He is using the analogy of an engines redline to driving a tire above 65mph. If you are on the highway, you will likely be driving 65mph. On my local highways the speed limit is 70, meaning cars go 80+ and big rigs are all 70-75. Driving at 65 in the right lane makes me a road hazard to others at times. I get cars and rigs flying up to my bumper or just plain flying by me.
It is the redline = tire max speed I have issue with. Redline is the absolute of an engine. That is where the engineers have decided the mechanical limits of the engine are met. It is normally past the engines peak HP/TQ numbers and is also normally the physical limitations of the drivetrain. If 65mph is the MAX physical limitations of the tire then the actual speed rating should be far below that. You dont drive an engine at redline for hours on end and tire engineers shouldnt expect a tire to be driven at its Max for hours on end.
I do plan on contacting the engineer with above questions and how its worded on his site. I need to contact my friend as well, he works in the test dept for Michelin. He may not know the answers but I am sure he knows who will.
FYI - I am not an engineer, far from it. I am a gearhead and have been racing for over 2 decades. I am anal about my road and track tires. I used to own a Longacre tire pyrometer to make sure my alignment specs and pressures were spot on for given course conditions. I have since stopped racing other than an occasional karting sprint just to get the juices going but I do take tires very seriously!
