Tyre Pressures

the best way is to weigh the vehicle in travel trim, and email the axle weights to the tyre manufacturer...they will advise accordingly.

one things for sure, they will be lower than the ones stamped on the chassis (eg 80psi rear) as these are for the maximum commercial load.

should help considerably with the vehicle 'ride comfort'.

Our new 3500kg Bailey, which came fitted with Continental Vanco tyres, has a label specifying 80psi front and rear.  Which pressures the dealer presumably used as it was like driving with solid tyres on the way home.

I hope to get on a weighbridge later this week, but in the meantime taking Continental's own recommendations for the tyre size (217/70 R15) the maximum tyre pressures for Bailey's stated maximum axle loading should be 56.5 psi front and 62.0psi rear.

How do Bailey come up with such a different set of tyre pressures?  I'm about to email them to ask, but won't be holding my breath awaiting a reply.

from memory, we are on Michelin Agilis 225/70 R16 and i use 55psi front and 65psi rear....i got some gen from the Michelin spec sheet and spoke to my local tyre man and we all met at the above figures, which are way less than the ridiculously high default pressures given by converters.

the thing is, a van with (say) a MIRO of 2800kg, this van could be loaded with anything upto 3500, so a difference of 700kg.

converters are just hedging their bets...

Thanks BB.  Looking at the "running order" weights that Bailey give and doing some weight calculations based on our previous motorhome I'm expecting the weighbridge to show something in the region of 1600kg front axle and 1750 rear axle in travel trim, which according to Continental would require tyre pressures (rounded to the nearest 5psi) of 50psi front and 55psi rear.  Our old Autocruise Starburst ran happily on pressures of 55psi front and 45psi rear, but that had a short rear overhang.

Q, we're a little heavier than you (running around 3750 all up) so youre fugures look pretty good to me....

again, many will be batting along on 80 psi all round wondering why the ride is so bad....

so, a weighbridge trip is useful for at least two reasons....

firstly, you'll end up with the correct tyre pressures (and a better ride) and secondly, youll be sure you're running within your vehicles weight limit.

Our van weighs 3850kgs and we have Michelin Agilis tyres Fiat recommend 80psi all round but that is too high for us. We eun the front at 65 and the reat at 72 psi this works for us and the ride isnt hard in my opinion 80 is too high

Our Liaka 712 A Class weighed 3920 Total .. 1760 on front wheels .. Michilin Agilis Camper CP 225 / 75 R16 .. Emailed Michilin and they say 80 psi on the back and > 50 psi on the front. So think I will try 60 psi on the front and see what happens.

I have a Bailey 745 (3500kg) and the recommended rear pressures was 85 psi. The ride was rock hard and the vehicle leeds bounced all over the place.  Not only do most posters agree this is far too high, when I looked through the manual for the chassis and lo and behold it recommended 65 on the rears for a fully loaded vehicle. A much comfier ride. 

I have a Bailey 745 (3500kg) and the recommended rear pressures was 85 psi. The ride was rock hard and the vehicle leeds bounced all over the place.  Not only do most posters agree this is far too high, when I looked through the manual for the chassis and lo and behold it recommended 65 on the rears for a fully loaded vehicle. A much comfier ride. 

...thats a big van to be running at 3500kg, have you weighed it to get axle weights for the correct tyre pressures....?

I have a Bailey 745 (3500kg) and the recommended rear pressures was 85 psi. The ride was rock hard and the vehicle leeds bounced all over the place.  Not only do most posters agree this is far too high, when I looked through the manual for the chassis and lo and behold it recommended 65 on the rears for a fully loaded vehicle. A much comfier ride. 

...thats a big van to be running at 3500kg, have you weighed it to get axle weights for the correct tyre pressures....?

371kg payload is not very much. Wonder how much overweight it is with 4 people, luggage, dog, bikes, tank of diesel and half a tank of water. I would be tempted to get it weighed and consult the tyre manufacturers especially for the rear ones.