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opalngold
Junior Member
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:48 pm Posts: 6
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15" or 16" Wheels?
Howdy All I have recently bought an off road caravan, which is fitted with 15” wheels, the compliance plate is labeled as having 16” wheels. A mate of mine thinks I should change back to 16” wheels, so the van rides a lot smoother over rough gravel roads, as well as gaining a bit more clearance. My question is, would it make that much difference? The van is a single axle, the tow vehicle has 16” wheels but different stud pattern, so will not be interchangeable anyway. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers Greg
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:23 pm |
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peterm
Senior Member
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:07 pm Posts: 816 Location: Port Stephens NSW
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
G'day Greg,
If you change to 16inch rims you will only raise the height by 12.5mm / 1/2inch.
This may not seem a great deal, however by doing this you will actually increase the load carrying capacity of of your wheels. i.e I have a single axle van and did this on my van, and gained a significant increase in the load rating for each wheel.
I have 16inch steel rims that are rated for 1200kg each, and run BFG All Terrains that are 235/85 x 16 which have a load rating of 120/116 S (120 = 1400kg / 116 = 1250kg S = Speed rating 180kph), and cold pressure load capacity of 1380 kg @ 80psi, I run 70psi in them as my van weighs in at 2000kg. It rides extremely good.
If you talk to your local tyre dealer they may be able to show you the specs on the different rims and also the tyres ratings as well.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
PeterM
_________________ Tug: 2006 4.2 TD Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis, GVM upgrade, Service body. Van: 2006 Concept Xpack 16' Single axle.
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:42 pm |
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peterm
Senior Member
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:07 pm Posts: 816 Location: Port Stephens NSW
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
Greg, it doesn't cost a great deal to change the brake drums on the van to match the vehicle stud patterns.
Cheers,
PeterM.
_________________ Tug: 2006 4.2 TD Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis, GVM upgrade, Service body. Van: 2006 Concept Xpack 16' Single axle.
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:33 pm |
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Frank & Brenda
Senior Member
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:26 am Posts: 2591 Location: Aldinga Beach SA (in the Fleurieu peninsula)99 Mistubishi Challenger, 1980 Jayco Songbird 15' poptop
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
G'day greg, Firstly, welcome to the forum Is your van new, if not did you het it from a dealer, as I believe you may have some come back on the dealer who has sold you a van with the wrong weels on. If the compliance plate states it should have 16" wheels I would be contacting the RAA (in our case in SA) and getting them to help. Frank
_________________ Catch you......Out there Frank and Brenda BLOGS http://www.adelaidetoperthviadarwin.blogspot.com http://www.tassietour.blogspot.com
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:00 pm |
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Sean
Senior Member
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:31 am Posts: 1074
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
Changing from 15" to 16" may not make any difference to the height of the wheel or rolling circumfrence - it's the size of the rubber that makes the difference.
I'd stay with 15" wheels, they have more give in the sidewalls to absorb bumps
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:52 pm |
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peterm
Senior Member
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:07 pm Posts: 816 Location: Port Stephens NSW
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
Sean wrote: I'd stay with 15" wheels, they have more give in the sidewalls to absorb bumps What evidence do you have to support that theory? Example: If you have a 235/ 75x16, and a 235/ 75x15, the sidewalls are the same. The 235 is the width of the tyre across the tread section and the 75 is the sidewall measurement which is 75% of the width. 60 is 60%, 50 is 50% and so on... PeterM.
_________________ Tug: 2006 4.2 TD Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis, GVM upgrade, Service body. Van: 2006 Concept Xpack 16' Single axle.
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:51 pm |
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opalngold
Junior Member
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:48 pm Posts: 6
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
Thanks for the welcome and replies. The van is 13 years old, 1280kgs I think. I would gain about 35mm in height if I put 16s on. The 15” rims and tyres are new, put on by previous owner to fit under low carport. Greg
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Wed Jan 26, 2011 9:06 pm |
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Sean
Senior Member
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:31 am Posts: 1074
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
peterm wrote: Sean wrote: I'd stay with 15" wheels, they have more give in the sidewalls to absorb bumps What evidence do you have to support that theory? Example: If you have a 235/ 75x16, and a 235/ 75x15, the sidewalls are the same. The 235 is the width of the tyre across the tread section and the 75 is the sidewall measurement which is 75% of the width. 60 is 60%, 50 is 50% and so on... PeterM. The evidence I give is that in your example you've chosen 2 tyres of the same profile. If however you choose to tyres of the same outside size and fitted these to 15" and 16" rims the ones on the 15" rims will have a wider sidewall, more give, and take more of the bumps out for the caravan.
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Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:03 am |
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Alcoz
Junior Member
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:17 am Posts: 5 Location: South Coast SA
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
Ive just been threw this with my van and after talking to the authority and trying to read the AS came to the conclusion that if you have a compliance plate that states a tyre size that's what you should run or risk insurance problems.
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Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:18 am |
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rainy
Senior Member
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:23 am Posts: 539 Location: Traralgon /vic
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Re: 15" or 16" Wheels?
I agree if the compliance plate says one thing and you change sizes you may find insurance wise you mat not be covered if anything goes worng
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Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:48 am |
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