Y speed rating
Y at the end of a tire’s service description, as in 93Y, is the speed rating for 300 km/h (186 mph). In brackets, (Y) means over 300 km/h.
How to read it
On the chart used by USTMA and Bridgestone, Y is 300 km/h (186 mph), the highest letter, above W at 270 km/h (168 mph). Michelin gives Y as 186 mph; Ford’s manual converts it as 299 km/h. See the full chart.
Also searched as: Y rated tire.
What each marking means under the standard that defines it. This page describes markings; it doesn’t advise on choosing, fitting, inflating or replacing tires.
Y and (Y)
USTMA says a tire rated above 300 km/h (186 mph) must have a Z in its size and a service description with the Y in brackets. Its examples: P275/40ZR17 93Y is rated for 186 mph; P275/40ZR17 (93Y) is over 186 mph, and USTMA refers to the tire’s maker for the figure. See ZR in a tire size.
Read next
- Next in Tire sidewall markingsZR in a tire sizeZR in place of R in a tire size, as in P275/40ZR17, marks a radial tire rated for speeds above 240 km/h (149 mph).
- The same shape in Accessibility symbolsAudio description symbol (AD)AD stands for audio description: a narrator describes what is happening on screen or on stage in the pauses between the dialogue, for people who are blind or have low vision.
More tire sidewall markings
The same shape elsewhere
Browse symbols drawn with curves and waves or letters and numbers.
Sources
- Tire Care and Safety Guide, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), Speed Symbol, p. 8
- Replacement Tire Selection Manual, Ref. No. P-06-01, August 2006, Bridgestone Americas, p. 7
- Tire Load Rating & Speed Rating Explained, Michelin North America, FAQ
- Speed and Load Rating Charts Explained, Bridgestone Australia, Tyre speed symbol table
- 2024 Ford Escape Owner’s Manual, Ford Motor Company, Wheel and Tire Information, p. 386
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed September 29, 2026. How we research
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