Weight and tyres.

BouncyBoatFolk

BouncyBoatFolk

Joined
Feb 16, 2020
Posts
3,071
Likes collected
4,421
Location
KT15.
Funster No
68,772
MH
Sunlight. T66. 2019.
Exp
Absolute beginners.
After a smallish [ 200kg] uplift in the weight capacity of our stock 3500kg Ducato based Sunlight, to 3700kg we found the 2000kg back axle limit was limiting our fully exploiting the gain made. The first uplift didn't entail any physical changes. However, to get the next 150kg and the all important 2240kg new back axle limit some actual mechanical changes were required. Namely, air ride suspension + a tyre upgrade. So a kit for air ride was ordered, and has been fitted. Yes, an appreciable difference in the ride was immediately obvious. No more crashing through rough road imperfections, it just soaked them up, and took roundabouts a bit less like a drunken barge.
Next issue, tyres,simple, upgrade to some 225/70 R15 112/ 110's. Have a look on line and read some forum post, there's loads of choice, right? No wrong. As a precaution, before ordering any tyres I rang a large distributor and left a message outlining my requirements of 1120kg per corner, as it were. I was expecting a succinct email back,with a recommendation. A short while later I took a phone call from the tyre retailer with a few more questions, over weight, type of tyre valve, usage habits. After supplying the answers as best as possible he was able to recommend some tyres, These were the Michelin's .These,
https://www.camskill.co.uk/m27b0s58...Eff_:_C_Wet_Grip:_B_NoiseClass:_2_Noise:_70dB
More importantly, it was the only choice!! No other tyre fitted the 15" Rim size, the loading value requirements 1120kg. and most importantly, the high pressure [ 5.5 bar back 5.0 front.] the coach builder has stipulated in the door shut pillar sticker info. "Ah" I said, "but I've seen lot's of choice for other tyres, some even on your site" . "Yes" he said , "Correct, but they are van tyres, and as such are used differently, and don't run at 75psi, nor are they stood around for weeks on end, and they don't have the same side wall construction to account for a motorhome running at loading capacity on an almost permanent basis"!! He continued " were you to be involved in an accident one of the first things to be checked in a motorhome would be the tyre fitment, and was it correct for a motorhome".
In order to comply and stay legal I will fit initially the back axle with Michelin's and the spare tyre, so as it can be used on any axle. I just wonder how many 15" wheeled 3850kg vans are running on unsuitable tyre's inadvertently as they may not be aware that plain delivery van tyres are not really a suitable replacement for motorhome tyres.
Regards.
Mike.
 
You'll find plenty of discussion on here with regards to "camper" tyre's and commercial tyre's, myself, I went with commercial tyres, with a much higher rating than the camper tyres by the same manufacturer!

But, can I ask who did your upplate, and was your initial increase on the front axle?

My front axle is plated at 1850kg (on a ducato light chassis) and I'm thinking of going up to 2000kg on the front
 
Two on Tour said:
The easy option is to go to 16" wheels and tyres, which is what I did.
A nice comfortable ride now with 52psi in the front and 65psi in the rears. (y)
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I read your thread on it. Did you add air ride as well ? Did you notify the insurance company? I wasn't certain that the route you took would be covered under the vehicle "compliance" requirement ?? if that's right terminology??
Thanks.
Mike.
 
BouncyBoatFolk said:
I read your thread on it. Did you add air ride as well ? Did you notify the insurance company? I wasn't certain that the route you took would be covered under the vehicle "compliance" requirement ?? if that's right terminology??
Thanks.
Mike.
Click to expand...

I fitted semi-air on the rear when we first bought our MH to improve the ride, a couple of years before we up-plated and changed to 16" wheel and tyres.
I informed our insurance company when I fitted the semi-air and their view was that it was an improvement to the stability and therefore safety of the vehicle, and no extra cost to our policy.
 
hi why we on about increase any one know how much you could increase on a ducato light chassis on an swift escape 2010 please
 
2bob said:
hi why we on about increase any one know how much you could increase on a ducato light chassis on an swift escape 2010 please
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SvTech will only up-plate to 3650kg and I imagine Van Weight Engineering would be the same, but worth contacting them to check.

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Sounds like salesman BS, best thing I ever did was to get rid of the crap Michelin CP tyres. Worse tyres I've ever had on a van, harsh ride lack of grip, terrible tyres.

Our 4½ t van rides so much better on standard van tyres.
You won't find larger Motorhomes running on CP tyres they don't make then in the size or load rating required.
 
I have a Ducato light chassis and Van Weight Engineering offered me 2 up plate options. The first was back to the original chassis plate of 3650kgs but as I had installed rear semi air suspension, I was also offered to make full use of my rear air and up plate to 4350kgs.
I highly recommend Van Weight Engineering, sadly still being let down by the DVLA regarding the V5c but that's another saga.
 
We are on a light chassis and up-plated to 3850kg with semi-air rear, but SvTech would only plate to 3650kg.
As Lenny says, I can't see that Van Weight Engineering would offer 4350kg on a light chassis.
 
