tyre load ratings

[ericcs]

can someone tell me what the minimum load rating is for a LWB with 17" rims. the sticker says 103 for one size, 102/104 for another size. would this be the minimum? also, can the fronts get away with a lower rating?
my son got defected for having too low a rating, and someone told him he only needs to up-rate the rears. i don't agree?[IMG][/IMG]

[wai]

The load ratings are minimum, so you can go up. The same for speed ratings as well.

Actually it's a wonder how many vehicles are out there with the wrong tyres.

[IN2VWS]

Shop around, the correct rated tyres are not that expensive.

[ericcs]

he's got 215/55/17 95 stretched on now, but can't seem to find these with the correct load rating. anything larger will catch on the guards. cops threaten to impound the car if it's seen on the road without the correct tires. ride height and rim width was not a problem!

[Diesel_vert]

can someone tell me what the minimum load rating is for a LWB with 17" rims. the sticker says 103 for one size, 102/104 for another size. would this be the minimum?

European vehicle manufacturers usually don't state a 'minimum' load index. Rather, the load index must match the specifications for each tyre fitment.

This explains why you can fit, with the manufacturer's approval, a 215/65 R17C 104/102T commercial tyre (load index = 104, single fitment) and a 235/55 R17 103W XL passenger tyre (load index = 103) on the same vehicle.

Australian regulations are more relaxed, in that they allow you to fit any tyre provided it does not have a lesser load index than the smallest load index stated on the tyre placard.

also, can the fronts get away with a lower rating?

Not unless explicitly permitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

and someone told him he only needs to up-rate the rears.

Not unless explicitly permitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

he's got 215/55/17 95 stretched on now, but can't seem to find these with the correct load rating. anything larger will catch on the guards. cops threaten to impound the car if it's seen on the road without the correct tires. ride height and rim width was not a problem!

Please double check.

A 205/55 R17 tyre has a load index of 91 (standard load) or 95 (extra load).

A 215/55 R17 tyre has a load index of 94 (standard load) or 98 (extra load).

A 215/50 R17 tyre has a load index of 91 (standard load) or 95 (extra load).



In any case, the tyre is woefully insufficient and overloaded in terms of load capacity, considering the OE fitment is 235/55 R17 103W XL (!)


Can you upload a photo of the placard or type it up?

[Sunny43.5]

Ours is a SWB but we run Federal Formosa 235/55 RZ17 103 W XL according to the Keith4Wheels they are correct give him a call they are at Springwood . According to the tyre placard these are correct for my 2.0 litre petrol van based on 17 inch rims our other T5 2.5 turbo diesel has the same ones listed as acceptable with only one tiny difference the placard shows 103 Y/W XL so I think they have two types listed for the Turbo model again SWB

[ericcs]

the rims are 17x8 and he can only get 215's under the guards, hence using passenger rated tires. he was warned before he altered the offset. it's turned around now and bitten him on the bum as he's got a $110 defect fine and needs tires which he will struggle to get

for diesel_vert

[IMG][/IMG]

[Diesel_vert]

Thanks for the photo, that clarifies things. So according to the placard, local regulations means that any tyre fitted should have a load index of no less than 103.

If you look around, there should be another placard (upload another photo if you can) listing the:

Maximum front axle load (1)
Maximum rear axle load (2)
Gross vehicle mass
Gross combination mass

So even if you choose to fit tyres with a lesser load index than stated on your tyre placard (103), you should at the very least ensure the tyre can support the max. front & rear axle loads, for safety's sake.

the rims are 17x8 and he can only get 215's under the guards, hence using passenger rated tires. he was warned before he altered the offset. it's turned around now and bitten him on the bum as he's got a $110 defect fine and needs tires which he will struggle to get

Sorry to hear about the fine, but isn't it incredibly worrying driving around on tyres with such an insufficient load capacity?

[ericcs]

Thanks for the photo, that clarifies things. So according to the placard, local regulations means that any tyre fitted should have a load index of no less than 103.

If you look around, there should be another placard (upload another photo if you can) listing the:

Maximum front axle load (1)
Maximum rear axle load (2)
Gross vehicle mass
Gross combination mass

So even if you choose to fit tyres with a lesser load index than stated on your tyre placard (103), you should at the very least ensure the tyre can support the max. front & rear axle loads, for safety's sake.



Sorry to hear about the fine, but isn't it incredibly worrying driving around on tyres with such an insufficient load capacity?

i understand the implications of using underrated tires, and told him so. the only comforting fact was, he only used it to cart his dirt bike around. the suspension itself wouldn't allow a big load
I'll look for the other placard tomorrow

[Diesel_vert]

i understand the implications of using underrated tires, and told him so. the only comforting fact was, he only used it to cart his dirt bike around. the suspension itself wouldn't allow a big load
I'll look for the other placard tomorrow

Well, we were all young once.

It's fortunate that $110 is all he lost.

[ericcs]

Well, we were all young once.

It's fortunate that $110 is all he lost.

fortunately no points lost, don't think he's got many left to give away. hilarious thing is, it's his car, but registered in my name(cheaper insurance, provided he doesn't make a claim), so he's playing dumb and saying i've done the mods and he was unaware!

[wai]

It is a common issue with commercial type vehicles. My Hiace needed appropriately load rated LT tyres, and I had quite a time getting the correct ones fitted. Many tyre dealers wanted to push passenger car tyres saying it was unlikely I'd get picked up. My brother just bought a 2nd hand Holden Rodeo and the guy he bought it off had larger tyres (not correctly load rated) fitted. A problem was the spare had an original size tyre. The tyres needed replacing and he had some trouble finding correct tyres.

The load and speed ratings are one thing, but there is also the minimum ground clearance, the requirement to cover the tyres by the guards, and making sure that the steering stops contact before the tyre contacts any part of the vehicle.

[brad]

the rims are 17x8 and he can only get 215's under the guards, hence using passenger rated tires. he was warned before he altered the offset.

Would it not be easier to get a wheel specialist to turn the centres off the rims & then re-weld them to a more appropriate offset? Then you could fit the 235/55r17 or even stretch a 215/60r17c onto the 8" rim (usually 7.5" max). 215/55x17 must be lousy for speedo accuracy, highway gearing & fuel economy.

[Sunny43.5]

Could he not change the rims to a more suitable size and then fit the appropriate rated and sized tyres ? Are they steel rims or alloys .

[ericcs]

boys will be boys. you can't tell them anything. they're steel rims and would have just fine standard, but he had to have the offsets changed so the rims are flush with the body line. hence the under rated stretched tyres, one day he'll learn