weight rated or c rated tyres?

Post by **wackos00** » 21 Feb 2008, 08:05

How can you find out if your van for legal reasons needs C rated tyres or if a high weight rating of 95 + is ok? I am confused!!
Jack

Post by **funbus1** » 23 Feb 2008, 14:55

I just got c rated. Weight rating of 102 stuck on mine. Not for legal reasons, But for SAFETY. Would also recommend 97 and over. Heavy these busses with all the gear and peeps in them.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 23 Feb 2008, 17:19

My VW manual states minimum load rating of 97 Reinforced or C 6pr

Post by **g60steve** » 24 Feb 2008, 00:18

Westy.Club.Joker wrote:My VW manual states minimum load rating of 97 Reinforced or C 6pr

Yes that is very true but only for the standard 5.5"X14" and 6"X14" wheels.

I'm not going to get into great detail about tyres and their weight ratings but lets just say a VW Sharan 7 seater people carrier has a maximum load which is more than a T25 and the standard tyre weight rating for that vehicle is 95H!

The minimum load rating for a T25 which has the standard 5.5"X14" or 6"X14" wheels is has you say 97....but this is only for this size of wheel/tyre combination and this size only!

It does NOT apply to wheels with a larger width and diameter than this!

A Porsche Cayenne has tyres with a load rating of 96....and this vehicle weighs 3 tons!!!

I hope this makes things a little clearer but i've a feeling it won't.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 24 Feb 2008, 11:57

Just had a read of this, hope this makes things a little clearer:

http://www.karacare.co.uk/tyres.html

The part about "do not overload your tyres" makes interesting reading.

Post by **g60steve** » 24 Feb 2008, 12:53

Do not exceed the gross axle weight ratings for any axle on your vehicle

Ok then for example my 2.5i SA Caravelle has gross axle weight ratings of:
Front: 1250Kgs
Rear: 1350Kgs

So 1250Kgs divided by 2 wheels equals 625Kgs per wheel and 1350Kgs divided by 2 equals 675Kgs....yes,do you agree?

A tyre with a maximum load rating of 92 is equal to 630Kgs..front wheel.
A tyre with a maximum load rating of 95 is equal to 690Kgs..rear wheel.

Consiquently i run 94 load rated reinforced tyres on the front and 95 load rated reinforced tyres on the rear and my Caravelle is never ever anywhere near it's gross axle weight.

The gross axle weight rating for my Caravelle means:
7 adults and all their accompanying luggage and a full tank of fuel.
It will never have anywhere near this amount of load carried in it but even if it did the load ratings of the tyres fitted are above the gross axle weight!

The 97 load rating you keep refering to in the VW handbook is based on factory fitted 5.5X14 and 6"X14 wheels fitted with 185R14C and 205/70/14C tyres respectively.
It is not refering to wheels/tyres of a greater size.
Would VW encourage owners to fit wheels of a greater size to one of their vans and state in the handbook that those wheels should have tyres fitted of at least 97 load rating?...no they would not!

If you are replacing the original size tyres with tyres of a different size,the replacement tyres must have a load carrying capacity equal to or greater than the original equipment tyres.

Yes that is correct but this refers to different size tyres fitted to the same size wheel and not tyres fitted to larger/smaller wheels!
For example:
185R14C tyres replaced with 205/70/14C tyres.

I do hope that makes it a little clearer....but yet again i doubt it.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 24 Feb 2008, 13:22

I know exactly what you`re saying steve, I can do the sums as well. You can interpret that info however you want, but if it comes to the crunch, and insurance companies are involved, they will interpret it however it suits them

The only way to be correct on your tyre ratings, is to inform your insurance company what you`ve fitted, what size wheels, were they`re from originally and what load rated tyres you`ve interpreted you can fit, and then get it in writing that you`re insured. That`s what I did, with fotos as well as a written statement of what`s what, and pics of the tyres sidewall markings, and they are happy with it.

Otherwise, in my experience with insurance accessors, they`ll go off what the manufacturer states, and you can be on a sticky wicket if they decide that anything you`ve done isn`t up to spec (in their eyes)

Post by **funbus1** » 24 Feb 2008, 18:52

Im in the process of fitting scorpio wheels with just fitted 102 load rating tyres, Im with flux, Does anyone else deal with flux, and how you got on with them regarding alloys,( extra costs n stuff) Rick

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 24 Feb 2008, 20:00

I`m with Flux, no probs, everything itemised thats been changed, you have to fill in a couple of forms, and send pics if you want agreed value.

Post by **funbus1** » 24 Feb 2008, 20:17

Thanks W.C.J. Ill just give them a fone when I get them on.