[CapriRacer]

When it comes to these performance categories, it's a trend, but there are enough exceptions to make it difficult to sort out.

In the old days, All Season tires were pretty much S and T rated and Touring tires were H rated, but high performance tires were V rated. Further, it used to be that high performance tires were stiff riding, All Season tires soft riding, and Touring tires in between.

Lots of changes since then. In particular, the Ford/Firestone thing back in 2000 pointed out the need for higher speed capability - that is, problem tires were all S rated, but H rated tires hardly had any failures. To insure that the tires coming from the vehicle assembly plant were of higher quality, the vehicle manufacturers started specifying higher speed ratings. However, the ride quality was specified at the same level as the S rated tires.

The good news is that ride quality isn't tied to the same tire components that speed rating is, so it was possible to get the same ride quality in a V and higher rated tire (albeit by sacrificing steering crispness.)

Nowadays we have a mixed bag, and while the tendencies are still there, it is a lot harder to see them.