WHEELS AND TYRES FOR VANS | Size offset and ratings explained

One of the most common questions I am asked on youtube and Instagram is what size wheels am I running on my VW Transporter Van and what size tyres.. #Vanwheels #Vanwheelsandtyres #loweredvans
Hi
If you are about to embark on wheels and tyres for your van then this video may be helpful if you are wondering what tyre sizes you might need and why the offset of the aftermarket wheels is so important.
hope you enjoy the video and don't forget to subscribe for more if your aren't already.
Thanks.
Steve

[@_bav]

For info... Min Rating GVW Wheel Tyre-Load === ===== ========= T26 750kg 98 T28 800kg 100 T30 805kg 101 T32 860kg 103

[@SteveField]

Hey Paul.. This is awesome thankyou. I will pin this comment as very good intel👌

[@Beertjebas81]

@@SteveField Excuse me for asking but i am from the Netherlands and dont know what you mean in the colom GVW === T26,T28,T30,T32 ???? Is it the length of the transporter maybe??

[@scottcyoung]

Interesting. I've purchased a new T30 SWB. I'm contemplating lowering suspension. I'm not sure whether to go air suspension or lowering springs. Then I need to choose right wheels/tyres. Can you point me to a company who I can trust who can fit air and know it'll pass mot etc

[@_bav]

@@Beertjebas81 I hope you've already got got an answer to your question mate, but in case you haven't... GVW is Gross Vehicle Weight (aka Maximum Authorised Mass or MAM) and represents the maximum permissible combined weight of the vehicle and load. A T26 has a GVW of 2.6 tonnes, a T28 has a GVW of 2.8 tonnes, etc. HTH

[@Beertjebas81]

Thanks so much@@_bav

[@robmilligan3650]

Great video. Just a novice at this, so had been waiting for an explanation on why my fronts and back looked ‘different’. I have 20’ wheels and running 275s on a coil over.

[@SteveField]

Hi Rob , Glad this was helpful. 🙌 yes you would probably find if you look on the backs of the wheels they will be stamped differently if you have staggered wheels.. e.g. 20x 9J front and poss. 20 x 10J or 10.5J on the rear

[@jameshosking9233]

Superb video Steve - you’ve explained a minefield very eloquently 👍 I’m currently running Leighton LV-1’s - staggered 20’s (8.5j front and 10j rear). ET45 front, ET38 rear. And lowered on Bilstein B14 Komfort coil-overs (c. 60mm drop all round). Very happy with the stance - less happy with the tyres, which are 275/40/20. They’re correctly load rated tyres, but just a smidge too wide. Need to find something 265 wide that ideally is still load rated - reckon that would get rid of the slight bit of rub I get on the fronts on full lock, and probably make the van feel a little more nimble on the road as well. Tyre research to be done 🧐 Keep up the good work fella.

[@SteveField]

🙌Thanks James, apologies I had missed your comment but thankyou. Yes that offset of the front is a little bit tight for the wider tyre as you say. I’m not sure why the don’t make those Et 42 on the front as I think that would solve it on a 275 however… have a play on that will they fit website and key in the comparisons. It’s a really helpful tool for checking on other options for different results 👍👍

[@SunshineMix101]

😎'Another great vid' Steve! 😎

[@SteveField]

🙏Thanks buddy

[@garyhardiman7383]

Great video Steve 🛞🔥🤙🏻top man

[@SteveField]

🙏Thanks Gary

[@griffogriff9532]

You read my mind on this one Steve lol looking for new tyres at the moment, going to go for coil overs soon 60 to 70mm drop, currently on the 275’s

[@SteveField]

👌👌 😎

[@PaulCordner]

Great insight into wheel sizing. Have you a link for wheel sizing which notes wheel off sets.

[@SteveField]

Thank you! You can look at this link it does use offset comparison too so its a brilliant site. www.willtheyfit.com

[@liam...896]

Watching this video has really helped me on the load rating. Thank you. I use my van daily as a trademan on the standard suspension. Want to get some alloy wheels for it but can't make my mind up between 19" or 20" alloys. I'm looking at the supermetal chargers/rocket wheels. Just want some feedback really on how comfortable the van is with 19" suppose to 20" ?

[@markosimic360]

Hey Steve. Great video. I am about to buy new 20 wheels on my T6 Transporter T28 I found second hand like new JR Wheels 20x8.5 ET 35 Will this wheels fit and be legal and what tires size You recommend? I will go with coil over 50-60 low I prefer 40 tires for more comfort because of our bad local road.

