Well, those original GY's (were they Eagle LS? -which were original tires placed on the majority of '05 G/J/JW's along with a minority that rec'd Conty's and Michelins) were likley the weak point- their longevity or poor wet weather handling had little to do with the H rating. My OE Goodyears had two go out of round in the first year, and one that couldn't hold air. After 20k all but the spare had been replaced under warranty. Was it the H rating? No, it was the mass-produced entry level GY's that went on thousands of G's and J's.
My obtuse points from the above post, however, are the following:
1) Your handling is a function of the quality of your tires and the condition/quality of your suspension, and obviously varies with load, speed, and road conditions. The speed rating may play a small factor in handling -connected to the quality of the tire's construction. The type and quality of tire is more likely a notable factor- and this is when rubber compound, width, type of wheel, low profile, etc. come into play.
2) The H rating is not an indicator of "softer rubber" or grip and handling at higher speeds. I think you are confusing performance tires with the generic speed rating given to all tires. Do performnace tires often have higher speed ratings? Sure, but you can find lots of all season H rated tires made with the same compunds as other tires in the same series. These tires are simply constructed to withstand higher speeds and the stresses/temps associated with higher speeds.
3) The "I don't drive 130mph, so I don't need X rated tires" sounds reasonable, but misunderstands (IMO) the speed rating. First let me say, I agree that the speed rating is less important than other tire atributes, but I don't think you'ld say "I never load my car with much gear, so I don't need a 91 load index tire." But why not? The load index is yet another lab experiment, where they assign a number to a single tire under ideal conditions. The reason most of us stick to a proper load index rated tire is because it is more obvious that the load index is connected to the quality of a tire's construction. A speed rating, less obviously, is also connected to the quality of a tire's construction. This is the idea to keep in mind- not that you'll never exceed 130 mph. If drivers don't believe this, why not keep pushing lower? You're also not going to drive 118mph, so you don't need T rated tires, or up to 100mph, so you can skip Q rated tires, etc. The speed rating of a tire is not a factor of soft rubber, but tied to it's ability to withstand high temperatures, high stress, and high speed- all evidence of a tougher, more durable construction.
4) H rated tires do not wear out more quickly because of their speed rating. This seems to be your main point, or at least your primary reason for choosing a T rated tire. As an example, my current fave, the Nokian Entyre, is a 95H rated tire, with a UTQG of 700/A/A. Can you find T rated tires with a longer treadwear rating? Sure, but it's more a function of their build compounds than anything else. Does a T rated tire ensure long treadwear? Not by a long shot.
5) H rated tires don't necessarily cost more than T rated tires. If you buy performance tires (more likely to be H rated or better) you'll pay for cost of producing a performance tire- But you can also buy H rated tires from almost every maker for less than some T rated tires in their lineup. When I bought them, my H rated Michelins were cheaper than than the next step up T rated tires, and the Nokians even cheaper than both.
I don't believe there is much to worry about when using the correct size tire with proper load rating, but off by one speed rating factor. If you've found your favorite tire, more power to you- but I'd argue saving a few bucks on tires isn't the best place to shave costs; And remember that the treadwear rating is assigned by the manufacturer after a rather brief field test- only your real world experience will prove wether any tire lasts as long as claimed.
