What's the fastest you've driven on a UK motorway?

[OwlHoot]

I suspect a lot of these records were set some time ago. Before speed cameras became so common. I wouldn't risk it today. Or indeed bother with owning a monster car.

Aren't tyres the limiting factor? I thought the tyres on most cars, apart from sports cars obviously, are rated only up to about 130 MPH.

Frankly, the last thing you need (and probably the last thing you'd hear) is an offside blow out doing 150 on the outside lane on a left bend.

[d000hg]

After doing a few test runs with a friend on motorways without traffic I came to the conclusion that the maximum speed for a UK motorway would be around 140 mph. The reason being that UK motorways are not very straight and what are quite gentle bends at 70mph become rather sharp at 130+. The straight bits on a UK motorway are too short and would only give you about a minute to drive above that speed.

Tosh. The M1 is pretty straight as is the M5 (I think, the pretty bit), even assuming you are right about the bends... which I think is not the case. 140+ in a Focus, etc, maybe... they are not built for it... but any fast car considers 140 pretty average.

Anyway... on a motorway barely over 100. But 130 on an A road, when we test-drove an RX8. Then it started to smell a bit hot so we slowed down since we didn't want to have to buy it.

[SupremeSpod]

Oh so you're playing the "it was a joke" card?
Not many will believe you.

Hey dickhead, have a look at my response to MP at 12:57.

You really should put your hatred of successful people behind you and start using that destructive energy for a more beneficial purpose, like getting a job!

[Paddy]

Tosh. The M1 is pretty straight as is the M5 (I think, the pretty bit), even assuming you are right about the bends... which I think is not the case. 140+ in a Focus, etc, maybe... they are not built for it... but any fast car considers 140 pretty average.

Anyway... on a motorway barely over 100. But 130 on an A road, when we test-drove an RX8. Then it started to smell a bit hot so we slowed down since we didn't want to have to buy it.

Google Maps

Parts of the M1 are straight, just look at the London end. Some motorway bends won’t even support 30mph!

Pathetic Motorways

[NotAllThere]

Aren't tyres the limiting factor? I thought the tyres on most cars, apart from sports cars obviously, are rated only up to about 130 MPH.

Frankly, the last thing you need (and probably the last thing you'd hear) is an offside blow out doing 150 on the outside lane on a left bend.

My winter tyres are rated only up to 100mph (not surprisingly being constructed for cold). However, the speed rating means sustained speed. It doesn't matter if you ocassionally exceed that.

[gingerjedi]

I had 'W' (168mph) rated tyres on my Type-R, it failed its last MoT due to a lobing effect caused by delamination.

[Spacecadet]

Tosh. The M1 is pretty straight as is the M5 (I think, the pretty bit), even assuming you are right about the bends... which I think is not the case. 140+ in a Focus, etc, maybe... they are not built for it... but any fast car considers 140 pretty average.

The problem with a "normal" car is the lack of extra down force at speed.
When you get above 120mph every little bump makes the steering feel a bit lighter than it should do.

[d000hg]

Oh also, I live in a county which has no fixed speed-cameras. No way I'd go burning about on a road I wasn't very familiar with, not knowing which junctions people jump out from like loons.

[SupremeSpod]

Oh also, I live in a county which has no fixed speed-cameras. No way I'd go burning about on a road I wasn't very familiar with, not knowing which junctions people jump out from like loons.

I work in a county with no fixed speed cameras...

[Durbs]

When you get above 120mph every little bump makes the steering feel a bit lighter than it should do.

Max i've had my GSX-R up to is 160 on an A road (never taken it on a motorway and wouldnt risk that sort of speed there anyway as too visible). Was rock solid stable but still scary as hell.