Will these tyres work? 16" Ducato....
Apologies if this is not how this forum works but finding it hard to find anything useful I want.....
Hi. My Autocruise Impala has 205/70R16C steel wheels and tyres. They have been standing for a while prior to purchase and so I feel like I need to change out at least the front two.
Manual mentions common fit for the larger Ducato Maxi platform that I have is 215/75R16C
I have been offered some 118 rated Peugeot van alloys fitted with 226/65R16C wheels.
I am aware most vehicles can accept slight width and tyre thickness variations. Am I on safe ground with these?
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Comments
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Sorry can't really help you except that we've just changed our tyres for Pirelli Carriers and I think their is a wide range of choice and price out there. Maybe if you posted in the motorhome section on the main forum you might get further suggestions.
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Wouldn't you want to keep all the tyres the same size? What have you currently got on the van? Both Michelin and Continental do tyres specifically for motorhomes with reinforced sidewalls, an ordinary van tyre might not be so robust? When you say the current tyres have been standing for some time, how long do you mean is it just a matter of months or years?
David
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firstly, I guess we are talking about an Auto-Trail Imala, not an Autocruise?
secondly, it is very important that you understand that the 16" alloys you are considering definitely come from a van with the Maxi (heavy) chassis.....'a Peugeot van'.....could mean a light delivery van, for example.
16" wheels were also optional on the light chassis but, despite looking similar, have a different stud spacing (smaller hubs, brakes on the light version) so will not fit....
I need another wheel and have the light chassis but upgraded to 16" wheels...the dealer explained this very issue to me as follows...
"it is correct that there are 16“ steel wheels for the f35 light and the f40 heavy chassis. But unfortunately they´re not the same!
The f35 light has a bolt circle of 118 mm, the f40 heavy version is 130 mm. This needs to be considered when ordering a spare wheel from Fiat. But a Fiat dealership should probably be able to provide him with the correct spare wheel."
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Morning
So some good advice from BB above, also don't forget you'd need to notify your insurance with regard a wheel change.
Why not take your van to your local tyre shop, they will freely check your rubber for safety to use, also check the age and let you know if you do need new rubber. Personally if new tyres are needed I'd put mid range van tyres on. Camper tyres have stiffer sidewalls but they are stupid money and in my opinion you only need them if a- you're loaded to the max orb- your van sits still for long periods.. You'll never wear out a tyre on a motorhome, it will deteriorate with age long before. I have regular van tyres on my van and they perform fine.
JK
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Good posts from BB and JK. We changed our tyres recently due to age, the wear was minimal after much travelling and just one small repair. Check and compare tyre prices, you can pay too much. You could also look up what your manufacture is putting on the van as it comes out of production.
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Tyre dates are a very interesting subject , soon I will need to replace the tyres on my M/H , and was looking at various tyre manufacturers web sites and some say a unsold tyre with a date of up to 5years is considered to be "new" and then can be fitted and used for a further 5-7 years , it's a bit of a minefield
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Hi
So
The 5 year thing is really a guide, thing is to check the birth daye of each tyre. there'll be a date, probably on the inside sidewall in the form of week & year ie- 26 -18 is week 26 of 2018 etc. Nothing is set in stone. Check for hairline cracks in sidewall and in between treads. I take wheel off blow tyre up to maximum allowed pressure (on sidewall) then check treads again.
There's one on each corner of the van and for the money it's far better to have peace of mind for your pride and joy. I used to be white van man in a boxer van and if driven as they were built for you'd get 25k on a set of tyres (3 sets per years). That's driving on the legal limits (yeah right). I changed my van tyres last year at 20k and 5 years old.
JK
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Personally if new tyres are needed I'd put mid range van tyres on. Camper tyres have stiffer sidewalls but they are stupid money and in my opinion you only need them if a- you're loaded to the max orb- your van sits still for long periods.
I would suggest this is the majority of MH's and even if not loaded to the limit they are loaded 100% of the time and not full in the morning and empty at night like a normal white van. Camper tyres were invented for a reason (not just to make more money) and are designed to be fully loaded all the time and stand about most of the time. Even if the van is in use once you drive 4 hours to site it is sitting for the other 20 hours in a day!!
