Tyre Pressures, reply from Continental Tyres

[Jackspeak]

I have just had my e-mail reply back from Continental Tyres. I quoted them my tyre type and size:

Vanco Camper 225/65 R 16 CP 112 R. fitted to a Rimor Katamorano 12p.

and Axle load weights Front 1744 kg. - Rear 1470 kg.

Their reply 3.5 bar Front and 3.35 bar Rear. These pressures seem a little to low to me, what do you think?

 

[scotjimland]

I had to convert to psi to get a better idea ..

51 and 48 psi ..

yes, they do look a bit low, but they should know what is the optimum pressure for the axle load..

I would try them at these pressures.. and see how the van feels.. if ok, then watch the tread wear,
worth buying a tyre depth gauge..

if they are too low the will wear on the outside edges quicker than the middle of the tread..

too high they will wear quicker in the middle of the tread.

 

[hilldweller]

Their reply 3.5 bar Front and 3.35 bar Rear. These pressures seem a little to low to me, what do you think?

Not the same van, quite a small one, the book says 5 bar and that's what we use. So I agree, that does look low. We have a sticker in the door frame and I take that as a legal requirement.

 

[Jim]

It really depends on the make of tyre and while I might want to double check those figures. I would go with what they recommend and not what others use. On my van Avons and Michelin tyres, same size but Michelen recommend 80psi and Avons 60.

 

[TheCaller]

Those sound quite low axle weights for 16in wheels. But if correct, then the pressures sound reasonable to me. They are consistent the figures I was given by Continental for rather higher weights.

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[mikebeaches]

I've got Vanco Camper tyres on my van and although the tyre pressures recommended by Continental are low, I think you'll find it really improves the ride quality. I reckon the tyres have heavily re-enforced side-walls, which give a harsh ride at higher than Continental's advised pressure. But - touch wood - for us they have proved to be robust covering some long and very rough tracks fully loaded, without problem. Our van is four-and-a-half years old and no punctures to date, thankfully - especially as the vehicle was supplied without a spare and nowhere to fit one.

Mike

 

[Jackspeak]

Cheers Guys, I feel a bit more confident now, I will give it a go at the recommended pressures.

 

[GJH]

There was a similar discussion almost 4 years ago so I got in touch with Goodyear, manufacturers of the tyres on the van we had at the time. They were very helpful. The final response, after I had supplied the information needed, was

With the load index being used then the pressure quoted in writing by the vehicle manufacturer will carry the weight of the vehicle.
Pressures for tyres are advised by the vehicle manufacturer rather than the tyre manufacturer.
Many vehicle designers will come up with totally different pressures to suit their vehicles and their desired handling characteristic.
There will have been a great deal of testing to come up to these conclusions. The pressures in tyres act as part of the vehicles suspension design therefore contributing to handling, stability, ride etc.
Contrary to popular belief pressures are not only advised based on the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Jackspeak]

Interesting.............. thanks GJH, I will e-mail my supplier a chance to respond!

 

[funflair]

We run Continental fourseasons2 in 225 75 16 size and at 1850-1900 front axle I run about 58. Try taking the the max pressure and equating that to your axle weight relative to tyre load rating ie axle weight/max axle load rating from tyres x max pressure.

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[JeanLuc]

Here is the relevant extract from the Conti Technical data book (downloadable from their website.). You will note that the reply from them accords with the data book. Look at the CP line in the lower section of the image and read across; FA and RA refer to front and rear axle - the S is for single tyres as opposed to twins.

Hope this helps.

 

[Chris]

Tyre pressures are a bug bear of mine.

I was recommended 3.5 Bar, but the tyres looked flat to me so I pumped them to 5 Bar.

I don't know why because I know sod all about tyre pressures.

I am going to check again next service.

 

[Jackspeak]

Thanks Philip that's great.

 

[Phill D]

I have just had my e-mail reply back from Continental Tyres. I quoted them my tyre type and size:

Vanco Camper 225/65 R 16 CP 112 R. fitted to a Rimor Katamorano 12p.

and Axle load weights Front 1744 kg. - Rear 1470 kg.

Their reply 3.5 bar Front and 3.35 bar Rear. These pressures seem a little to low to me, what do you think?

please dont take this other than a constructive observation but are you sure you got your axle weights the correct way round ? they seem very low for a loaded van particularly on the rear axle ? as you have 16 inch wheels your van max must be over 4 ton. so something dont seem right. would have thought that 1470 may well be the rear axle unloaded weight. mine is 3650 kgs max and the rear axle is constantly hovering around 1950 fully loaded.

 

[WillH]

After a few trials with the assistance of a tyre fitter at our local ATS I ended up running 55psi front and 50 psi rear, the improved quality of ride and noise reduction was very noticeable. After more than 20k miles the wear pattern on the tyres has always been normal. Hope this re-assures you as these pressures are not a million miles away from what you have been recommended.