[@leightonwatkins7253]

Some good info there Steve 👍

[@SteveField]

🙏Thanks Buddy

[@deshammond7409]

Hay steve great vid and really good info, changing the subject 😂 what did you once say the little screen on your dash was for ? Many thanks Ps like the house vids to

[@SteveField]

🙌Thanks Des, the screen up on the top is for viewing the front splitter camera and or towbar hitch camera. Stops me smashing the front on a curb when parking in a bay👍

[@deshammond7409]

@Steve Field Ok, was it somthing you bought together, camera's and display or did you buy them separately? Could you let me know where you bought them from. Love the van and videos Thanks

[@SteveField]

I did buy them all separately. the same monitor can be purchased here amzn.to/3JLpAX5 but the physical cameras I purchased seem to have been discontinued. the monitor has 2 x RCA inputs so will take up to to 2 x RCA style 12V output cameras. (tip you may need to extend the wire if you put one on the back of the van as most are made for cars.)

[@deshammond7409]

@Steve Field ok steve, thanks for the info, great to chat. Look forward to the next vid 😎👍

[@sjelway7]

Hello Steve bit of advise please looking at getting some new wheels for the camper van, what do you think of Romac? I would like navis but the difference in price was a few grand. plus I don't know how long I will keep the van for, great video as always. Thanks

[@SteveField]

Hi Buddy, sorry for delayed reply! I have herd of Romac wheels but I don't know much about them. I know they sell them at wheelbase but you can get a set of Navis from THQ for £1000 excluding tyres if that's any comparison.

[@sjelway7]

@@SteveField Hello Steve, yes I read it wrong on Transporter HQ, I thought it was for each but it is for a set, just looking at the Vossen CVT"s are there a pair for the near side and a pair for the off side? looking at them they are a bit offset to the left, they would"nt match?, hope you know what I mean? or I"am I looking at them wrong?. Thanks

[@steve61098]

Steve - when you stop and air out I presume you have to make sure your front wheels/steering is straight….(what if you don’t/forget?)…Also with the initial set up you had (275 x 35 x 20) with the staggered Vossens BEFORE you went air, what was the ride comfort like with the 35mm profile?….cheers Steve.

[@SteveField]

Hey Steve. So re the Airride. Yes if you don’t put the wheels straight there is no fail safe and the arch would crumble out like a pretzel 😬. There are some fail safes such as it will not air out completely if your moving but not for wheels turned lol. Ref the original set up on 50mm springs with the 35 tyres. I felt the ride was improved and softer over harsh bumps with the 20” wheels over the standard factory wheels and tyres👍

[@steve61098]

@@SteveField Thanks for replying Steve 👍

[@SteveField]

@@steve61098 my pleasure!

[@adamlittle4267]

Brilliant advice. What would you recommend for my mk4 caddy van . It came with 19s stuttgaurd alloys when new with unbranded tyres .. not my choice with a load rating of 820 I think (the alloys). They all got buckled and tyres out of shape in a short time so I replaced with bola b10s 18s rated less than the 19s and thay have been fine 18s .. 225 45 18. Iam now falling in love with some 19s vlr03 alloys 19s I was thinking of 225 35 19 tyres Bridgestone. something along that line . Iam super worried thay will all get buckled again. But iam thinking it may of been down to the rubbish tyres that were fitted. It wouldn't of been my choice if I fitted them when new .. van used for valeting and carry 300l warter tank . But iam very worried I will damage them all and waste 1500 quid .. roads like anywhere in UK not the best

[@charlesryder8512]

Hi Steve I’m looking at getting some 19inch wheels for my T6.1 transporter .255/45 seems to be the most used tyre but would like 255/50 really for a bit more comfort.would this rub at all especially on full lock?

[@Joshua-vwt6.1]

Hi Steve. How often do you need to air out. ? Does this only need to be done once or is it a need for regular maintenance. But also I take it your front vossen alloys wouldn’t tuck with air ride on the 275 tyre ? Cheers j

[@SteveField]

Hi Joshua, you don’t need to air out if you don’t want to so you could go for months but when I gave that some thought if a leak developed ie like a puncture then the wide wheels would do damage to the bodywork so it wasn’t worth calibrating and then fitting the wheels back on. Plus once you’ve got air you would want to be able too 👍. Yes the Vossens on a 275 Et 35 would not tuck in on the front 👎

[@Joshua-vwt6.1]

@@SteveField thank you Steve. Ur a star. 👍🏻 don’t stop posting videos love them. !!