We've just gone up to 4350 kg with van Weight Engineering on our Chausson(Fiat) 711 giving us a rear axle weight of 2500 kg
 
Glynbo said:
We've just gone up to 4350 kg with van Weight Engineering on our Chausson(Fiat) 711 giving us a rear axle weight of 2500 kg
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You must be on the maxi chassis.

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BouncyBoatFolk said:
"Correct, but they are van tyres, and as such are used differently, and don't run at 75psi, nor are they stood around for weeks on end, and they don't have the same side wall construction to account for a motorhome running at loading capacity on an almost permanent basis"!!
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I'm sure van tyres are run at 75psi and it's probably the fiat van sticker on your van telling you tyre pressures, the Van's are also whizzing around the country fully loaded
Take the salesmans advice as you would any other salesman, if you walk around motorhome dealerships you will see many brand new ones with commercial tyres on straight from the factory 👍
 
Lenny HB said:
I'm fairly certain it is not possible to take the light chassis up to 4350kg normally the max is 3850kg.
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Two on Tour said:
We are on a light chassis and up-plated to 3850kg with semi-air rear, but SvTech would only plate to 3650kg.
As Lenny says, I can't see that Van Weight Engineering would offer 4350kg on a light chassis.
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My motorhome came with 225/75/R16 as a standard fit. As I said earlier semi air fitted and VWE up plated to 4350KGs. My van has an original Fiat plate that indicates 3650Kgs with a Trigano plate of 3500Kgs. I jumped through all the hoops that VWE wanted including photos of the van. It's now registered as a PHGV.
What is the physical difference of a light and maxi chassis?
 
Fat Albert said:
I have a Ducato light chassis and Van Weight Engineering offered me 2 up plate options. The first was back to the original chassis plate of 3650kgs but as I had installed rear semi air suspension, I was also offered to make full use of my rear air and up plate to 4350kgs.
I highly recommend Van Weight Engineering, sadly still being let down by the DVLA regarding the V5c but that's another saga.
Click to expand...
Thank you, yes all in hand, VWE. it's just the tyre conundrum putting a spoke in the wheel [lol].
Mike
 
EuroTrotters said:
I thought the OP was struggling to find a size of tyre with the weight rating.

I’m not sure if any of those on the link are suitable for his higher pressure requirements though.

For them to do the research on that one.
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Thank you, no I can as others pointed out find plenty of tyres, it's just the implications of fitting commercial tyres to essentially a domestic product. I'm certainly not stressing over it, I just would prefer not to be involved in a situation where my choice option could be used as a blame reason.
In my world if she-ite can happen it absolutely will, by the spade full.
Mike

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Fat Albert said:
My motorhome came with 225/75/R16 as a standard fit. As I said earlier semi air fitted and VWE up plated to 4350KGs. My van has an original Fiat plate that indicates 3650Kgs with a Trigano plate of 3500Kgs. I jumped through all the hoops that VWE wanted including photos of the van. It's now registered as a PHGV.
What is the physical difference of a light and maxi chassis?
Click to expand...
Your 16" tyres, I'm on 15" as supplied with the van, so probably a different ball game.
Mike.
 
BouncyBoatFolk said:
and they don't have the same side wall construction to account for a motorhome running at loading capacity on an almost permanent basis
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That smells like upselling BS to me. Sounds like they want to sell you the more expensive tyres.

I use commercials and have done for 15 odd years.

Here is the way I look at it. If a tyre is specified to run at xxxx KG then that is what they are rated to run at. They are not rated to run at xxxx KG for y% of the time and they never specify that y% of the time, nor do they state that exceed y% will result in the warranty and insurance being void.
 
Fat Albert said:
My motorhome came with 225/75/R16 as a standard fit. As I said earlier semi air fitted and VWE up plated to 4350KGs. My van has an original Fiat plate that indicates 3650Kgs with a Trigano plate of 3500Kgs. I jumped through all the hoops that VWE wanted including photos of the van. It's now registered as a PHGV.
What is the physical difference of a light and maxi chassis?
Click to expand...
With Fiat it varies on year and if it has a Fiat or Al-Ko chassis but generally the light chassis limited to 3850 max and the maxi 4800 max.
AFAIA there is no way you can run a light chassis at 4350kg. Even if the chassis could stand it the brakes and suspenion will not be up to the job sounds dam dangerous and illegal to me.
 
Why do people fall for the crap tyre salesmen tell them without knowing how the vehicle is used.
camper tyres are designed to sit around for weeks on end in storage then go off on a trip then back into storage. stronger side walls but rubbish tread and need the higher pressures simply because it’s expected they will slowly lose some pressure. The higher pressures quoted on the door pillars are for Commercial use, ie. van starting its journey fully loaded then multiple drops (stop.starts) lots of kerbs and breaking,turning etc.
You Need to decide which camp you are in;
1st. Motorhome used occasionally, but mainly sat in storage or on drive, as you have another daily car, maybe camper tyres are for you but reduce pressures slightly.
2nd. Out and about in your Motorhome regularly, then Van tyres pressures reduced to 50PSI to 60PSI.
Either way Michelin tyres since they stopped making them in the UK are crap for wear, performance and noise, look at Continental Van tyres are good value and really work.

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