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Tyres
Carter - October 10th, 2008 at 04:10 PM

hey all,
Just outta pure interest, is anyone running low profile tyres on their busses? it's a future plan of mine to get maybe some 15, 16's and chuck some nice looking tyres...bit wider and alot thinner:P haha..

but yaeh with all the weight restrictions etc, what are people running?

cheers
Josh


flipflopsurfer - October 10th, 2008 at 05:57 PM

I'm running 195/55/15's on the back, they work well. I don't get the worry about tyres for vans any longer, my Audi is 1800kgs which is heavier than my van and it's running 245/45 all round as supplied by the manufacturer.


greedy53 - October 10th, 2008 at 06:19 PM

i'm running 225 60 16 on the back and 205 55 16 front really nice


helbus - October 10th, 2008 at 07:01 PM

Weight restrictions? I think you need to explain this a bit better

A New Commodore or Falcon is over 1700kg. A VW bay bus is around 1300kg.


modulus - October 10th, 2008 at 07:38 PM

My double cab is around 1375 kg, a lot lighter than a Commodore or Falcon, but it has a 975 kg payload, bringing it to around 2350 kg fully loaded. I have no intention of ever putting 975 kg of anything in it, but I'm pretty sue that's where the concern over the carrying capacity of low-profile tyres arises, i.e. not from the bare, but from the tare.

I run Michelin 185 X 14 XCD Light Truck tyres at 42 psi. They're OK; probably wouldn't do too well at a "driftu" competition or draw too many admiring glances from the boyz on Saturday night in Chapel St., but they give a stable ride in all but the most violent sidewinds.

I would expect that low-profile passenger-type 15's, 16's or 17's would help with cross-wind stability as well, just don't use the bus for landscape gardening.

hth


helbus - October 10th, 2008 at 08:50 PM

I have an other fully engineer certified vehicle with a full gross weight allowable of 2400kg. It could only have a minimum of 50 series tyres to maintain the load rating.

What do you want the tyres to do for you? I run 205/45 16 tyres on our bus, and they are only 3% smaller in diameter than original tyres, so only put the speedo out 3%. They handle well, steer well, I am happy. I keep the front tyres at 36psi and the rears at 44 psi


LIFE IN THE LOW LANE - October 11th, 2008 at 03:27 PM

I used to run 225/50/15 on the front of my van and 225/60/15 on the rear.

changed rims and am now running 205/60/15 to get clearance with different offset.


Carter - October 11th, 2008 at 03:47 PM

sweet as. thanks for all your advice. i just want to get someting eventually with less sidewall. look more sleek and complete the look of my bus.

weight restrictions i was talking about really were the placard details etc, recommended tyres mine says 14 RC or something like that... 14 inch wheels radial tires and a C classing which is light truck im pretty sure.. think it has a H rating for speed too.

but if you guys are all running low profiles with not to many problems. thats good to know for the future..

only downside is they dont make to many low profile tyres for 14 inch rims haha. so i will have to get some 15's when i have some money

thanks again

Josh


helbus - October 11th, 2008 at 05:12 PM

Done 45,000km's on 205/45/16's all round and no problems yet, and only just got onto a new set of tyres.


Carter - October 11th, 2008 at 05:35 PM

nice!

it's funny most of the time, you'll wanna do something so you ask around and all you get back is, nope probs best not to do that, or no it won't work...

i think this is one of those rare occasions where it does work / its ok... haha

cheers mate.

josh


LIFE IN THE LOW LANE - October 11th, 2008 at 10:07 PM

I'm getting about 50k out of a set ot tyres. By then they are getting very bald. cornering wear and rear camber generally are what they succombe to.