Thor Dazzle/Twist

[booster]

It appears that Euro rated tires carrying the C aren't C load range tires and can actually be higher rated than load range E.


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...omCompare1=yes


These are rated at 3195# so would easily handle the load.

[booster]

Another piece of the puzzle.



Here is the rating for the tire mentioned from the Nexen site.


15386 LT 225/75R16C 121/120 R 10 83 3,195 3,085



So rated at 308# not 2680#


There appears that is probably some really bad information floating around out there in cyberspace on this issue.


Now it plainly looks like bad tires and not anyone but Nexen's fault.

[MsNomer]

That makes more sense. Our 2014 door sticker says C and originals were C, but we have run E’s because they are easier to get. One tire store refused to install anything but C. Our gross weight loaded for a trip is 6,900.

[booster]

Originally Posted by MsNomer

That makes more sense. Our 2014 door sticker says C and originals were C, but we have run E’s because they are easier to get. One tire store refused to install anything but C. Our gross weight loaded for a trip is 6,900.

I think a lot of people are doing that.


Interesting that if folks do that swap to E they actually lose quite a bit load capacity.


Really silly that a load range E has more capacity than a load range C in the US but less than a C rated tire from Europe.

[Dave-DJ]

On Ram 3500 Vans the Engine, Tans and passengers are in the front, the weight is not 50% - 50%, so the the 10,720 rating is not on all 4 tires.

When braking the vehicle weight will transfer to the front tires. So the the 10,720 rating is not on all 4 tires. (Front brakes provide 70% of stopping power. ) Failure rate higher braking downhill on warm days.

The quality of the Nexen tires is the other problem. Nexen can not handle the heat of highways and hot days with the front tire load. So I do not think they are 2,680 tires after 10K miles.

The van should have 225/75R16C tires, the C is a Load 121 = 3,195 pounds (4 x 3,195 = 12,780 , more than the GCWR 11,500 lbs) (or other tires with 3,195 rating some R17 have this)

Like:
Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT 225/75R16C Load(lbs) 3195
GT Radial Maxmiler Pro 225/75R16C 121/120R E Load Capacity ‎3197/3086 Pounds
Firestone TRANSFORCE CV COMMERCIAL HT 225/75R16C 121R Load: 3195 pounds
Continental VanContact A/S 225/75R16C E/10PLY Load(lbs) 3195
and more

[booster]

Originally Posted by Dave-DJ

On Ram 3500 Vans the Engine, Tans and passengers are in the front, the weight is not 50% - 50%, so the the 10,720 rating is not on all 4 tires.

When braking the vehicle weight will transfer to the front tires. So the the 10,720 rating is not on all 4 tires. (Front brakes provide 70% of stopping power. ) Failure rate higher braking downhill on warm days.

The quality of the Nexen tires is the other problem. Nexen can not handle the heat of highways and hot days with the front tire load. So I do not think they are 2,680 tires after 10K miles.

The van should have 225/75R16C tires, the C is a Load 121 = 3,195 pounds (4 x 3,195 = 12,780 , more than the GCWR 11,500 lbs) (or other tires with 3,195 rating some R17 have this)

Like:
Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT 225/75R16C Load(lbs) 3195
GT Radial Maxmiler Pro 225/75R16C 121/120R E Load Capacity ‎3197/3086 Pounds
Firestone TRANSFORCE CV COMMERCIAL HT 225/75R16C 121R Load: 3195 pounds
Continental VanContact A/S 225/75R16C E/10PLY Load(lbs) 3195
and more

I would be relatively sure that tire load ratings are done with all the extraneous forces calculated in including braking, cornering, temperature, elevation potholes, and probably a bunch more. I would consider any of that kind of stuff in a tire calculation of acceptable load as it is already done and very complex calculations.



It has been discussed many times that gross combined is a minor factor in tire loading on the van itself when compared to the van weight. You do load the rear tires more from the tongue weight of the trailer, which is typically about 10% (tire loading will be different because of rear overhang with rears gaining and the fronts losing weight) except on large equalization hitch installations. The trailer itself supports the rest of the added weight so not on the tow vehicle tires. The tongue weight is just put into the tow vehicle gross weight calculation and if you measure individual tire loads, the trailer should be on at the time.



That said, getting some extra safety factor in load capacity is certainly a good thing. I am not a fan of running right at max load capacity as it does not allow for any margin or error beyond whatever safety factor the manufacturer put in to cover the unexpected. On our Chevy Roadtrek we upsized the tire size and load rating to give us 18% headspace instead of 8% on the most heavily loaded tire, at our max loading, when in camping mode, which is the left rear. Weights were actually measured at each corner.



I understand the nose heavy of front drive vehicles, but also realize that a large portion of the added weight to an RV conversion winds up on the rear wheels, as does most of the non tank storage are. Rear drive vans are much lighter in the rear when unloaded also, but on our Chevy Roadtrek 190 we are 1000# heavier on the rear. Our van is similar in length to a Promaster at 20' 4" if you don't count the spare carrier.



Hopefully, someone will have had a Promaster on the scales so we can know for sure as it is obviously an important issue.


Personally, I think I would be going with the Euro C rated tires in the case of this thread, over the E rated, unless I was running a worst case tire weight that was well under max load rating for that tire.

[Dave-DJ]

Thor has an upgrade to the Nexen Tires: BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15. I had the dealer upgrade my van to BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15, very happy.

The BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15 are very good tires, with no failure issues.

The BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15 has more traction, so much better for dirt, sand, and snow.

[Dave-DJ]

Found the problem is more to do with the Nexen Roadian CT8 HL LT225/75R16 tires. They do not last long on the front. I had BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2 tires put on. Have not seen any problems with these tires posted anywhere.

[Dave-DJ]

Thor offers a tire upgrade, which I did, to the BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15.
I am very happy with the BFGoodrich KO2 225/75R15: low noise, smooth ride for all terrain tire. I could not find anyone with problems with this tire.

I think the Nexen Roadian CT8 HL LT225/75R16, that Ram puts on the Van, is the problem, tread coming off after a few thousand miles.

[W9TR]

With C-metric tires the C stands for commercial. It has nothing to do with the load range.
The Nexen Roadian OEM tires are pure garbage regardless their ratings. Many owners have had casing failures and tread de-lamination. We replaced our OEM tires at 8,000 miles with Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tires. Improved handling, lower road noise. Subsequent to that Michelin has recalled these tires as they don’t meet the 3 Peak Snowflake rating for snow tires. So we’ll get a new set of tires this year after putting 50,000 miles on these. We don’t drive in snow so don’t need the snow tire rating. Michelin offers a metric LT version that is 3 Peak snowflake rated. The K02’s are also a popular choice. If you have a chance to upgrade at time of purchase I wouldn’t think twice about it.

[Dave-DJ]

Hi,
Thank you for the info. It will help others!

I was able to get the dealer to upgrade the tires at no cost, after I showed them how bad the Roadian CT8 HL LT225/75R16 tires are. Thor's approved tire is the K02, so I had no choice, I am very happy with KO2s.

[Dave-DJ]

After more studying, the problem is the Nexen Roadian LT225/75R16 tires, with a light loaded van driving around the city these are ok.
But:
The Nexen Roadian LT225/75R16 can not hold up on a heavy load on the freeway (like a class B van). I put KO2 tires on my Van and I very happy with them, quiet, smooth, good on and off the road.