Club 80-90 Forums

I thought this 97+ vs commercial rated thing had been discussed and 97 rated and above is acceptable?

For example http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/comme ... oad+rating" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure the weight of the stuff in my van (furniture etc) doesn't add up to more than an additional 6 adults would in a caravelle

The o.p. has not been back since post 3

Cruz wrote:I thought this 97+ vs commercial rated thing had been discussed and 97 rated and above is acceptable?

For example http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/comme ... oad+rating" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure the weight of the stuff in my van (furniture etc) doesn't add up to more than an additional 6 adults would in a caravelle

i wouldn't want to risk a no payout on a claim should one occur.... each to their own i guess.....
two adults and a child + camping equipment + furniture + lpg tank ...easily as heavy as 6 passengers i would say

Cruz wrote: So why were caravelles fitted with 97 rated tyres?

Because there not a commercial vehicle! where as anything that was a van or camper are classified as commercial!

Mine was a caravelle and now a camper and on the log book is a camper so I have to have heavier loaded tyres ( not that I will cause they look crap ) ? Is this according to you or VW who didnt make a camper or the government that doesnt class a camper as a commercial vehicle as you are allowed in the LEZ? I can see this is heading in the same direction as the type 2 t3/25 thing.

Everytime this subject crops up there's always a lot of confusion and arguments for and against certain size tyres and what's "right" or "wrong".

Just my 2 pence worth ....

VW sent Westfalia vans fitted with Carat alloys and 205/70/14 tyres which were then converted into campers and depending on the tyre manufacturer they were either 95 or 97 load rated....definately NOT "C" rated.
VW also fitted the exact same tyre to Caravelles and Carats so would they have done so if those tyres weren't fit for purpose?

If fitting 15" and 16" alloys to a T25 it is still possible to fit "C" rated tyres without altering the gearing or speedo reading.
By fitting 17" alloys you can fit 225/55/17 "C" rated tyres but they would probably be too big on a lowered van.
The usual size tyre for 17's is 225/50/17 as these are readily available in 98 load rating....which is more than what VW thought adequate over 20 years ago and more than the GVW of a fully loaded T25 as well....98 is equal to 750kg per corner...3000kgs in total and that's over 500kg more than the GVW of a T25!
For 18" alloys there's no commercial tyre available and you're limited to 225/45/18(95) or 235/45/18 tyres available in 98 load rating...again more than VW thought adequate.

Also when they were first introduced VW Sharan MPV's,which can carry upto 7 passengers plus all their luggage,were fitted at the factory with 95 load rated tyres.

Tyre technology has improved vastly over the years...it's a shame but it looks like some opinions on this subject will always stay the same.

just to add another variable. I wonder how often people check the tyre pressures on their tyres? A quick google will show that a under inflated tyre will vastly affect its load rating no matter what it is unless it is made from solid rubber.
As Steve says, I dont think opinions will ever change. I am off to throw my laptop in the bin and get my commodore 64 out!!!!

For what it's worth I'm with facts not opinion and g60steve got it spot on with his reply. Personally I would use VW's own thinking on this and look for tyres with a 97 or above load rating (steve I didn't realise VW fitted 95's on the T25?) all we ever saw was the Semperit 205/70 R14's with 97 load rating (not commercial) as the 'option' for Carats or the common or garden 185/R14C 99/101 Michellin and Continental on the steel rims.
So that's where I stand.....97's or higher, commercial if you must but not a requirement.
Big Herb pointed out the differences in front and rear gross axle weight (is that the term?) anyway....rear axle load is higher so you can't really apply the rule: max weight divided by 4 to get the tyre load...I seemed to remember Herb quite rightly dismissing some load ratings that would meet the overall load but not the rear axle load as a pair of tyres.

Martin

Hmmmm....Empi's with an ET of 40 and a load rating of 675Kg (just over 94 load rating) so I'm pretty sure (please correct me if I'm wrong) that these wouldn't be sufficient for the max rear axle load as quoted on your chassis plate?

Big Herb....where's those figures you quoted last time?

Yes I know...Just Kampers are selling them as suitable.
Martin