T5 Tyres 17" what is available in OZ

[Diesel_vert]

Wow! that's comprehensive ... I'm impressed - and invite your comment(s) on the following.
I put the campervan on the local weighbridge and with full tanks - both fuel as well as water, and with driver & passenger on board it scaled 2650kg.
I see that Bridgestone make ER300 215/60 R17 (96H) which have an OD of 690 ... within 5mm of the current 235/55 R17 (103W)
While a profile change from 55 to 60 doesn't seem much, my hope is that it might improve the crash bang bump thump "quality" of the outfit which at the moment is almost intolerable on corrugated roads.
Over to you.

I've noted your comments re: weighbridge, but fitting a tyre with a lower load index that hasn't been approved by the manufacturer means the vehicle can be rendered unroadworthy - which has consequences for the registered owner and whoever's driving it (liability, insurance, etc).

In any case, I predict that 215/60 R17 wouldn't be noticeably more comfortable than 235/55 R17, because you lose too much width (235 to 215) compared to the gain in height (55 to 60).

It would be better to replace your current summer tyres for an all-season tyre like the Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum (KU27). Or increase the width from 235/55 R17 to 245/55 R17 with the side effect of making the speedometer less underestimate the vehicle's speed.

...

Now, I'm not here to tell you what you can and can't do, so if you still want to go ahead, I strongly recommend the tyres are at least able to support the maximum axle weight and the maximum vehicle weight, otherwise there is a serious safety risk.

The standard load version "215/60 R17 96H" has a max. load capacity of 710 kg, so it can support 1420 kg per axle and 2840 kg in total.

The extra load version "215/60 R17 100H XL" has a max. load capacity of 800 kg, so it can support 1600 kg per axle and 3200 kg in total - but this size appears to be exceedingly rare on the market.

So, what are the maximum axle weights (front & rear) and the maximum vehicle weight? The figures should be found on a sticker or a plate on the vehicle itself, maybe somewhere on the pillars.

[brad]

People seem to forget that a vehicle is not on static display & that the load is not distributed evenly & the big hits (potholes, etc) are often concentrated on a single tyre.

I think a lot of the issues with hard / crashy ride might be the OEM damper valving. Someone mentioned earlier (another thread) that they fitted Koni & never looked back. I think reducing tyre pressure to compensate for poorly valved dampers is like walking on your hands because you have a broken leg that you can't be bothered getting fixed.

[Diesel_vert]

People seem to forget that a vehicle is not on static display & that the load is not distributed evenly & the big hits (potholes, etc) are often concentrated on a single tyre.

That is just one of many reasons why car makers might specify tyres with a load index in excess of the maximum axle and vehicle weights.

A tyre's maximum load capacity is only an indicator of one characteristic - it's ability to safely support that weight. Nothing more.

It gives no indication of how other characteristics come into play on a particular vehicle, such as stability, handling, wear, comfort, grip, aquaplaning, noise and god knows how many other parameters a car maker takes into account when choosing a tyre.

[Col Collyer]

People seem to forget that a vehicle is not on static display & that the load is not distributed evenly & the big hits (potholes, etc) are often concentrated on a single tyre.

I think a lot of the issues with hard / crashy ride might be the OEM damper valving. Someone mentioned earlier (another thread) that they fitted Koni & never looked back. I think reducing tyre pressure to compensate for poorly valved dampers is like walking on your hands because you have a broken leg that you can't be bothered getting fixed.

Brad... I have a slightly different view about tyre pressures. Transporters ride quality varies with weight, and at heavier weights requires higher tyre pressures. I guess the reverse is true, and as mine spends most its life nearly empty, I recon the lower pressures are warrented. It certainly improves the ride, and they don't look or handle "flat"
Col

[Foxpuppet]

Goodyear now have available a 215/60R17 C, 109/107T Cargo Vector that ticks all the boxes on the tyre placard plus has a higher load rating (109 v 104). The tyre is made in Germany (not Singapore like most Goodyears), is C (LT) construction, M+S rated. It has a similar tread pattern to the Wrangler AT. This tyre looks a far better bet for off-road work than the 235/55s or any of the alternatives.

Dave Berry from Trakadu was the driving force behind getting them into the country and he is fitting them to the Trakadu AT van. Dave can supply at $230 fitted, or they can be got thru Beaurepairs. Will post some pics when/if I work out how to do it.

is this still available? did anyone try them out?

