Ducato Motorhome 15" or 16" wheels?

[lex131]

Hello,

I have Benimar Mileo 263 that i bought used (2020 model) and it came with 2 complete wheel sets, summer and winter, both with 15" rims.

The summer tires are 215/70/R15C
The winter tires are 225/70/R15C

A few people have told me, switch to 16" if you care about your motorhome, it will absorb more of the shocks of road irregularities and will keep the motorhome's structure in better shape.

I'm not the one to take advice and act on it straight away, i like to investigate all theories until I'm satisfied.

The size they suggest is 225/75/R16C

How big of a difference does it make? Is it worth the investment?

 

[Guigsy]

16" are heavier, so you'll get worse mpg and worse acceleration. The speedo will be more accurate, but you'll also be downshifting to 5th on relatively mild motorway inclines because the gearing was designed around a delivery van on 15", not 16" with a load of extra wind resistance and weight a coachbuild has.

Alloy can be made lighter than steel, but the manufacturing process is expensive. So unless you're getting £1k per corner forged rims, they'll be heavier. And they aren't as durable. Everything is on alloys these days purely for looks.

 

[Two on Tour]

But you have a dash cam

Wouldn't be without one with all the nutters like me on the roads.

 

[scotjimland]

On the topic of alloy versus steel.

When I had a new set of tyres fitted to my alloy wheels I had no end of trouble with leaks around the new steel high pressure valves.. the rims were corroded inside , probably due to electrolytic action between the steel and alloy .. the fitter tried rubber stemmed valves and they were fine.. but as they are only rated up to 45 psi he recommended fitting new steel rims and binning the alloys ..

That is what I did, I found a set of Fiat 15in steel rims on ebay.. never used, not a scratch on them, probably off a van that had alloys fitted.

.. £132 for a set, delivered.

 

[Gromett]

I love threads like this. I am always interested in the things that people consider important enough to spend their money on.
I would never have considered spending money on changing my wheels like this. The most I have ever done is buy hub caps for £20

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[Gromett]

I hear a lot of people only using winter tires on their motorhomes, all year round. How about you? Winter tires all the way or separate winter and summer tires?

I just use commercial tyres.. Saved me a fortune over the years and I can't tell the difference.

 

[Two on Tour]

I just use commercial tyres.. Saved me a fortune over the years and I can't tell the difference.

Same here.

 

[Dolmen]

Has everyone found 16 inch wheels more comfortable than 15 inch? My first van was 15 inch and was the most comfortable ride of all the three vans I have had. Obviously there could be lots of other reasons than just the tyres

 

[Dolmen]

Edit, wheels not tyres

 

[Guigsy]

Has everyone found 16 inch wheels more comfortable than 15 inch? My first van was 15 inch and was the most comfortable ride of all the three vans I have had. Obviously there could be lots of other reasons than just the tyres

I'm not convinced the extra roll-over height of a 16" would make much difference to any road imperfections smaller than an inch... although there are an increasing number of roads in the UK where you would experience this.

Heavier wheels are also more unsuspended mass, which is worse for ride quality.

So I'm not convinced going to 16" would make a massive improvement in ride quality.

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[Two on Tour]

I'm not convinced the extra roll-over height of a 16" would make much difference to any road imperfections smaller than an inch... although there are an increasing number of roads in the UK where you would experience this.

Heavier wheels are also more unsuspended mass, which is worse for ride quality.

So I'm not convinced going to 16" would make a massive improvement in ride quality.

For me, going up to 16" also meant that we went from 215 to 225 wide tyres and this allowed us to come down from the 80psi rock hard ride to 67psi in the rears and 52psi in the fronts and this is where the ride quality is improved big time for us.

 

[Mikeyv60]

I'm not convinced the extra roll-over height of a 16" would make much difference to any road imperfections smaller than an inch... although there are an increasing number of roads in the UK where you would experience this.

Heavier wheels are also more unsuspended mass, which is worse for ride quality.

So I'm not convinced going to 16" would make a massive improvement in ride quality.

Properly better to keep 15,s but get a tyre with a deeper sidewall?

 

[DDJC]

This might seem like a totally dopey question, but is there enough space in the wheel arch to cope for that extra couple of inches of tyre?
Also, do you need to up-rate the brake disks?

 

[Two on Tour]

This might seem like a totally dopey question, but is there enough space in the wheel arch to cope for that extra couple of inches of tyre?
Also, do you need to up-rate the brake disks?

Did nothing on ours just fitted them.

 

[Orion]

Thanks for all the replies guys, really appreciate it.

Now, the decision is pretty clear - I'm going to switch to 16".

Second question: used but original Fiat Ducato Alloy rims (like in the image above) 16" are about 600 Euros where I live.
Steel rims used: 240 Euros
Steel rims new: 320-350 Euros

Any advantage on the alloys besides the cosmetic part? (from what i know the weight difference is small).

On my Adria I have been able to increase the GVW from 3650kg to 4250kg in part due to the 16” O/E Fiat alloys already fitted (plus fitting Dunlop rear air). These are the ones rated at 1250kg which allow the rear axle to go from 2000kg to 2400kg.
Might help if you are also looking to increase payload?

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[Jackd]

Probably not available in the 118pcd that he requires though

 

[Mikeyv60]

For me, going up to 16" also meant that we went from 215 to 225 wide tyres and this allowed us to come down from the 80psi rock hard ride to 67psi in the rears and 52psi in the fronts and this is where the ride quality is improved big time for us.

I take it you dont have Fiat Tpms,s

 

[Two on Tour]

I take it you dont have Fiat Tpms,s

No, fitted TyrePal sensor, although I see where you're coming from with setting lower values on the Fiat TPMS system.

 

[Charente16]

Thanks for all the replies guys, really appreciate it.

Now, the decision is pretty clear - I'm going to switch to 16".

Second question: used but original Fiat Ducato Alloy rims (like in the image above) 16" are about 600 Euros where I live.
Steel rims used: 240 Euros
Steel rims new: 320-350 Euros

Any advantage on the alloys besides the cosmetic part? (from what i know the weight difference is small).

If you live in France, I would suggest before you spend the money check the CofC for your M/home as no physical changes can be made to the original spec. I also wanted to change - up to 16'' but the dealer refused to supply the new rims for the reason given.

If you go ahead you may end up with problems concerning the validity of your insurance.

Robert

 

[Mikeyv60]

No, fitted TyrePal sensor, although I see where you're coming from with setting lower values on the Fiat TPMS system.

Yes i i have them recoded with lower value, 80.was too high.

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[Roby2008]

Has everyone found 16 inch wheels more comfortable than 15 inch? My first van was 15 inch and was the most comfortable ride of all the three vans I have had. Obviously there could be lots of other reasons than just the tyres

Not a MH, but herselfs SEAT Alhambra, 17s with Summer tyres, rides like concrete, 15s on Winters (we change every year) and the ride is much smoother.....

 

[Guigsy]

Not a MH, but herselfs SEAT Alhambra, 17s with Summer tyres, rides like concrete, 15s on Winters (we change every year) and the ride is much smoother.....

That's often the case with cars. Reviewers often note that the top trim models ride worse because of their huge alloys. But in most cases, the wheel diameter is staying mostly the same, just they're getting rubber band sized, ultralow profile side walls.

It's a bit different with the Ducato. For whatever reason, Fiat don't seem to keep the wheel diameter the same when they mount 16". The sidewall is often slightly larger on a 16". So when people claim the 16" rides better, it's possible.