Transit Custom 290 tyre load rating - 102 OK?

[a11y]

Can anyone confirm I’m correct in saying a 102-rated tyre is OK and legal on a Transit Custom DCiV 290 LWB?

102-rating = 850kg, i.e. 1700kg per axle

And I’ve taken the following from the brochure for a DCiV 290 L2 H1
• Max gross payload (exc driver): 731-885kg
• Gross Vehicle Mass: 2940kg
• Min kerb mass (ec driver): 2055-2209kg
• Front axle plated mass: 1675kg
• Rear axle plated mass: 1590kg

Based on those axle loads it looks like a 102 tyre is sufficient/legal, but I've been known to get things wrong occasionally hence asking for some confirmation of my calculations/thinking

Reason I ask is I’m lining up some all-season tyres for my incoming Transit. Yes I could’ve ticked the option box but nobody at Ford could confirm which tyre model would be supplied – I’d rather choose my own based on best for wet grip performance, etc etc.

There’s obviously commercial all-season tyres with 109/107 load-rating, but there’s also SUV tyres with 102-rating which generally have better wet grip, economy and noise ratings as well as being cheaper. I’m looking at Michelin CrossClimate SUV in 215/65 R16 102V XL.

102-rating is enough for this model of Transit, yes?

Thanks

[TallPaul]

I had I think 101 0r 102 load rated tyres on my 290 and I scrubbed the edges out within 5,000 miles. Went back to Vanco2 104's and get over 30,000 miles out of them. They grip plenty good enough wet or dry for me!

[S60r]

Changing mine today actually! Had my hand forced by a puncture on the way home last night. There is another couple of thousand in them but may as well change them now.

I have 101 Bridgestones at the moment and calculated that the load rating is sufficient and it is the tyre supplied on a custom sport with 18's.

But as mentioned they will scrub on the outers.... I run mine at 50 psi to counter this a bit but the outer and inner scrub on the osf tyre and the outer quite badly on the nsf tyre. Roundabouts obviously accounting for the nsf tyre outer.

I have got 13k out of the Bridgestones but I'm changing them to Hankook v12's today......again 101's.

I have the 16" Conti Vanco on the van as a spare at the moment and it looks TERRIBLE next to the 235 18!! So yes 14/15k is achievable which I find acceptable as the 16's look like bycycle tyres in comparison!

Same van as you btw.... 290 limited dciv LWB.


There is about 4-5mm across the centre of the tyre, but the 1st 25mm of the outer is scrubbed out now, I don't think you can avoid this on 235 without changing the geometry settings.

[a11y]

Thank both. Interesting to hear about tyre scrubbing. Something to consider, particularly if it doesn’t seem to affect higher load rated tyres.

101 - are you absolutely sure that’s enough? I know that’s what comes on the Sport 18s, but 101 = 825kg per tyre, i.e. 1650kg per axle. Front axle max load for the 290 LWB DCiV is 1675kg. It’s marginal, in the wrong way if I’m right (I used to think it was simply multiplying the load rating by 4 and ensuring the total exceeded the max weight of van – which 101 does with 3300kg – but tyre load rating has to cover each axle weight).

16 v 18: don’t tempt me! I’m trying to resist swapping the wheels off immediately for 18s with all-seasons rather than fit all-seasons to the standard 16s. Had a quick look and 235/50/18 all-seasons seem to be up to 101 load rating only. I know 16s are fine, van’s more of a family workhorse than my previous T5 which was very much my pride n joy. But I don’t want to rush into 16s if I could change to 18s for minimal extra cost.

Should say I definitely need all-seasons due to location. Always had separate winter wheels for our vehicles but modern all-seasons seem better performers than in the past, so just want one set for the Transit would give an easier life.

[S60r]

Interesting about the axle weight... I literally assumed 4 x load rating and didn't look at the individual axle weights....

Oh well. They are on there now and I had no problems with the 101 Bridgestone..... the sport has the same rated tyre so it must be ok. The handbook mentions the tyre by size and rating also.

As an aside, I went for Falken's in the end, and it was interesting discussing the tyre choices with my mate at the shop..... he did say that I had been running under pressure though which would explain the scrubbing.... he recommends 55 up front and 52 rear for the 235 18's. I have been running 49/50 so will see how these run in wear wise.

[ake]

Tyre load rating goes by axle weights, not gross vehicle weights.

[S60r]

Seems so...

So is the transit custom sport dciv supplied with the wrong tyres from the dealers?? 101 seems 25kg shy!



Edit....plot thickens.... seems the sport is only 260 rated not 290 like my limited. So at 260 rating 101 would suffice.

Looks like I've been running around on the wrong tyres for 14k miles, although I'm sure all is fine as it's very hard to be fully loaded, the insurance company won't see it that way come claim time.... they love a wriggle out.... not going back to the bycycle tyres on the 16's! Literally wheel spinning everywhere with them on today!

Looks like 255 18 have loading of 103..... 101 is max on the 235 I think.

[a11y]

Tyre load rating goes by axle weights, not gross vehicle weights.