[@SteveField]

@@Joshua-vwt6.1 thanks buddy! more soon 👌👌

[@marksmith8663]

I'm buying a T5 2.0 tai that comes with 20" wheels what tries pressure would you recommend ?

[@SteveField]

I run 42 PSi on my summer wheels but 46PSi on my matt black winter wheels. they have different tyres so I would recommend looking on the sidewall of yours and seeing the range the tyre can handle and think about if you are light or heavy etc..

[@marksmith8663]

@@SteveField ok thank I’m around 38 now . To try and come the riding less crashy I get the suspension hight moved up It’s adjustable sitting very low and the roads where I like are shocking

[@benjamingeorgievski7673]

do you know if 18x9 et 35 will fit on caddy 5?

[@michaelkirk2660]

Steve I run 275/40/20 all round on 8.5 front and 10 inch on rear Leighton van wheels. They rub the inner arch on full lock. Any suggestion?

[@SteveField]

What offset is the front on those 8.5’s?

[@michaelkirk2660]

@@SteveField et45

[@SteveField]

@@michaelkirk2660 k. I would say you could try a 5mm spacer on the front but I do think that the tyre is your biggest issue. The 275/40 is bigger in overall diameter the 275/35 makes a big difference and it’s still load rated well enough.

[@SteveField]

The 275/35 is much closer to the rolling ratio of the factory wheels and this would help with speedo accuracy too👍

[@michaelkirk2660]

@@SteveField thanks for that but the roads were I live don't siut 35 profile.

[@jensdobernecker609]

😀👍

[@SteveField]

🙌

[@ibrahimbulut6546]

Hi:) Can you tell me the brand and model of the wheels ?

[@SteveField]

Hi. These are the Navis twin 5spokes in silver finish. 👍

[@JosipM333]

And you didn't say anything about the carrying capacity of Alloy Wheels. please explain that part to us nicely. Thank you!

[@henryriley6333]

"Theyre 9 and a half inch wide all round so they're 20 x 9" 😂

[@insomniasessions-pt2dz]

Can't you put a lower rating on the can temporarily? I live in the netherlands, have pretty strict "APK" (your MOT), maybe even stricter then you guys... We can put a lower (and higher) load rating on our vehicles (and trailers), you pay a administrative fee if you stay within the factory load rating, if your not within factory specs of your vehicle you need a special "VRT" rapport (technical part of our road traffic government office) and they check, test, verify that your vehicle is adjusted in a way that its proven it can have a higher load... If you say you'll never load a tonne in your vehicle, id say lower the rating by .4 tonne. You keep the .6 of load you say you'll use and make it really easy on getting legal tires... If you need a heavier van you reset your load rating.... In my country it would cost about 100 euro every time you change it within the factory load rating. A undetermined amount if you change anything above its factory rating. (depends of if you need to build a test vehicle you'll probably lose, or have used only already approved parts, can be anything as long as they can prove its safe...)

[@danielburton5468]

On the t32 thing it’s not necessarily true I have a t32 and run 100 load rated front tyres as my front axle weight is 1400kg

[@dad_lad_mtb]

you T6 or something else?

[@SteveField]

Yes it’s a T6👍

[@ZafiraSteve]

"Standard"

[@SteveField]

You mean instead of stock… ?if so I agree 😂😂. It was not scripted lol

[@benwoolcott2607]

Load ratings are only in a class 5 or class 7 mot . So most vans will be okay for mot point of view

[@SteveField]

I have herd of this before so I put it to a couple of mot testers and they both said that any T32 commercial transporter must have a tyre load rating over 103 or it will not pass.

[@benwoolcott2607]

@@SteveField yes that correct because a t32 commercial is class 7

[@magpie1832]

I have T32 shuttle which isn't class 7 so no load rating is used in the MOT but I still run them on load rated 18" tyres.

[@SteveField]

@@magpie1832 Ah ok I see that makes sense. mine is a factory kombi and it still applies for me

[@lietuwizable]

@@magpie1832 does this mean i can put 102 tyres on t32 shuttle? Im not planing to reach no where near weight limit as its only a day van with last row seats removed. But in doubt if 102 tyres will fail mot or cause any other issues?