checks in shortpants........................









yup

Before everyone goes into cardiac arrest worrying about the population of Texas going extinct from an 85 mph speed limit, keep a few things in mind:

1. where most limits are above 70 mph, the traffic is not very dense;
2. there is no real correlation between an increase in posted speeds and an increase in traffic accidents;
3. when speed is an issue, it's the disparity in the speed of the subject vehicle relative to surrounding traffic.

Freeway speed limits are set at 60 mph in metro Houston and other large TX metropolitan areas. As you move away from those areas, the speed limit increases progressively. In the case of Houston - San Antonio for example, it eventually rises to 75 mph.

I don't know how many of you guys drove (or were even alive) during the days of the "double nickel", but it was a nightmare. It was actually MORE dangerous due to the aforementioned difference in the speeds driven.

When radar detectors first came out; e.g. the "Fuzzbuster", you basically had a free pass before the cops countered with instant on radar. From there it was a technology race between speeders and the authorities.

You are just as likely to get taken out by a P.O.S. 1984 Dodge Caravan at 65 mph as you are at 85 mph.

I'll gladly take my chances on a brand new toll road at 85 mph versus I-610 in Houston at 60 mph with some of the kamikazzee lane (un) discipline I've witnessed in the 14 months I've lived in Houston. I doubt if it's much different on the East and West Coast. I've driven on both I-95 and I-5, and never felt any safer.

Try driving in I-95 merging with I-495 & I-395 up in the DC and to the North. A total nightmare!

i am sure china can mold any alphabet you want on the sidewall to get you on the road for cheap... :ugh2:

Sounds like a congestion issue, not necessarily a speed issue.

id be funny if they put a 85mph limit on areas they know are congested 24/7...actual max speed 5mph. :icon17:

That's what I average most of the time on the highway during rush hour. :mad:

:icon18:

Actually W and Y are higher ratings than Z, although W/Y's sometimes have Z's on them anyways. Read up at the bottom of this: Tire Tech Information - How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index & Service Descriptions

Yeah I agree with what you posted. I saw that same article & the figures I put for the W & Y match up to the articles figures. Well if you stop & look at all high end sports cars & non high end sports cars they all have the Z rated tires, so that in itself should say something. Since your basically saying that the W & Y have higher ratings that they are better. Why doesn't Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin & etc have the W or Z rated tires then? I am going to go on a limb here and say that the Z rated tires can basically withstand whatever speed the car can produce (more or less) & you are going to pay more for Z rated tires.

If I lived in any of these mega cities I would always take the train if I could...Fighting through that traffic and all that bumper-to-bumper waiting is more than I can take..not to mention trying to find a parking space..:(

I assume that this speed, on this stretch of highway, is the "85th percentile" so accidents will not go up rapidly.