Fiat ducatto 2.3

[colin]

Tyre pressures for the same size and load index are the same across all manufacturers, any manufacturer veering away from this would be extremely foolish. With this in mind I am happy to use the Continental chart.

[Derek Uzzell]

Laurence

 

I still have a copy of a 2002 email conversation between myself and Michelin regarding their “XC Camping” tyres and the “Agilis” ‘white van’ range that had been recently introduced.

 

Michelin said

 

Tread pattern XC Camping is a specialist tyre, intended partticularly for use on motorhomes. The tyre construction is also equivalent to an 8 ply.

 

XC Camping: Heavily braced construction, designed to run at higher pressures (up to 80psi) than Agilis. Durable with long life. The ‘logic’ attached to XC Camping relates to its tougher construction should one be in the habit of running very close to the maximum axle weight limits.

 

Should the ‘running condition’ be known in the form of axle weights from a local weighbridge and be well within stated limits, then one may wish to benefit from the wider availability (hence potentially more competitive price) and ‘M+S’ capabilities of Agiiis.

 

In 2002, if Michelin were given a motorhome’s front and rear axle weights, they would happily provide pressure-to-weight recommendations for both axles irrespective of whether the tyres were ‘specialist’ XC Camping type or ‘white van’ Agilis.

 

Since the ETRTO involved itself with motorhome tyres and the “CP” tyre-wall marking, although Continental has continued to offer pressure-to-weight recommendations for their ‘camper’ tyres, Michelin has become increasingly resistant to doing this.

 

I’ve had no difficulty in the past obtaining front-axle pressure-to-weight advice from Michilin for Agilis Camping tyres, despite them limiting themselves to quoting 5.5bar/80psi for the rear-axle pressure. (I once explored what Michelin’s pressure-advice attitude would be if Agilis Camping tyres were fitted to a vehicle that was not a motorhome, but they still quoted the 5.5bar/80psi figure for the rear axle.) This MHFun forum thread indicates that Michelin were still prepared to provide front-tyres pressure-to-weight advice in 2017

 

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/michelin-tyre-pressures.154700/

 

Your Fiat Ducato Owner Handbook advises a 5.5bar inflation-pressure for the 225/75 R16 CP ‘camping tyres’ fitted to your motorhome’s front and rear axles. As Michelin have for a long time adhered rigidly to the 5.5bar ETRTO advice for rear-axle-fitted CP-marked tyres, the best you could hope for from Michelin would be a pressure-to-weight front-tyre datum, but if they won’t provide that information nowadays I’m not really surprised. If a motorhome’s handbook(s) specify the tyre pressures that must be used, why should the motorhome’s owner expect a tyre manufacturer to be prepared to tell him/her something different?

 

If you re-read my postings above you’ll see that I haven’t suggested that Continental’s data should be used when the tyres involved are made by Michelin. As Colin has said, tyres with the same size and specification will necessarily have a very similar inflation-pressure-to-load graph. If this is believed, then using the Continental data would be valid. If you disbelieve that and think that your Michelin tyres require pressure-to-weight values that significantly differ from the Continental data for their equivalant tyres, then don’t use the Continental data. It’s 100% your choice and I’ve no wish to influence you either way.

[Laurence]

Derek Uzzell - 2019-04-22 8:37 AM

 

Laurence

 

I still have a copy of a 2002 email conversation between myself and Michelin regarding their “XC Camping” tyres and the “Agilis” ‘white van’ range that had been recently introduced.

 

Michelin said

 

Tread pattern XC Camping is a specialist tyre, intended partticularly for use on motorhomes. The tyre construction is also equivalent to an 8 ply.

 

XC Camping: Heavily braced construction, designed to run at higher pressures (up to 80psi) than Agilis. Durable with long life. The ‘logic’ attached to XC Camping relates to its tougher construction should one be in the habit of running very close to the maximum axle weight limits.

 

Should the ‘running condition’ be known in the form of axle weights from a local weighbridge and be well within stated limits, then one may wish to benefit from the wider availability (hence potentially more competitive price) and ‘M+S’ capabilities of Agiiis.

 

In 2002, if Michelin were given a motorhome’s front and rear axle weights, they would happily provide pressure-to-weight recommendations for both axles irrespective of whether the tyres were ‘specialist’ XC Camping type or ‘white van’ Agilis.

 

Since the ETRTO involved itself with motorhome tyres and the “CP” tyre-wall marking, although Continental has continued to offer pressure-to-weight recommendations for their ‘camper’ tyres, Michelin has become increasingly resistant to doing this.

 

I’ve had no difficulty in the past obtaining front-axle pressure-to-weight advice from Michilin for Agilis Camping tyres, despite them limiting themselves to quoting 5.5bar/80psi for the rear-axle pressure. (I once explored what Michelin’s pressure-advice attitude would be if Agilis Camping tyres were fitted to a vehicle that was not a motorhome, but they still quoted the 5.5bar/80psi figure for the rear axle.) This MHFun forum thread indicates that Michelin were still prepared to provide front-tyres pressure-to-weight advice in 2017

 

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/michelin-tyre-pressures.154700/

 

Your Fiat Ducato Owner Handbook advises a 5.5bar inflation-pressure for the 225/75 R16 CP ‘camping tyres’ fitted to your motorhome’s front and rear axles. As Michelin have for a long time adhered rigidly to the 5.5bar ETRTO advice for rear-axle-fitted CP-marked tyres, the best you could hope for from Michelin would be a pressure-to-weight front-tyre datum, but if they won’t provide that information nowadays I’m not really surprised. If a motorhome’s handbook(s) specify the tyre pressures that must be used, why should the motorhome’s owner expect a tyre manufacturer to be prepared to tell him/her something different?

 

If you re-read my postings above you’ll see that I haven’t suggested that Continental’s data should be used when the tyres involved are made by Michelin. As Colin has said, tyres with the same size and specification will necessarily have a very similar inflation-pressure-to-load graph. If this is believed, then using the Continental data would be valid. If you disbelieve that and think that your Michelin tyres require pressure-to-weight values that significantly differ from the Continental data for their equivalant tyres, then don’t use the Continental data. It’s 100% your choice and I’ve no wish to influence you either way.

 

Derek,

 

I am not interested in a conversation that took place 17 years ago and that is mostly about a tyre that I don't have. In my view it would be naive to think that in the space of 17 years these tyres have not been developed and the principles that applied then may not apply now.

 

In the space of two days and several posts you have turned what I intended as a throwaway and light-hearted comment on my experience with Michelin into an absolute saga and a lecture. I am 67, have been at this for quite some time, and dont need a talking-to because someone has told you that they think you are wrong.

 

I am a member of several forums (outside of motorhoming) but I have not known one quite so dominated by one man who always has to be right.

 

So, I am going to copy your flounce of last year. I wish you well, but this is my last post. I hope that i have been able to be helpful to some members.

 

With kind regards,