Rgds
Bill

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[Chockswahay]

I had a similar conversation with an engineer at Continental a couple of years ago. My tyres are Vanco 215/70 R 15 and the advice was to set the pressures according to axle weight. I too felt that somehow the pressures seemed too low and looked a 'bit flat' but I have now done 24000 miles on the tyres and they are wearing uniformly and the handling and ride comfort is much better than using the pressures Fiat suggest.

Quite irrationally I felt a little happier with 55 front and 60 back, bur for the last 4000 miles I have used 50 and 55 Even theses are more than Continental say to use

Remember the van makers 'badge up' the pressures for builders, delivery drivers etc and allow for the worst case scenario.

Have the faith, use the pressures recommended by Continental and you will be rewarded with better handling, a more comfortable ride and longer tyre life (you will also keep more fillings in your teeth on bumpy roads)

The engineer (a lovely helpful young lady) sent me this part of the spec sheet for their tyres (she marked up the purple bit)

 

[jonandshell]

3214 kg sounds like an empty van!

It might be worth loading it up for a trip away and revisiting the weighbridge.

Bacons charge a fiver!

 

[Phill D]

3214 kg sounds like an empty van!

It might be worth loading it up for a trip away and revisiting the weighbridge.

Bacons charge a fiver!

exactly what i thought.. but stand to be corrected. The unladen weight of our Ducato front end is around 1400kgs

 

[TheCaller]

please dont take this other than a constructive observation but are you sure you got your axle weights the correct way round ? they seem very low for a loaded van particularly on the rear axle ? as you have 16 inch wheels your van max must be over 4 ton. so something dont seem right. would have thought that 1470 may well be the rear axle unloaded weight. mine is 3650 kgs max and the rear axle is constantly hovering around 1950 fully loaded.

You raise a good point about the wheel size. The 16" wheels are normally fitted to vans designed for over 3.5t GVW & it may be that the sticker on the door reflects this design weight.

But a lot of these vans are then downplated at conversion stage to 3.5t for driving licence purposes. So they then never get anywhere near their maximum design weight, so rattle your fillings at the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressures.

I posted my earlier comment from my phone. Now I'm back at my desk I can give the actual figures Continental gave me. They come from the same source as others have posted above - Continental's data sheets.

Front 3.0 bar (47psi) based on axle weight of 1730kg
Rear 4.0 bar (58psi) based on axle weight of 1940kg
Figures taken from Continental’s data sheet for 225/75 R16 116 CP

(Note that these are not the same tyres as the OP's, despite both being on 16" dia wheels)

In practice, of course, there would never be that loading on both axles simultaneously, because that would put me over my 3.5t limit.

Should I wish to, I suspect uprating mine would just be a paper exercise, together with a bit more air in the tyres!

 

[JeanLuc]

For anyone who wants a copy of the 2013/14 Continental Data Book (Car, 4x4 and Vans) here is the link. It is the latest data book on their website (but not that easy to find the location of the download).

Broken Link Removed

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[Roryboys Dad]

We've run our tyres on Continental's recommended pressures for our Pilote at 3.5 bar Front and 4.2 bar Rear for a couple of years now and we get a great ride over any road surface.

5.0 bar is a mile too high but great if you want to check your false teeth fit securely!

 

[Phill D]

i agree with all the posts as i have Conti's and run them well under the FIAT quoted 5.5 bar,,,,,, but i am still thinking the OP's van weights are either empty or wrong axles... as i say in an earlier post could be wrong.

 

[Techno]

I have just had my e-mail reply back from Continental Tyres. I quoted them my tyre type and size:

Vanco Camper 225/65 R 16 CP 112 R. fitted to a Rimor Katamorano 12p.

and Axle load weights Front 1744 kg. - Rear 1470 kg.

Their reply 3.5 bar Front and 3.35 bar Rear. These pressures seem a little to low to me, what do you think?

What is the max psi on the tyre wall?

 

[Phill D]

What is the max psi on the tyre wall?

68psi or something equally below what FIAT quote.... but according to Conti in a mail to me ages ago that is for th US market only and is to be ignored..

 

[Techno]

I have just had my e-mail reply back from Continental Tyres. I quoted them my tyre type and size:

Vanco Camper 225/65 R 16 CP 112 R. fitted to a Rimor Katamorano 12p.

and Axle load weights Front 1744 kg. - Rear 1470 kg.

Their reply 3.5 bar Front and 3.35 bar Rear. These pressures seem a little to low to me, what do you think?

my spreadsheet says similar

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[mitzimad]

i thought 3.2 tonne vans came on 15 inch wheels and the maxi chassis had the 16 inch wheels and rated at 3.5 tonnes and above

 

[Phill D]

according to SVtec you can plate upto 3850kgs without tyre changes

 

[GJH]

May I reiterate the final sentence of the reply I received from Goodyear (posted above).

Contrary to popular belief pressures are not only advised based on the weight of the vehicle.

 

[Bluestar]

Lots of useful information there, thank you.

 

[SMB]

I have also emailed Continental in respect of my Ducato 4005kg chassis van, on which I have Fourseasons 2
225/75 R16's fitted. I will be interested if it compares to the Fiat handbook recommendations...

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