your tires??? I've changed my tires and was wondering about the new ones. Thanks

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

This is really an issue only for those who spend time driving at *sustained* speeds in excess of 100 or so mph. The top speed limiters are set at anywhere from 98 to 108 mph from the factory. Even Superchipped, these vehicles cannot top much over 120 mph. The 99 5.4 4X2 shorty trucks have the highest top speeds, and that is about 120-125 mph with the Superchip. Most other V-8's run maybe 115 mph or so. Even with a Superchip, these F-150's are not capable of running speeds *significantly* in excess of the speed rating of the stock tires.

I don't mean to make light of this at all, and I want to be clear about that. For those of you whose location and driving conditions and circumstances permit *sustained* cruising at speeds in excess of 100 mph, take this into consideration, certainly! For example, I grew up in Europe, and learned to drive on their Autobahn, which had no speed limits. And we drove older vehicles with nylon and bias-belted tires for sustained periods of time in excess of 110, 120, 130, or however fast the car would go, without a tire-related mishap. This was of course back in the 60's, and tires have certainly come a long way since then. Back then, vehicles owners manuals used to specifically tell the owner to inflate the tires to higher pressures for any sustained high-speed cruising.

As a general rule, today's tires on these vehicles are capable of handling the typical brief run at speed. IF you are driving for extended periods at triple-digit speeds, then by all means I would recommend you get the best possible tire underneath that thing!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 10-24-1999).]

 

Remember folks, you have a 2+ ton truck and the only thing touching the ground are the tires! I personally recommend buying tires that best suit your needs, don't buy mudders if you drive on the streets constantly! I am all for driving fast, hard to imagine that my straight 6 can get up and hit the governor at around 98-108! As for where is it safe, I agree with whomever said go west young man! Nevada has the second most miles of desolate highways in the contry! Why do you think there are two races on them every year!? If you're interested, look into highway 50, I know one of the truck mags did an article on it recently as did a 5.0 mag. Have fun, drive safe, and as we say about our scoots, keep the rubber side down!

Neal Coppola
Las Vegas, NV

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'94 F-150, 4.9 6cyl., K&N FIPK, Mangecor 8mm wires. Gibson 3" Side Swept, MSD Blaster Coil, superchip. Pioneer DEH-P835R Head Unit, Rockford Fosgate 200a1 pushing 2 RF 10" subs, components and another amp will go in when funds are allocated! Est. 200 hp 300ft/lb. Torque! Not bad for a straight 6!! New project: '82 Stang, 351 Windsor, now on jackstands....blew up the rear end, oops!

 

Tina
Go to www.tirerack.com and look for a section called "sidewall decoder" or something like that. It explains among many other things what the speed rating codes on your tires mean.

 

Speed ratings per Firestone booklet included with truck... speeds are "UP TO" unless noted

M=81 MPH
Q=99
S=112
T=118
U=124
H=130
V=149(with service discription)
V=OVER 130(no service discription)
W=168
Y=186
Z=OVER 149 (no service disdription)

Also, it states that LT tires(light truck) are not to be operated at speeds in excess of the legal limits. At 66-75 mph, increase the PSI by 10 pounds. Don't go over the recomended pressure on the sidewall. At 76-85 mph, decrease axle load by 10% and increase the PSI by 10 pounds. Non speed rated LT tires should not be opperated in excess of 85 mph.

 

10-7

[This message has been edited by frog (edited 01-27-2000).]

 

Frog –

Another factor in Arizona and other 'hot-spot' states too, is delamination, even on relatively new meat. If your tires are starting to de-lam even a little, speed only amplifies the problem.

And another thing. You folks at AHP do a tremendous job on the roads and hiways around AZ. Many a time I've seen a level of service and professionalism that is unmatched by other law-enforcement agencies. (Now... can I get a 'heads-up' on speed traps around Gilbert?)

 

10-7


[This message has been edited by frog (edited 01-27-2000).]

 

Dear Frog & Reavis,

Welcome to F150online!

And thanks for the info about the temps that are seen in the summer on those highways. 180 degrees, WOW!

Having done a lot of driving on our Interstates in 38 states, almost all of the delamination I've seen is from 18-wheel truck tires, those are very easy to tell they came of a big truck, whose tires you can see shredded on just about every Interstate you drive on. I have no idea what you have to deal with there in AZ, as I'm not a resident there. Do you guys see this too, meaning mostly big truck tires being delaminated and laying on the highway, or are you seeing any significant numbers in smaller tires delaminating too, I wonder?

It's great to get this kind of info, so those that have to drive on 180 degree pavement there in AZ in the summer can take this into consideration!

We all love a fast vehicle, and a lot of us like to open them up from time to time, and that gets talked about a lot here, of course, as it's an enthusiast web site. But *nothing* is worth taking inordinate risks, and anyone driving triple-digit speeds needs to have every possible factor on their side, so as not to have an "episode" that Frog may have to come upon one day!

Thanks very much to both of you for bringing those facts to light here.

Our bests to all,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 10-28-1999).]

 

10-7

[This message has been edited by frog (edited 01-27-2000).]