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But, if your van has the correct tyres fitted they will be able to accommodate it's maximum load, or am I looking at it wrong? Are you saying standard van tyres are not up to the job? A 3.5 ton van fully loaded is still a 3.5 ton van be it a van or a motorhome. Payloads for motorhomes are no greater than that of a van, hence my opinion above.
JK
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Yes but a MH is fully loaded at 3.5t all the while it never goes down whereas a white van will. Also a MH sits for long periods a white van does not so the tyres are rotating not having full weight on one part of the tyre all the time.
Are van tyres up to the job, probably if you don't mind the risk, but if they were why would tyre makers make MH tyres???
Why spend 50k + for a MH then skimp £20 on a tyre?
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Ours lasted at least 7 years, however with age they were starting to crack etc but the actual wear wasn't too bad.
I've read some "tyre" talk on here about motorhomes needing F1 tyres (
) they don't and it pays to shop around and not think that a motorhome needs speciality tyres. It's bad enough replacing four tyres at normal prices! We've just felt that pain in our bank account. 
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A bit more than £20 M but I won't split hairs. I did say earlier about vans sitting a long time. Interestingly though, they don't make stiffer sidewall tyres for caravans? I have an American fifth wheel trailer that is maxed out on weight from new, the payload is microscopic. It remains static but the tyres are just general truck tyres.
My motorhome went on the weighbridge last November and I had 25kgs to spare, it has stayed like that. It has done 35k on standard van tyres which I'll be changing when I get back to the UK in May.
Personal preference I know, I was just saying that you don't have to have camper tyres. Don't quite get the risk thing but hey your choice
JK
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By my calculations 205/70/16 would give an overall diameter of 693mm and rotate at 741 revs/mile.
225/65/16 would have an overall diameter of 699 and rotate at 735 revs/mile.
The lower 65 aspect ratio would make the ride harsher and the extra width may cause problems of rubbing on body work or brake hoses etc,.
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further to my earlier post re getting the 'right' chassis details, you mention the Ducato Maxi chassis, yet the AT website lists all Imala variant as having a 3500kg or 3650kg plating...
both these options are on the Light 3500kg chassis NOT the 4250kg heavy (Maxi) chassis.
i suggest you have a quick check to ensure you know which base your van sits on...
as I say, according to the AT notes it can only be the light version, even if upgraded to 3650kg...
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Morning
As an advisor and an advocate of all things motorhome and someone that clocks a good mileage, can I ask what tyres you run on BB and what's your opinion on camper tyres?
JK
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morning, JK
with the first two vans, I can't actually remember what were fitted, but I think they both had camper tyres of one of the two most popular makes.
the two Carthargos came with different brands...the first had Michelin and this one Continentals.
ive got no specific comments on camper tyres per se, other than the usual observation that they are firmer in the sideway to cope with longer standing periods etc....
however, what I would add is that, from my own experience, correct pressures are the biggest influencers in ride comfort...
both manufacturers give tables for each size based on axle weights.
i had the van serviced before we came away on this trip and Southdowns, in accordance with most handbooks, whacked 80psi in all round.... noticed within a minute or two.....ouch!
wasted no time in sorting them when I got home...
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Whilst I fully accept it is a matter of personal choice, there are a couple of things not mentioned so far: camper tyres have a tread pattern that is beneficial on mud and wet grass. Many years ago when my son was a motocrosser I had a sprinter van to transport the bikes and a basic conversion for sleeping and boiling a kettle. Many of the tracks had grass paddocks and winter was a nightmare for getting bogged down with normal van tyres. An old hand suggested camper tyres on the drive axle which did make a difference.
Following on from that, some (maybe all?) camper tyres are rated as M&S (mud and snow) which is a requirement for winter use in some European countries.
Also motorhome manufacturers are not known for wasting money and I bet that every new motorhome, whether coachbuilt or 'A' class is fitted with camper tyres from new. Even some of the (better) van convertors fit camper tyres.
Pay your money take your choice.
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As I said earlier we have fitted Pirelli Carriers to our Sprinter based van, the all season type with recommended wet weather performance. I think Mercedes are now using them on their vans. However there are others out there, we chose on price and suitability
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