Tyre size

[Howard B]

I am looking at replacing the tyres on my Fiat Ducato PVC and found the Michelin Agilis Cross climates at £101 per corner. My current size is 215/70/15, however the 225 width are the same price. I know some pople have gone up a size for the additional loading, but my handbook states the size for a recreational vehicle is 215. Has anyone gone up a size and if so, what was the response from insurers?
Thanks

 

[Speve]

I wouldn’t think it would make any difference to insurance?

 

[Clipgate]

Apart from the size which in my view is a none event, but rather than ask here suggest you actually contact your insurance company for there view. CandU regs are the definitive answer of course.
I would suggest you look at a quality tyre like Hankook.

 

[Clipgate]

"The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986" https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made

 

[Emmit]

I can only give you advice based on my time in 'The Job'

What you are, in reality doing, is increasing the vehicles contact, (via the tyres) with the the road.

That being the case, you are intrinsically making the vehicle safer, (assuming a given set of circumstances)
It therefore follows that an Insurance Co. would be hard pressed to complain at your action.

As an aside, by increasing the width of the tyre, presuming you maintain the percentage ratio, (in your case 70) there would be a slight alteration in the speedometer making a pessimistic reading nearer to accurate and also it would alter the gearing/torque so that in certain circs. there would be a slight unwillingness for the vehicle to climb an incline it would have done before.

The last paragraph is evidence I observed by doing exactly what you are proposing.

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[Bessy765]

I went from 215 to 225 as I fitted semi air to increase payload to 3850 from 3500. Ride was better and grip slightly improved. Rand ins to inform them they just said ok no charge or cost.

 

[gpat]

To be honest I don't think you would notice any difference. Agree with others, if they are the same price you might as well go with the wider ones. They look better on the van.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

We went from 215 to 225/15 with Continental tyres that allow lower Psi giving a much better ride.
If you stick with Michelin CP tyres they will still say 80 rear/65 front so you won’t gain the benefit of the improved ride. Cross Climates should allow some reduction in psi.
So long as the tyres fit your rims and are the correct load rating, C type it will not need to be reported to insurance.

 

[Howard B]

"The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986" https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made

Give me a clue as to which bit I am looking for.

 

[Howard B]

Sorry should have said, I am stil waiting to get a response from my insurer. Ill chase up tomorrow.

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[Speve]

Give me a clue as to which bit I am looking for.

I wouldn’t bother if I were you the info you get from folk on here will save you having to read through all of that.

 

[Howard B]

Managed to get a response from the insurance brokers today who are happy for me to change to the wider tyres without any change to the premium. Tyre fitters wont do the change though as they said it will make the speedo over read. Their policy is +/- 1% on calcualted diameter. The change would make it +2.05%.
Fiat list a 225/70/15 option in the manual for the vans but not recreational vehicles so not sure what the issue is. Ill have to speak with another company.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks like the tyre fitter doesn't know what he is talking about as it will make the speedo read lower.
Fiat speedos are nearly always towards to top of the tolerance (-0/+10%+10kmh for the life of the vehicle), I did the same tyre change on my last van it made the speedo a bit more accurate only read 65/66 when doing 60 instead of 68.

 

[Emmit]

As said earlier on, I also changed 215's to 225's.

At a satellite registered 60mph the speedo was reading about 61/62mph.
I'm with Lenny on this. The tyre fitter is wrong.

 

[Howard B]

Lenny you are right . I have just pumped the sizes into a few tyre size comparisons and they also say the speedo will under read. At 60MPH on the speedo it says the speed will actully be 61.1MPH across the ground.

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[Speve]

Lenny you are right . I have just pumped the sizes into a few tyre size comparisons and they also say the speedo will under read. At 60MPH on the speedo it says the speed will actully be 61.1MPH across the ground.

I uprated our 2013 AT Tracker that had 15“ wheels from 215 to 225 without problems and Speedo as others say was a little more accurate which was confirmed when comparing to sat nav speed.

 

[gpat]

As said earlier on, I also changed 215's to 225's.

At a satellite registered 60mph the speedo was reading about 61/62mph.
I'm with Lenny on this. The tyre fitter is wrong.

Yes. I agree too. No offence intended but you don't go into tyre fitting if you have high academic potential.

More for your mechanical dexterity and love for the trade.

