Tyres Correct Load/Speed ratings

gross weight is maximum weight WITH you and all your stuff already in the van, including fuel, water, etc

you need to find the kerbweight (empty weight) for yours, probably in the westy manual? or on internet somewhere, then you know how much weight you can cram in.

IMO 91s are a bit too near the weight limit for me(safety margin of 10%,etc), 94s minimum would keep me happy in yours

check in your vw handbook and it will say roughly the same gross weight for panel van, caravelle, pick-up, etc

gross weight is the very maximum the vehicle is safely designed to weigh, whether it be a coachbuilt like mine, a westy or a panel van makes no difference the gross weight is the same

grossweight - kerbweight = payload (which in this case is you and your stuff)

The Gross Unladen Weight on my Autosleeper (high top) is 2400kg.

Its currently running 100 load rated standard tyres.

As I have just got some Granada 16" alloys to go on, have been looking round for wheels..

There are quite a few different choices of tyre at 97 LR (inc some XL extra load - think that might apply to speed, rather than weight tho'). I have found some bridgestone tyres that are 100 LR in 16" (215/60), but there are more at 97 LR.

Good guide might be to see what your van is using now. Unless you meant you are on 91 LR at the moment. Is the pop top that much lighter than a high top?

t3 weights: http://tinyurl.com/2nrwh4

fecking swear filter!

Just in case someone hasn't seen the load chart

And speed chart for that matter

Cali Dream stated at the start :-  "Infact on these weights the tyres would need a minimum rating of 97 which is 730Kg per tyre......2920Kg in total to be safe"

I`ve said it before, in my OE VW owners handbook it says 97 minimum rated tyres. It`s OK people saying "it`ll be right" with 91 or 87 or whatever, if you have an accident then one of the first things that an insurance accessor looks at is the tyres (I`ve been involved with one or two of these "people" when they come to have a look after an accident, they work on bonus from the ins. company, anything to get the ins. co. out of paying pays their wages)

Don`t be the one who runs a kid over on a crossing and then they find your `van isn`t up to spec

Right this is purely for comparison.....

An Autosleeper has a gross vehicle weight of 2400kgs....yes?

A VW Sharan 7 seater people carrier has a gross vehicle weight of 2450Kgs and they run 95H load rating tyres....and they're designed to carry 7 adults plus luggage.

As you were.

Good discussion folks!  Those with safety conscious comments , that's what I, for one, want to hear while I get to the bottom of finding out which tyres to buy!

OK, quick update.  Here is a link to tyres that are sold in the size, speed rating, and load index we are looking for:-

http://www.tyresite.com/tyres.asp?width=205&profile=70&a mp;size=14

Interestingly, one example here (the Nexen SB700) looks like it's rated at LI 100 and speed rating S, eg 800Kg and 112mph.  Is Nexen a Michelin brand?

Another, the Maxway GT is rated at 100/97R.  So, the next question there then is what does 100/97 mean?  Don't know!  Otherwise they are the next best rated after the Nexen's.

Most other hits I've had while searching don't go into the LI figure, so I have discounted them.  It's proving harder to find out what I want to know than I thought.

Holdsworth campers.  Mine is a Villa 3 pop-top and the Gross Vehicle Weight is listed in the handbook as 2390Kg, with a Kerb Weight of 1754Kg, and a Max. Payload of 636Kg.

Now, if I have grasped this concept correctly, we need to work on Gross Vehicle Weight, so LI ratings in the high 90's (like 97 as Joker Club and Mr. Bric said is well within).

Is all this correct now please?  See in T3 Tech for Holdsworth data that I have posted (well will do in my lunch break later on!)

PaulG

Sorry I could have answered this above.

The GVW or GVM is also sometimes known as as the design weight.

This may make more sense. This is the maimum weight VW had in mind for the van when they deisigned it. They then would use this figure when they specified requrements for the components like brakes, tyres, suspension etc. This is why your tyre ratings must exceed this figure. This is also why the police would use this figure to decide if your van is overloaded and therefore dangerous.

Your kerb weight is what your van actually wieghs which will be less. There are a few definitions but usually this would be the van in as it is fitted plus fuel/fluid, sometimes includes a nominal 75kg for a driver. The differnce between the two is the weight you have left for beer/friends etc

You should not exceed the GVM.