Tyre pressure

[Chris63]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

 

[Boringfrog]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

Is that the Motorhome body handbook or the cab manufacturers handbook?

 

[Jaws]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

Yup. Our Miller handbook said 70 lbs all round..
Ended up using 65 in the fronts and 60 in the rears

Our present van is sposed to be 70 in the front and 55 rear
Tried a few pressures and ended up with 60 front but stayed at 55 for the rears ( tag axle )

 

[Keep Right On]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

Originally posted in the Elddis forum but thought might be worth repeating here (if it's allowed):

Any thoughts on the accuracy or otherwise of the dashboard warning of tyre pressure?
Brand new Accordo 105 (250 miles on clock) was driven to garage for fuel - noted warning low tyre pressure 3.5 bar "rear right" - which I took to mean offside - ie right side from driver seat. Checked it and and inflated to 5.1 bar.
Took Harvey the RV for an inaugural spin and again low pressure light and warning showing 3.4 - either gauge or valve faulty or a not so slow puncture?.
After just 45 minutes, returned home and gauge now reading 5.4 bar which was ok as tyres were warm.
Left it for 3 hours and went out to check while cold - yep warning light "rear right" but showing as 5.4bar. Checked with pump gauge which showed 5.2 so hardly low.
On a hunch, checked rear nearside and pump showed 4.95bar - not really low either but dash warning not on for "rear left".

I have checked tyresafe motorhome site and they suggest 5.5bar for rear based on max allowable rear axle weight of 1900kg - as our MH is very light on onboard kit, we're well below .

Advice welcomed please
Thanks

 

[ManTheVan]

I don’t use anything like the maximum pressure suggested by the handbook (5.5bar). When fully laden (3.5t) we are 4.5bar on rear and 3.5bar on front as per Continental Tyres recommendations Much better ride.

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[Keep Right On]

I don’t use anything like the maximum pressure suggested by the handbook (5.5bar). When fully laden (3.5t) we are 4.5bar on rear and 3.5bar on front as per Continental Tyres recommendations Much better ride.

Thanks - thats useful. I was googling tonight and there is a suggestion that Elddis have set the onboard computer ECU TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system?) to the maximum weight permitted by either axle in case the individual user drives with max weight.
Is there such a thing as a minimum "safe" pressure? From what others have said, 4 to 4.5 bar would give me a much better ride provided I learn to ignore the electronic warning...........

 

[Otter Spotter]

I had a similar issue, most motorhomes instructions say high pressure 65/70psi but the little sticker on my van before conversion said f59 r65. I spoke to Continental and after giving them my axle weights after conversion they have given me f55 r 56 and this gives a better ride and reduces general van noise.
I fitted tyrepal all around and what is amazing is the variations in presssures as the tyres warm up and cool down. Continental say always measure and alter pressures when cold.

 

[kevenh]

I had a similar issue, most motorhomes instructions say high pressure 65/70psi but the little sticker on my van before conversion said f59 r65. I spoke to Continental and after giving them my axle weights after conversion they have given me f55 r 56 and this gives a better ride and reduces general van noise.
I fitted tyrepal all around and what is amazing is the variations in presssures as the tyres warm up and cool down. Continental say always measure and alter pressures when cold.

Giving the tyre manufacturer our axle weights is what we do to get more specific tyre pressures but aren’t the pressures swinging more because the tyres are softer & flexing more at the lower pressures?

 

[Otter Spotter]

Giving the tyre manufacturer our axle weights is what we do to get more specific tyre pressures but aren’t the pressures swinging more because the tyres are softer & flexing more at the lower pressures?

Possible, they vary by around 4 to 6 psi. Continental are happy with this, they say their tyres are built to do this.

 

[kevenh]

Possible, they vary by around 4 to 6 psi. Continental are happy with this, they say their tyres are built to do this.

Yes, that range is nothing odd.
I posted because im doing the reverse. Puttting in more psi to get a smaller swing in pressure rise
With bikes on the back my rears went up ~15 PSI and alarmed my tyrepal
Gone from 4bar to 4.3bar and got to a happier 9psi swing. I did remember to reset the 20% alarm for the new values, too.
Sorry about using both pressure units but it’s how I have the info in my head.

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[SpeedyDux]

The Michelin recommended pressures seem too high, as evidenced by the uneven wear on both front tyres that show less tread depth in the centre than the outer edge after 7000 miles. This is despite running at about 5 psi lower, to try to make the ride less harsh.

 

[TerryL]

The safest answer to the OP question is to ask the tyre manufacturer. Provide them with the tyre type and sizes, plus the figures off your weight plate and they'll come back to you with the correct figure.

Except, it seems, from Michelin who appear to quote 80 psi all round regardless!

You could also get guidance off the Tyresafe website.

 

[SteveRallye]

Our van is on Agilis Crossclimates 16in (Changed from the Continenals that came as Standard) and the stickers that came with the van suggests 79.8 front and rear however the the tyre wall has max 76psi. I have been running at 80psi but I will try them 75 allround next trip out and see how the ride is. It always seems to be a hard ride on Fiat base in general.

