Tyre pressure pulling a caravan......

[Chris 101]

Hi all, being new and just getting the van, I have a question regarding tyre pressure. Its a full conversion SWB, Remo roof etc, They have been added wheel's and so dont show on the van pressure advice plate. I will attach the pic of what I have and the pressures atm. Are these about right for front and back general use, then sometimes we will be pulling our single axle caravan too, do I take that up to the 50 max shown? ( don't worry the 55 target shown is for my sons bmx tyres not the van)

 

[TrevorK]

Might be bad news but….

These appear to be 97 rated car tyres - 730kg

From the tyre label, rating for your van must be minimum of 103 - 875kg , so you should sort this first.

 

[Chris 101]

Might be bad news but….

These appear to be 97 rated car tyres - 730kg

From the tyre label, rating for your van must be minimum of 103 - 875kg , so you should sort this first.

Oh no, so the tyres shouldn't be on the van, that will be me going to to the tyre garage and then getting intouch with the garage I got it from tomorrow

 

[dubber36]

Once you have got the correct tyres, there is no need to increase the pressures for towing. The wheels on the caravan will take the weight of the caravan. The van will just have the added 90-100kg of nose weight on the towbar.

 

[Chris 101]

Once you have got the correct tyres, there is no need to increase the pressures for towing. The wheels on the caravan will take the weight of the caravan. The van will just have the added 90-100kg of nose weight on the towbar.

Its thefinding out what they should have thats the issue atm, I didn't even know about the 'C' or 'XL' ratings until this evening and what I should have, is it an insurance company question or a question at the tyre garage......?

 

[TrevorK]

D

Thread 'T32 load rating 101 legal?'

12 Aug 2022

Hi I have a T6 T32 which has had 18” alloys on since I bought it. At the last MOT all four tyres were replaced due to cracking. The tyres fitted and passed by ATS were load rated 101 (825Kg). I’m now in the process of uprating the GVW of my van with SV Tech (great reviews from everyone that’s used them). They have told me that my current tyres are actually illegal as although all four added together rate above 3.2tonnes, added in pairs they do not exceed the weight limits of each axle on my VIN plate (1710kg and 1720kg)

From my extremely limited knowledge (googling) of MOT test law...

• Drummerajc
• load rating t32 wheels tyres
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Wheels & Tyres

More information on the search function.

You don’t want to be on unsafe tyres.

 

[WinFreak]

I bought my T32 shuttle from a proper van place in wales this summer and they’d put 97 rated tyres on, and then mot’d themselves… I think there’s lots of places that are either oblivious to the rules or just don’t care

 

[DXX]

I bought my T32 shuttle from a proper van place in wales this summer and they’d put 97 rated tyres on, and then mot’d themselves… I think there’s lots of places that are either oblivious to the rules or just don’t care

I wouldn’t say there’s such a thing as a proper van place, so many cowboys and many will be selling vehicles that are ‘private sales’ for a past customer avoiding their legal obligations.
Due diligence is the only way, make sure the tyres are corrected or you may end up with an expensive bill if an insurance claim is rejected.

 

[WinFreak]

Very true, I guess a I meant a garage that just sells vans rather than a garage that normally sells cars

 

[Chris 101]

Can a garage sell us a car or van that has 'non legal' tyres on them?

 

[Sasquatch]

Can a garage sell us a car or van that has 'non legal' tyres on them?

Yes, although for all sorts of reasons, mainly product liability, they really shouldn't.

However, if they deliberately mislead you into believing they were legal tyres when they knew they were not then that would be a criminal act of misrepresentation, a fraud.

 

[dubber36]

Have we established that the van is a T32? @Chris 101 What does the plate under the bonnet say?

If it's not a T32, then it only needs a Class 4 MOT which does not require the tyre load ratings to be checked. It's not right, but that's how it is. As far as insurance goes, the wheels and tyres should be covered under declared modifications, but I'd doubt that they ask for specific tyre details so the onus is on the driver to make sure that they are correct.

 

[DXX]

Have we established that the van is a T32? @Chris 101 What does the plate under the bonnet say?

If it's not a T32, then it only needs a Class 4 MOT which does not require the tyre load ratings to be checked. It's not right, but that's how it is. As far as insurance goes, the wheels and tyres should be covered under declared modifications, but I'd doubt that they ask for specific tyre details so the onus is on the driver to make sure that they are correct.

If it’s a T32 Motor Caravan it still only needs a Class 4 MOT.
However that doesn’t stop it being unsafe, if you operate a vehicle you need to understand the details. In an ideal world every garage / workshop would be audited and the bad ones would be shutdown but that’s never going to happen.

 

[Chris 101]

Have we established that the van is a T32? @Chris 101 What does the plate under the bonnet say?

If it's not a T32, then it only needs a Class 4 MOT which does not require the tyre load ratings to be checked. It's not right, but that's how it is. As far as insurance goes, the wheels and tyres should be covered under declared modifications, but I'd doubt that they ask for specific tyre details so the onus is on the driver to make sure that they are correct.

It's a T28......

 

[dubber36]

OK, so a T28 requires 100 load rated tyres or higher.

It would be wise to get the van weighed to establish what the post conversion axle loads are, then you can work out what payload you can carry. Remember that the caravan will add around 100kg load to the rear axle, which could eat into the vans permissible payload. You'll have to do your sums as whilst it's best practice to have a heavy tow vehicle and light trailer, you may need to carry more stuff in the caravan and less in the van to keep it legal.

I'm also assuming that you are old like most of us here, so have a licence that allows you to drive your outfit?

 

[Chris 101]

OK, so a T28 requires 100 load rated tyres or higher.

It would be wise to get the van weighed to establish what the post conversion axle loads are, then you can work out what payload you can carry. Remember that the caravan will add around 100kg load to the rear axle, which could eat into the vans permissible payload. You'll have to do your sums as whilst it's best practice to have a heavy tow vehicle and light trailer, you may need to carry more stuff in the caravan and less in the van to keep it legal.

I'm also assuming that you are old like most of us here, so have a licence that allows you to drive your outfit?

Very old being mid 50's

 

[Sasquatch]

You're barely a gleam in the milkman's eye compared to most of us!

 

[Chris 101]

You're barely a gleam in the milkman's eye compared to most of us!

Older and wiser I'm sure

 

[Chris 101]

So atm with the garage I got the T28 van from, this is the reply, is this an ok thing if it has the correct rating? "We can change out the tyre for a higher-walled 255/40 R20 which is available in the higher load"

 

[Salty Spuds]

So atm with the garage I got the T28 van from, this is the reply, is this an ok thing if it has the correct rating? "We can change out the tyre for a higher-walled 255/40 R20 which is available in the higher load"

Consider dropping to an 18” wheel if you’re going through the hassle of swapping tyres. Your van/back/passengers will thank you.