[Foxpuppet]

i also noticed some tyres previously mentioned are not the 103w rating but 101W is this too far from the correct rating or not?

After searching some threads on here i noticed a few members giving tirerack the thumbs up. so i have been sussing out some of the options from there also - sorry to flood the thread, but this has got me excited!

Kumho*Ecsta LX Platinum

Yokohama*ADVAN S.T.

Yokohama*ADVAN Sport

Kumho*Ecsta SPT

Yokohama*S.drive

then if i went to an 18" wheel they have

Kumho*Ecsta LE Sport

Sumitomo*HTR Z III

Hankook*Ventus V12 evo K110

Continental*ExtremeContact DWS

Yokohama*AVID ENVigor (W-Speed Rated)

Goodyear*Eagle F1 Asymmetric

Michelin*Pilot Alpin PA4

Yokohama*ADVAN Sport

and this caps out the range

Michelin*Pilot HX MXM4

[bobf]

The 215 6017 Goodyear cargo vectors were still available about 8 weeks ago when I last checked.

I have them fitted to my van and have just done 15k with them and happy.

My van is a 12/10 T5 auto 4 motion with rough road suspension and diff lock and Frontline campervan conversion. Trip ready it weighs 2800kg, 1500 front & 1300 rear. Like to travel outback roads etc and found the original Michelin pretty useless - 50% wear @ 12k and cuts in the walls but they did ride nice and were quite. Looked for a more rugged tyre and found that the goodyear cargo vector 215 60R17 109 were the only legal option available. $230 fitted versus $580 for the Michelins helped the decision.

The cargo vectors are noisier than the Mitchs, mainly noticeable at low speed, on newly aggregate sealed roads and at roundabouts but noise is acceptable to me - I do wear hearing aids tho !!

Just did a 8k trip with 2k on outback unsealed roads and real happy. no punctures etc, worked well in a bit of mud and no sign of stone chipping. After 15k fronts have 6.5mm tread left and rears 7mm as against 9mm new. I run them at 45psi on sealed roads and 35 on unsealed outback roads and find that works well - VW says about 60 psi loaded and that is so rough, tried 50 and that was a bit hard ride, 45 good.

[Transporter]

Thanks for that bobf. I went to get the Vectors 2 weeks ago and they're on back order, Darwin still had 4 available, but I couldn't get them to ship to Adelaide. New stock should be in the country within 2 weeks.

See, how long they will last me, although I'm not happy to hear that they're noisy.

[bobf]

Thanks for that bobf. I went to get the Vectors 2 weeks ago and they're on back order, Darwin still had 4 available, but I couldn't get them to ship to Adelaide. New stock should be in the country within 2 weeks.

See, how long they will last me, although I'm not happy to hear that they're noisy.

If find the noise OK - strangely it is more noticeable (rumble) at very low speeds and roundabouts. The security of LT construction and 109 load rating (1030kg/wheel plus the AT type tread suits my needs and am prepared to compromise on the noise factor. If only doing short trips on sealed roads with light-med loads I might think otherwise. They must be selling a few - had 80 in stock Oz wide last I enquired.

[Ivo]

Need some tyres. Any updates from those with the Maxxis MA P1?

[Transporter]

The Maxxis should be good for +40k km from what people reported here. Just don't get Kumho KH15, they don't last, mine are wornout at 20,000km.

[IN2VWS]

Anyone know anything about these tyres?
NEW 235-55-17 ACCELLERA TYRES! MERCEDES 103 LOAD RATED | eBay

[Zebt]

Got Dunlop Sport 01 235/55/17 on mine, 8k done so far, not sure what these are like, don't notice road noise. Seen possible replacement Dunlop SP Maxx for $148 each.

[Rebuild]

Need some tyres. Any updates from those with the Maxxis MA P1?

I have around 12K on two MAP1 fronts, down to around 4-5mm tread left.Not sure they will make 40K ish.Since rotated to rear

[Foxpuppet]

just called JAXquickfit at thornleigh they quoted $225 for the maxis map1 fitted, also called bobjane hornsby they told me they had been discontinued and would chase it up. Tyrepower hornsby pricebeat JAX to $215 fitted. so i'm thinking of going local over tirerack as the savings are not that great in this range. kumho and yoko being the only tirerack options the savings are only very minimal after shipping.
i did find a set of yoko S drives on ebay for $819 in australia.

so i'll do a bit more searching as i have a bit of time before the wheels arrive, but probably going to have a go on the Maxxis, seems most have had a good result.