Motorhome Camper tyres versus Van tyres

[KeefieWeefie]

Hi everyone. Just took motorhome in for service and repair. The repair shop just called to tell me that my newly installed Michelin Agilis Cross Climate tyres are illegal because they are not dedicated Camper tyres! They are 215/70 R15 with 190 load rating. This equates to 1030 kg per tyre or 1.030 Metric Tons. My Bessacarr is max 3.5 MT. Are the repair peeps mistaken? Obviously I've done loads of googling on the subject but you always get mixed feelings. Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated folks!

 

[Pausim]

“Illegal“ sounds a bit strong, what are your plated axle weights?

 

[wiljoy]

I've had two sets of Michelin tyres shred. Both were less than 3 years old and 11,000 miles. Changed to Hankook last year and they are brilliant.
One of my customer's looks after a fleet of 38 vans and will not use Michelin tyres now.
They've had endless problems with the walls cracking as mine did.
Choice is up to the buyer but named brands don't necessarily mean quality these days.

 

[Simon Select]

Hi everyone. Just took motorhome in for service and repair. The repair shop just called to tell me that my newly installed Michelin Agilis Cross Climate tyres are illegal because they are not dedicated Camper tyres! They are 215/70 R15 with 190 load rating. This equates to 1030 kg per tyre or 1.030 Metric Tons. My Bessacarr is max 3.5 MT. Are the repair peeps mistaken? Obviously I've done loads of googling on the subject but you always get mixed feelings. Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated folks!

I could be wrong on this and I am not part of our aftersales department but I had assumed it was just car or commercial tyres? I presume they offered you a solution if you got your wallet out?

 

[Lenny HB]

They are talking BS, providing the load rating is correct.
However, it is always advisable if not using CP tyres to have at least a 10% load margin. I assume you have a 2000 kg load rating on the rear axle so it would have been better to fit tyres with a 111 load index.

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[filopastry]

“Illegal“ sounds a bit strong, what are your plated axle weights?

If they do not conform with the original tyres specified by the manufacturer .. beware. Subject discussed to the n'th degree on other threads.

phil

 

[Allanm]

I think they are talking rubbish. Ask them to find you an alternative cross climate or 4 season CP rated tyre, or even winter CP tyres. See what they come up with!

 

[KeefieWeefie]

“Illegal“ sounds a bit strong, what are your plated axle weights?

I have no idea what plated axle weights mean but I do intend to take the van to a public weigh bridge to see what the actual weight over each axle is for tyre pressure adjustment.

 

[KeefieWeefie]

I've had two sets of Michelin tyres shred. Both were less than 3 years old and 11,000 miles. Changed to Hankook last year and they are brilliant.
One of my customer's looks after a fleet of 38 vans and will not use Michelin tyres now.
They've had endless problems with the walls cracking as mine did.
Choice is up to the buyer but named brands don't necessarily mean quality these days.

Thanks for the advice but that doesn't answer my question!

 

[KeefieWeefie]

I could be wrong on this and I am not part of our aftersales department but I had assumed it was just car or commercial tyres? I presume they offered you a solution if you got your wallet out?

Again my question was are the tyres legal or not!

They are talking BS, providing the load rating is correct.
However, it is always advisable if not using CP tyres to have at least a 10% load margin. I assume you have a 2000 kg load rating on the rear axle so it would have been better to fit tyres with a 111 load index.

Thanks for your advice, I will check what the weight is over each axle.

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[AXO66]

Our Chausson arrived new with van tyres.

Goodyear Marathon

235/65R 16C. 115/113.

so not illegal not to have campervan tyres.

ps still ok after 20k, miles, just swopped front to back.

 

[funflair]

I have no idea what plated axle weights mean but I do intend to take the van to a public weigh bridge to see what the actual weight over each axle is for tyre pressure adjustment.

You will have a weight plate possibly in the door footwell, it will have gross weight which you say is 3500kg and maximum allowed axle weights which must not be exceeded as well as the gross.

I wouldn't worry about them not being camping but I would want the original load rating or better.

Martin

EDIT I should really have said it could well be your insurance who want the original load rating or better.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think they are talking rubbish. Ask them to find you an alternative cross climate or 4 season CP rated tyre, or even winter CP tyres. See what they come up with!

Exactly using their logic you would not be able to drive your van in Germany and quite a lot of other countries in the winter where it is a legal requirement to have winter tyres.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have no idea what plated axle weights mean but I do intend to take the van to a public weigh bridge to see what the actual weight over each axle is for tyre pressure adjustment.

Your van will have 2 or 3 plates on it, one for the base vehicle i.e Fiat, if it has an Al-Ko chassis it will have an Al-Ko one and finally the converters one i.e. Swift. The last one fitted is the one that counts i.e. Swift.

A typical weight plate;-

1st line is the MAM Max Authorised Mass (max gross weight).
2nd line Gross Train weight ( Goss weight + Trailer).
3rd line Front Axle max.
4th line Rear axle max.

 

[AXO66]

plated axle weight.

picture of ours

picture o
top line , max weight vehicle can be ( goodness knows why its 3550kg)
line 2 max weight of vehicle plus trailer , i believe.
line 3 max weight allowed on the front axle
line 4 max weight allowed on back axle.

ours is found inside passenger door frame.

(and there is the chausson plate showing max weight of 3500kgs, which is the legal one for driving license and weights on bridges and speed limits etc.)



hope this helps explain the axle weight plate.

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[Lenny HB]

plated axle weight.

picture of ours
View attachment 361260picture o
top line , max weight vehicle can be ( goodness knows why its 3550kg)
line 2 max weight of vehicle plus trailer , i believe.
line 3 max weight allowed on the front axle
line 4 max weight allowed on back axle.

ours is found inside passenger door frame.

