Tires: speed rated tires-v-&-z, Tire, Speed Rating

Question
can a tire shop put a lower speed rated tire on a car that hase a V rating

Answer
Don,

Can they?  

Physically, yes.  

Legally?  I am not aware of any laws in the US that forbid this

- BUT -

A tire shop that does this sort of thing leaves themselves open to a legal liability in that it can be argued that going to a lower speed rating deviates from the specification of the vehicle manufacturer and the tire shop then is substantially altering the vehicle and liable for anything that happens.  As a result many tire shops will not go down in speed rating.

I have my own opinion and I express it here:

http://www.barrystiretech.com/speedratings.html