The difference in radius in negligible

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Managed to get a response from the insurance brokers today who are happy for me to change to the wider tyres without any change to the premium. Tyre fitters wont do the change though as they said it will make the speedo over read. Their policy is +/- 1% on calcualted diameter. The change would make it +2.05%.
Fiat list a 225/70/15 option in the manual for the vans but not recreational vehicles so not sure what the issue is. Ill have to speak with another company.

Prior to changing ours to 225 the speedo read 60 at 56 (checked on sat nav), after changing it went to 58, therefore making ours more accurate.

 

[gpat]

On a similar subject. What do folks think about having a 15" spare for a motorhome with 16" wheels.

 

[XxAnthxX]

On a similar subject. What do folks think about having a 15" spare for a motorhome with 16" wheels.

I wouldn’t do it, although an MOT failure to have different sizes on the same axel seemingly not illegal.

“You must always make sure that tyres on the same axle are of the same size and aspect ratio – your car will fail the MOT test if they’re not – but the law makes an exception for temporary use spare wheels fitted in an emergency.“

Used car advice | AA Cars

www.theaa.com

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[Lenny HB]

Lenny you are right . I have just pumped the sizes into a few tyre size comparisons and they also say the speedo will under read. At 60MPH on the speedo it says the speed will actully be 61.1MPH across the ground.

Just edited my post meant to say only read 65/66 when doing 60 instead of 68.

 

[gpat]

I wouldn’t do it, although an MOT failure to have different sizes on the same axel seemingly not illegal.

“You must always make sure that tyres on the same axle are of the same size and aspect ratio – your car will fail the MOT test if they’re not – but the law makes an exception for temporary use spare wheels fitted in an emergency.“

Used car advice | AA Cars

www.theaa.com

I meant just for emergency use. Limp to the next town kind of thing. The 15" steel wheels and tyres are 10 a penny at the scrap yards

 

[Lenny HB]

On a similar subject. What do folks think about having a 15" spare for a motorhome with 16" wheels.

Reguardless of the safety issue they won't fit different PCD.

 

[gpat]

Reguardless of the safety issue they won't fit different PCD.

Hi Lenny. You are wrong there. Our van is the light chassis with 16" alloys wheels. The Pcd is the same for both wheels. The only factor would be the different diameter.

 

[Emmit]

The 'Skinny' wheels spoken on here are the same diameter as original.

I appreciate the 15" wheel and tyre would be for an emergency but I wouldn't like to do it.

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[gpat]

The 'Skinny' wheels spoken on here are the same diameter as original.

I appreciate the 15" wheel and tyre would be for an emergency but I wouldn't like to do it.

Hi. I wasnt talking skinny wheel. As far as I know, no one makes a ducato spacesaver wheel. I'm talking a full fat 15" rim and tyre for emergency use. Maybe a narrow van tyre (properly rated of course)

1. They are cheaper
2. They are lighter
3. They take less room in the garage
4. They are ten a penny

 

[Speve]

The 'Skinny' wheels spoken on here are the same diameter as original.

I appreciate the 15" wheel and tyre would be for an emergency but I wouldn't like to do it.

Especially with a full load

 

[Lenny HB]

I prefer to have all wheels and tyres the same, I rotate the fronts with the spare and change all 5 tyres at the same time. Recently changed all 5 on my van.

 

[gpat]

Hi. I am lost now. What are these skinny wheels. Does anyone make one. I have never been able to find one. They seem to be fine for 2.5t Bentleys and BMWs but as far as I know no one makes skinny wheel for a ducato.

 

[Emmit]

Hi. I wasnt talking skinny wheel. As far as I know, no one makes a ducato spacesaver wheel. I'm talking a full fat 15" rim and tyre for emergency use. Maybe a narrow van tyre (properly rated of course)

1. They are cheaper
2. They are lighter
3. They take less room in the garage
4. They are ten a penny

"The 'Skinny' wheels spoken on here are the same diameter as original."

I didn't say you were talking about skinny wheels. I was pointing out that when a skinny wheels are used in an emergency, they are the same wheel diameter as the other three being used at that time.

Whereas, using a wheel and tyre of a different diameter to the other three (especially on the same axle) is creating an imbalance across an axle that I personally would not wish to do.
You could of course buy 2 "Ten a penny" wheels and tyres and, in the case of a puncture, you could change both wheels on the same axle and you wouldn't have a problem. Except that, with 15" wheels and tyres on the same axle, especially on the rear, you might find that you are overladen. That could create further problems.