(and there is the chausson plate showing max weight of 3500kgs, which is the legal one for driving license and weights on bridges and speed limits etc.)



hope this helps explain the axle weight plate.

That one is irrelevant as the Chausson one supersedes it

 

[Pausim]

I have no idea what plated axle weights mean but I do intend to take the van to a public weigh bridge to see what the actual weight over each axle is for tyre pressure adjustment.

I suspect that the tyre specifications have to be sufficient to exceed the plated axle weights rather than the actual weights from a weigh bridge.

 

[AXO66]

That one is irrelevant as the Chausson one supersedes it

yep i know, and now you have me thinking.

the one i put up here has the axle weights.

chausson one has just the 3500 , and i do not recall it having any axle weights on it. Otherwise i would have saved a photo of that plate for future reference.
(motorhome is not parked on our property so can’t have a look now).

 

[Lenny HB]

yep i know, and now you have me thinking.

the one i put up here has the axle weights.

chausson one has just the 3500 , and i do not recall it having any axle weights on it. Otherwise i would have saved a photo of that plate for future reference.
(motorhome is not parked on our property so can’t have a look now).

On the Ford plate the MAM/Gross looks odd 3550 kg would mean you need a C1 to drive.
What does it say on your certificate of Conformity?

 

[AXO66]

I suspect that the tyre specifications have to be sufficient to exceed the plated axle weights rather than the actual weights from a weigh bridge.

think that’s right and makes sense.

our load rating for single wheel is 115 which equates to a max load of each tyre of 1215kgs.
so 2 tyres can support 2430 kgs and our rear axle max plated load is 2200kgs.

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[AXO66]

On the Ford plate the MAM/Gross looks odd 3550 kg would mean you need a C1 to drive.
What does it say on your certificate of Conformity?

Thanks for the question.

Just checked, certificate of confirmity is clear, max permissable laden is 3500.

so why is the ford plate 3550? Which i have allways thought strange, especially with the combined weight of the axles being 4100 kgs.

Only thing i can think of is some structural factor around the joining of the motorhome part of the chassis to the ford cab . I.e. it’s not the standard ford transit chassis?

Chausson do buy a lot of ford transits and advertise it as having an extra wide section at the back to take the habitation body . And a wider rear axle track at the rear as well.

 

[aria]

Hi everyone. Just took motorhome in for service and repair. The repair shop just called to tell me that my newly installed Michelin Agilis Cross Climate tyres are illegal because they are not dedicated Camper tyres! They are 215/70 R15 with 190 load rating. This equates to 1030 kg per tyre or 1.030 Metric Tons. My Bessacarr is max 3.5 MT. Are the repair peeps mistaken? Obviously I've done loads of googling on the subject but you always get mixed feelings. Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated folks!

They are talking complete scribble. Once your tyres are rated above the axle load they’re fine. I uprated my rear axle and can’t even get camper tyres for the increased load rating.

 

[Eddystone]

It is quite usual for the combined weight of the axles to be greater than the plated max. But you must not over load each axle beyond its plated weight.

 

[KeefieWeefie]

Your van will have 2 or 3 plates on it, one for the base vehicle i.e Fiat, if it has an Al-Ko chassis it will have an Al-Ko one and finally the converters one i.e. Swift. The last one fitted is the one that counts i.e. Swift.

A typical weight plate;-
View attachment 361262

1st line is the MAM Max Authorised Mass (max gross weight).
2nd line Gross Train weight ( Goss weight + Trailer).
3rd line Front Axle max.
4th line Rear axle max.

So if my plates real axle weight is 2,000kg and my tyres are rated 1,030 kg they must be legal? Or not?

 

[JockandRita]

So if my plates real axle weight is 2,000kg and my tyres are rated 1,030 kg they must be legal? Or not?

Legal.

What was the load index of the original tyres on that same axle, before you replaced them? As pointed out above, replacement tyres need not be Camper (CP) tyres, however, they need to be the same load rating for that axle, or higher.

In conclusion, I agree, those in the repair shop are talking out there ar$es.

Many MHs come out of the factory with C (commercial) rather than CP (camper) tyres on them.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Lenny HB]

So if my plates real axle weight is 2,000kg and my tyres are rated 1,030 kg they must be legal? Or not?

Yes they are legal.

 

[PeteH]

Some Sizes, are not even available in CP profile anyway. And where they are are difficult to come by.

Eg; Mine are R235/65-R16, And as far as I am aware, currently they are in limited supply from major manufacturers, and from some not at all.

 

[Fletton]

If it was me.... I'd get written confirmation from my insurers.. as they would ultimately have the final say if a claim followed a tyre issue...

 

[M-J]

I always thought camper tyres were just van tyres that have more sidewall protection to help with staying still for longer periods?

My local tyre place is the largest in the area and been going for years has told me that when it’s comes to change, van tyres with the correct load rating will be fine and cheaper.

 

[DDJC]

Don't understand this thread!

The alternative to not fitting appropriate tyres is at the very least, an increased chance of a tyre failure, when you are trying to get somewhere. The very worst is an increased chance or wiping out your van and the occupants. If my handbook says I need a minimum of 800 kg per wheel, my paranoia orders me to go for 1200kg or higher!!

A cheap van tyre is a bit less than 100 quid. A tyre designed for a motorhome can be north of 150 quid. Total difference for four tyres is therefore about £200. My family is worth more than that!!

My question isn't whether, on balance, a moho or van tyre is a better idea - to me, it's bloody obvious. I would like to know funsters opinion on which motorhome tyre, best balances value with overall safety on the road.

I'm 225 75 16" Ducato Maxi 3800mm, 3500kg.

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