 

[Bessy765]

We have a Burstner on the Fiat 4000kg heavy chassis. Running Agilis Michelin quote 5.5 rear 5.0 rear. Van is literally shaking itself to pieces. Cupboard doors coming loose, the flap over the habitation control panel fell off. Now one of the folding tables you put away to use the rear seats as travel seats has fell off with all the screws on the floor. £83000 for a van that shakes and rattles is unbelievable.

 

[Eddystone]

Bessy765 I thought non UK built MoHos were supposed to be the tops for construction.

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[dickydo]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

Chris, I have a 105 and messed around with tyre pressures a lot until I spoke with my local independant Garage They told me 55 psi all round and that IS the best pressure for handling on country lanes, Motorways and in particular comfort I had tried so many psi's over the previous weeks to no satisfaction until then, so perhaps try that if you have not already

 

[Nigel L]

The Michelin recommended pressures seem too high, as evidenced by the uneven wear on both front tyres that show less tread depth in the centre than the outer edge after 7000 miles. This is despite running at about 5 psi lower, to try to make the ride less harsh.

Here’s an alternative,
after pulling up after a run, check the temp of each tyre in the centre and each side, with one of these digital/laser temp readers.
if temp is even accross the tyre, then the pressures are ok, if the temp is higher in centre of tyre, pressures too high, if temp Higher on outer edge of tyre, then the pressure is too low.
look in the Pits at most race meetings, and as soon as car comes in from track, first thing they do Is check tyre temps across the tyre width

 

[Otter Spotter]

Here’s an alternative,
after pulling up after a run, check the temp of each tyre in the centre and each side, with one of these digital/laser temp readers.
if temp is even accross the tyre, then the pressures are ok, if the temp is higher in centre of tyre, pressures too high, if temp Higher on outer edge of tyre, then the pressure is too low.
look in the Pits at most race meetings, and as soon as car comes in from track, first thing they do Is check tyre temps across the tyre width

Wow, that’s serious checkin are you a surgeon

 

[Nigel L]

Wow, that’s serious checkin are you a surgeon

no, but was talking to my mechanic this week, who also races on a regular basis, and recently brought a van to convert, but, he does have a dose of OCD
but talking to him, it did seem to make a lot of sense.
i have recently had my van weighed, fully laiden and sent details to Continental, and was amazed at just how much I was running with way over inflated pressures.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is there such a thing as a minimum "safe" pressure? From what others have said, 4 to 4.5 bar would give me a much better ride provided I learn to ignore the electronic warning.....

You can get it reset by a Fiat dealer.

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[SpeedyDux]

Here’s an alternative,
after pulling up after a run, check the temp of each tyre in the centre and each side, with one of these digital/laser temp readers.
if temp is even accross the tyre, then the pressures are ok, if the temp is higher in centre of tyre, pressures too high, if temp Higher on outer edge of tyre, then the pressure is too low.
look in the Pits at most race meetings, and as soon as car comes in from track, first thing they do Is check tyre temps across the tyre width

That's a great suggestion, thanks. I use a digital laser temp device to check that the tyre walls are all the same cold temp before doing a pressure check anyway. I never thought of checking the tread temp after a run.

 

[Keep Right On]

So I rang Glossop Caravans but the lady on workshop reception said they can't give any advice on tyre pressures other than to go by the tyre walls and/or in the handbook. I pointed out that the handbook was based on maximum weight on both axles and so not a reliable guide, but she said that was the only advice they would give me.
I then rang Continental who were extremely helpful - said best to go to a weighbridge and they would advise but in the meantime, ignore the tyre wall as that is for Americans (as was stated here last night). I asked him why and he said "because they're Americans, they do things different......". He advised going down to around 4bar would be good, more comfortable but 5.5 was ludicrous.
My dash warning light was still on all day for a trip in the forest - just the right rear saying low pressure 5.4 bar!!!!!
Long story short on the way home tonight, the warning went out and stayed out

 

[ontheroadagain]

A Peugeot garage can reset the TPMS to trigger at a lower pressure. I run our Elddis at 50psi front and 70psi rear. These pressures were supplied by Continental after I had confirmed the axle loadings (confirmed at a weigh bridge). From memory Peugeot charged me approx £40.

 

[TerryL]

Continental quoted 56 psi front and 65 psi rear at maximum load (3850 kg) - tyres are 15/225/75. Have used these numbers for 8/9 years with no problems, tyre wear has been normal throughout. The ride is firm but not uncomfortable - it's some of the roads we travel on that shake the van to bits!.

On the subject of TPMS I've noticed that when running the pressures increase by up to 10 psi once fully warmed up, sometimes a little higher if I push the speed above 60 mph. This may have something to do with the fact they are winter tyres, which have a "softer" rubber mix I'm told and I use all year round. If I'm concerned I keep an eye on the temperatures.

 

[Chris63]

Hi all,
Have you tried reducing the tyre pressures on your van to make it a less bouncy and noisy ride
I have the handbook recommendations tyre pressure in my van , it generates a lot of noise and ‘ bouncing’ particularly on poor country roads .
Considering reducing the pressure by a few psi to see how it goes.
Stay safe and best wishes
Chris

Thanks to all of your suggestions , much appreciated

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