Have you got the right 'Load Index' tyres?

[X5Sport]

Buyer Beware!!

When you buy tyres for your car you need to ensure that the load index is the right one.  If you fit, or have fitted, tyres with a different load index from that stated by the manufacturer at type approval as being an acceptable one then you may well be in trouble as your insurance could be invalid. 

The tyre data is often stated on the pressures plate on the car  - I've checked mine and that is the case.

If the tyres required is stated by the manufacturer as say '95Y' then that is what you must fit.  Fitting a brand with say an '87Y' rating even on the same tyre size, could cause you an issue - as well as leading to a shorter tyre life and compromising vehicle safety.  What wasn't clear was if you had say '111V' instead of '107V' as that is a higher rating, but the same rules may apply.

It came up in an Auto Express article and it turns out it is up to the purchaser to check - not the supplier to tell.

Beware!!

[pvr]

I assume as part of AUC, the dealer has to do this check ...

[X5Sport]

My money is on 'no' even though they ought to.....IMHO  >:(

R

[Don Coffey]

I had a set of non run flat winter tyres on the 520 that I part ex'd and notice that they were still on the car when on the dealers forecourt.  I used tyre magic and carried a compressor and also puncture repair kit.  These (less the tyre magic) were removed from the car so wonder how this effects the new owner.

Don

[pvr]

So where are your 5 series summer wheels now then?

[Don Coffey]

[quote="pvr"]
So where are your 5 series summer wheels now then?
[/quote]

I read a report possible Auto Express that tested winter tyres.  Although they give a big advantage in winter. Their summer performance is only slightly less effective than dedicated summer tyres, so just left them on.  Never had a second set of wheels for the five.

Don

[pvr]

Interesting. Did you now find that they wore out a lot quicker?

[snipez999]

I always source same load tyres even when changing from droan-on-flats to bog standards (which I did on my 5 series but have not bothered doing since).  They were factory fitted to the car for a reason......

Used market more of an issue/worry I would have thought 

[pvr]

When buying tyres for a car, I can't remember ever being asked about that.

Normally more like - it is a Golf with 185/70 HR15 or so.

[X5Sport]

And that is the nub of it.  I had not realised how significant the extra set of digits were.  Yes, like most here I know about the rating letter and not mixing tyres etc along with sizes, but the numbers before the rating were just a number.  Now I will be more careful.....as Snipez999 says....they are there for a reason!

And if it affects insurance, it's even more reason to be aware of it.  There was a similar thing a few years back about the week 'Production Code' which tells you how long the 'new' tyres you just paid  for have actually been sitting about.  Two or more years in storage was not unusual amongst some of the less popular makes.  Mainstream brands tended to go into use pretty fast, but no guarantee on the less popular sizes.

This tool will help you find what you should have on the car - for the default wheels (so 19" for X6 even though specced with 20").  Interestingly the non-staggered 19" set have identical 107 ratings front and rear, but the staggered set are 107 & 111 Fr/R.  Mine are correct.

Richard

[pvr]

I had heard about the load index before as there was a discussion about this on the Z4-forum when someone could not understand the price of some ContiSport M3 tyres that were so much cheaper than normal.

Turned out that the load index was much higher than normal, so not popular tyres to sell as they would feel like bouncing bunnies on a car that needed lower index tyres.

[Reusch]

I've just tried the link that Richard has  given to check tyre ratings etc typed in my reg and guess what it came up I've got a Peugeot 307.

[pvr]

I guess you will join their forum now then, imposter  )

[X5Sport]

[quote="Reusch"]
I've just tried the link that Richard has  given to check tyre ratings etc typed in my reg and guess what it came up I've got a Peugeot 307.
[/quote]
Ahh the joys of 'Data from the DVLA' no doubt.........and it doesn't work on 'blocked' plates either (I miss those days).

[Reusch]

Tried it on WBAC.com and its correct.