Yup, that's what I've come to realise. Thanks for confirming what I'm thinking.

So is the transit custom sport dciv supplied with the wrong tyres from the dealers?? 101 seems 25kg shy!

Edit....plot thickens.... seems the sport is only 260 rated not 290 like my limited. So at 260 rating 101 would suffice.

I couldn't find anything in current brochure referring specifically to the sport model axle weights unfortunately. All the L2 H1 DCiVs appear to have the same axle loads. Whether that goes for the sport I don't know.

Or, is sport L1 only? The L1 290s highest axle load is only 1590kg (the rear's higher than front for L1), so they'd get away with 101s. And noting, again from brochure, that the 18s with the 235/50/18 101 option is only available on the sport and not on other trim levels. Just speculating!

Bit of a minefield.

Brochure I've been referring to: https://www.ford.co.uk/content/dam/guxe ... Custom.pdf

Think I'll be sticking to 16's unless I can find some all-season 235/50/18 tyres with 102 or greater load rating.

[S60r]

Wise I think....

Mine came with these wheels and it's the first time I've had to replace tyres. I have checked the wheels now and they are 1250 each alloy so all good there thankfully... just the tyres

It seems the 255 section tyre is the first one that loads to 103. The 255 45 18 103 seems around 130-150 a corner for something decent...... I bet it would look good on the 255 and 45 profile is JUST enough tyre wall for me.
The differential between the 255 and the oem 215 65 16's is miniscule so you can keep the spare and speedo, diff etc remain unchanged. I wish I'd looked into this before I put my nice shiney 235 50's on yesterday!

[bigjohnthomas]

The sport is a 290 my good fellow
It has 101s and doesn't scrub the edges

[a11y]

Wise I think....

Mine came with these wheels and it's the first time I've had to replace tyres. I have checked the wheels now and they are 1250 each alloy so all good there thankfully... just the tyres

It seems the 255 section tyre is the first one that loads to 103. The 255 45 18 103 seems around 130-150 a corner for something decent...... I bet it would look good on the 255 and 45 profile is JUST enough tyre wall for me.
The differential between the 255 and the oem 215 65 16's is miniscule so you can keep the spare and speedo, diff etc remain unchanged. I wish I'd looked into this before I put my nice shiney 235 50's on yesterday!

I wasn't wanting to burst your bubble about the axle rating! But 25kg in the scheme of things is tiny so I’d not be worried about safety with those.

Doesn’t help when the majority of retailers selling alloy/tyre packages suitable for Transits on eBay/online are frequently getting it wrong when it comes to tyre load ratings.

Wife’s put foot down and is worried about ride quality on 18s so TBH I think we’re sticking with 16s. Just wait until I try and slip a rear spoiler past her… Still torn between 102-rated and commercial 109/107 rated all-seasons but at least I now know they’ll be legal.

[S60r]

The sport is a 290 my good fellow
It has 101s and doesn't scrub the edges

Thanks BJT...if the sport is 290 rated then I'm sticking with what I have. I have the stripes now too so it's a sport.

My edges scrubbed as I was at least 5 psi under what it should have been as I'm a c***.

[S60r]

Double post

[S60r]

Wise I think....

Mine came with these wheels and it's the first time I've had to replace tyres. I have checked the wheels now and they are 1250 each alloy so all good there thankfully... just the tyres

It seems the 255 section tyre is the first one that loads to 103. The 255 45 18 103 seems around 130-150 a corner for something decent...... I bet it would look good on the 255 and 45 profile is JUST enough tyre wall for me.
The differential between the 255 and the oem 215 65 16's is miniscule so you can keep the spare and speedo, diff etc remain unchanged. I wish I'd looked into this before I put my nice shiney 235 50's on yesterday!

I wasn't wanting to burst your bubble about the axle rating! But 25kg in the scheme of things is tiny so I’d not be worried about safety with those.

Doesn’t help when the majority of retailers selling alloy/tyre packages suitable for Transits on eBay/online are frequently getting it wrong when it comes to tyre load ratings.

Wife’s put foot down and is worried about ride quality on 18s so TBH I think we’re sticking with 16s. Just wait until I try and slip a rear spoiler past her… Still torn between 102-rated and commercial 109/107 rated all-seasons but at least I now know they’ll be legal.

Tell the wife the ride quality is actually improved on the 18's! I put my oem 16's on when my tyre failed (as running around with an odd wheel didn't go well with my OCD ) and it reminded me how much better the 18's actually are.

The 16's are fine with a good deal of weight on board but it's pretty bouncy unladen, also the wheel spin pulling away was pretty bad! .... oh and they look like bycycle tyres in comparison .......seriously....the ride on the 235 50's is not comprised and the road holding is appreciably better.


Definitely get the spoiler too, makes a really nice difference particularly in profile.... just need patience and OCD to fit it!

Sounds like you will be doing a bit of modding.... I have done as much as I can think of to mine. It's like a bad habit! Always looking to improve it in some way.

[dan_robinson]

Definitely get the spoiler too,

Does it go round corners faster?