Van: 2012 Bailey Approach 620 SE.
Current tyre size: 215/70/15 load index 109.
As part of increasing our rear axle limit from 2000kg to 2400kg we’re having rear air suspension fitted. Will have the van upgraded to 3850kg from 3500kg.
We’re required to increase the load index of the rear tyres to 112. Only tyres with the requisite 112 load index are 225/70/15. Lenny HB and others have pointed out that this size tyre will fit 15” wheels. All good so far but I’d still like to know whether we have to replace all tyres to 225 from 215 (including the spare). We have had warnings that the the larger tyre on the front wheels may foul the suspension when turning, the spare tyre carrier will need to be modified to fit the larger tyre and that so far as the rear wheels are concerned, we may have to trim some of the plastic moulding on the rear arches to accommodate the physically larger 225 tyre.
I’m going out to the van tomorrow to have a look but I recall that there ‘s masses of space around the front wheels and find it difficult to accept that there will be any fouling with the suspension when turning, with the larger 225 tyre. And although less clear, it also seems unlikely that the 10mm increase in tyre size will foul the rear wheel arch. But these are just my opinions.
What I need to get clear in my mind is whether increasing the tyre size will affect the MOT and if there is any difference if we opt to only fit the larger tyres on the rear as the necessity for the uprating requirement and keep the front tyres as they are with a lower load index.
Obviously, we will have the same tyres on the same axle. But is it a MOT requirement to have the same tyres on both axles?
This then brings me onto the the spare. If it’s the case that only the smaller 215 tyre with the 109 load index will fit the tyre carrier, then if we carry this size tyre it could not be used on the rear axle. And if we opted for the larger tyre as the spare then if couldn’t be used on the front axle.
In a bit of a quandary. Want to do what’s safe and legal but there’s a large difference between buying five tyres rather than 2. And that’s before any issues of the larger tyre possibly fouling the suspension or rear wheel arches, both of which sound illegal to me.
Sorry for the length of this post. And again, I want the legal position rather than opinions or guesses. I don’t mean this disparagingly, just that I’m fussing and time before we get the suspension fitted is fast approaching and SV tech will be doing the upgrading when all’s done.
Thanks in anticipation. I know I’m asking a lot!
Current tyre size: 215/70/15 load index 109.
As part of increasing our rear axle limit from 2000kg to 2400kg we’re having rear air suspension fitted. Will have the van upgraded to 3850kg from 3500kg.
We’re required to increase the load index of the rear tyres to 112. Only tyres with the requisite 112 load index are 225/70/15. Lenny HB and others have pointed out that this size tyre will fit 15” wheels. All good so far but I’d still like to know whether we have to replace all tyres to 225 from 215 (including the spare). We have had warnings that the the larger tyre on the front wheels may foul the suspension when turning, the spare tyre carrier will need to be modified to fit the larger tyre and that so far as the rear wheels are concerned, we may have to trim some of the plastic moulding on the rear arches to accommodate the physically larger 225 tyre.
I’m going out to the van tomorrow to have a look but I recall that there ‘s masses of space around the front wheels and find it difficult to accept that there will be any fouling with the suspension when turning, with the larger 225 tyre. And although less clear, it also seems unlikely that the 10mm increase in tyre size will foul the rear wheel arch. But these are just my opinions.
What I need to get clear in my mind is whether increasing the tyre size will affect the MOT and if there is any difference if we opt to only fit the larger tyres on the rear as the necessity for the uprating requirement and keep the front tyres as they are with a lower load index.
Obviously, we will have the same tyres on the same axle. But is it a MOT requirement to have the same tyres on both axles?
This then brings me onto the the spare. If it’s the case that only the smaller 215 tyre with the 109 load index will fit the tyre carrier, then if we carry this size tyre it could not be used on the rear axle. And if we opted for the larger tyre as the spare then if couldn’t be used on the front axle.
In a bit of a quandary. Want to do what’s safe and legal but there’s a large difference between buying five tyres rather than 2. And that’s before any issues of the larger tyre possibly fouling the suspension or rear wheel arches, both of which sound illegal to me.
Sorry for the length of this post. And again, I want the legal position rather than opinions or guesses. I don’t mean this disparagingly, just that I’m fussing and time before we get the suspension fitted is fast approaching and SV tech will be doing the upgrading when all’s done.
Thanks in anticipation. I know I’m asking a lot!
