New “car” thread - Phase 1

[Rich B]

Very nice. I do prefer the look of the VW to the Transit or Vauxhall alternatives.

Is that replacing your M2? Or the family 3 series 320d (If you still have one/have ever had one)

Edit - Just spotted EOTR for teh M2.

Yep, blue 320d is in the background (no plans to replace that ever!) M2 gone, Elise/Exige to replace it.

[Gavin]

Ah, nice. I think my ideal garage would have 3 cars, or at least 2 for me and another for my wife.

A van and a Lotus does seem a very sensible choice.

[Rich B]

Just spent a while ordering tyres for my new wheels, which isn’t as straightforward as it is with normal cars. Obviously load rating is an important factor with vans, so i had to check:

- the width of the wheels,

- my vin plate for the axle weights to find the right load rating.

- then what tyres are available in that right load rating,

- then the plate in the door showing the OEM wheel/tyre sizes.

- then check the tyre circumferences to make sure they works compared to OEM.

- then checking the sidewall/width give the look i’m after,

- then making sure an actual tyre brand i like/trust…

Thankfully the camskill website makes it easy to check out different sizes with all the loads listed - and to be brutally honest - i quite enjoyed the whole process!

[Marv]

Just spent a while ordering tyres for my new wheels, which isn’t as straightforward as it is with normal cars. Obviously load rating is an important factor with vans, so i had to check:

- the width of the wheels,

- my vin plate for the axle weights to find the right load rating.

- then what tyres are available in that right load rating,

- then the plate in the door showing the OEM wheel/tyre sizes.

- then check the tyre circumferences to make sure they works compared to OEM.

- then checking the sidewall/width give the look i’m after,

- then making sure an actual tyre brand i like/trust…

Thankfully the camskill website makes it easy to check out different sizes with all the loads listed - and to be brutally honest - i quite enjoyed the whole process!

There's definitely an almost sad geeky satisfaction in researching things like that! I find when I have to research something like that, the info I've learned I remember even decades later

[integrale_evo]

As one of the people on here more likely to mess about with non-standard sizes, yes the simple browsable layout of the camskill site makes doing research and comparisons so much easier than any other site I’ve used which all want you to search for a single specific size.

Why others can’t at least have an option to do this I don’t know.

[mik]

Just spent a while ordering tyres for my new wheels, which isn’t as straightforward as it is with normal cars.

C’mon then - where did you land?

[Rich B]

Just spent a while ordering tyres for my new wheels, which isn’t as straightforward as it is with normal cars.

C’mon then - where did you land?

I went with Bridgestone potenza sports - because on top of all that, i had to try and find fronts and rears (different widths - so not always available in the correct loads) that suited all those criteria AND matched each other.

I needed at least a 101 load tyre on both axles which is rated to 825kg (my van was 1630kg on the heaviest axle). Which didn’t leave a huge choice! Also, as much as i loved my Michelin PS4S on the M2, its just a van!

i liked this site too - it gives a nice visual comparison as well as all the raw data for changing tyre/wheel sizes.

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

[mik]

went with Bridgestone potenza sports

I used RE050A on the scoop and VXR8. RE040 were lethal in cold weather however.

What dimensions did you select?

[Rich B]

went with Bridgestone potenza sports

I used RE060A on the scoop and VXR8. RE040 were lethal in cold weather however.

What dimensions did you select?

yeah i had RE040 on my CTR, they were ok but not amazing. The sports are the replacement to the S001 though.

[Rich B]

i fitted the new wheels last night. They nearly fit!

The fronts are perfect, but the rears are a little too close on the inside edges for my liking, so i’ve ordered some 5mm spacers to give a little clearance. I think 10.5J rears is pushing things a little (though obviously essential on a fwd van) and 10J would have been better, but hey ho - that’s what i got!



Needs lowering though, and cleaning!

[Jobbo]

Looks good. I am reminded that it was very frosty when I had a hired van earlier this year and trying to reach the windscreen to de-ice it was impossible without a ladder.

[mik]

i fitted the new wheels last night. They nearly fit!

So what are the tyre sizes F&R then?

[Rich B]

i fitted the new wheels last night. They nearly fit!

So what are the tyre sizes F&R then?

they're 275s on the back and 255s on the front.

[mik]

i fitted the new wheels last night. They nearly fit!

So what are the tyre sizes F&R then?

they're 275s on the back and 255s on the front.

What's the aspect ratios? And the rim diameter? Details required. (Manufacture date optional)

[Rich B]

So what are the tyre sizes F&R then?

they're 275s on the back and 255s on the front.

What's the aspect ratios? And the rim diameter? Details required. (Manufacture date optional)

why?

[mik]

they're 275s on the back and 255s on the front.

What's the aspect ratios? And the rim diameter? Details required. (Manufacture date optional)

why?

'cos you said you spent time figuring it all out, and I was interested?

But it doesn't really matter. I've just realised I've asked four times now, so I shall now accept that the top secret tyre details shall remain top secret.

[jamcg]

Looks good. I am reminded that it was very frosty when I had a hired van earlier this year and trying to reach the windscreen to de-ice it was impossible without a ladder.

The “I didn’t bring a ladder” method is stand on a wheel

[Jobbo]

Looks good. I am reminded that it was very frosty when I had a hired van earlier this year and trying to reach the windscreen to de-ice it was impossible without a ladder.

The “I didn’t bring a ladder” method is stand on a wheel

I have no doubt that is a good method. Leaving the engine running for 15 mins to warm it up was my actual solution.

[Rich B]

Looks good. I am reminded that it was very frosty when I had a hired van earlier this year and trying to reach the windscreen to de-ice it was impossible without a ladder.

The “I didn’t bring a ladder” method is stand on a wheel

I have no doubt that is a good method. Leaving the engine running for 15 mins to warm it up was my actual solution.

i’m 6 ft, i can reach it all!

[integrale_evo]

I’m 6ft and have a scraper with an extendable handle for the X5