Tyres

[watfordbird]

Please help??!! i have a galaxy 1.9 R reg, petrol. There seems to be some confusion over the type of tyres needed.

some say RF, but some say i dont need them as it is under 2 L and is not diesel. would really appreciate the help , ta!!

[gregers]

afaik all galaxys require xtra load/reinforced tyres on them.do a search on here has been covered before.

[edatelder]

Check out etyres.co.uk for the prices for the size you require in reinforced. A popular one is Dunlop 2020.

[big_kev]

some say RF, but some say i dont need them as it is under 2 L and is not diesel.

 

Reinforced tyres are required for the high pressures involved ( greater than 40 psi ) .

As well as the fact that low profile tyres will be used.

 

This applies to all Mk1/2 Galaxy's regardless of engine type or size.

Edited November 9, 2009 by big_kev

[luxtonm]

some say RF, but some say i dont need them as it is under 2 L and is not diesel.

 

Reinforced tyres are required for the high pressures involved ( greater than 40 psi ) .

As well as the fact that low profile tyres will be used.

 

This applies to all Mk1/2 Galaxy's regardless of engine type or size.

 

 

Extra load tyres are required beacuse of the 'extra load' i.e. 7 seater, the increased tyre pressure is required for the extra load.

 

Each tyre has a max Kg rating (kg rating x 4 wheels) , the Galaxy is a heavy vechicle + 7 people

 

Mike

[Saif Rehman]

Read this interesting link regarding tyres.

 

According to the handbook for MK1's, there is no mention of extra load/reinforced tyres for the OP's car - and after reading the afore mentioned link, i am tending to lean in favour of 'sparky Paul' comments.

[shepheap]

Read this interesting link regarding tyres.

 

According to the handbook for MK1's, there is no mention of extra load/reinforced tyres for the OP's car - and after reading the afore mentioned link, i am tending to lean in favour of 'sparky Paul' comments.

 

See below link from 2007 - this discussion has been going for quite some ttime!

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...st&p=116427

 

If I recall my discussion with a Fraud tech correctly he stated that the original Gals were sent out withjout XL tryes but were recalled and fitted with XL. This was due to the eXtra Load due to the 7 seats etc.

[big_kev]

There is obviously a difference between 94XL (or 94RF) and 96 or 98 load index tyres.

Otherwise why bother calling them 94XL's ?

 

If you use RF or XL tyres then you know that they should be ok.

 

If you choose to use standard tyres and your sidewalls pop out when cornering then you know who to blame.

 

 

 

And as I have mentioned previously the black ones are the best.

Edited November 11, 2009 by big_kev

[mobile armchair]

Read this interesting link regarding tyres.

 

According to the handbook for MK1's, there is no mention of extra load/reinforced tyres for the OP's car - and after reading the afore mentioned link, i am tending to lean in favour of 'sparky Paul' comments.

 

See below link from 2007 - this discussion has been going for quite some ttime!

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...st&p=116427

 

If I recall my discussion with a Fraud tech correctly he stated that the original Gals were sent out withjout XL tryes but were recalled and fitted with XL. This was due to the eXtra Load due to the 7 seats etc.

 

Can't imagine how a Galaxy would handle without the reinforced tyres. Not cheap, but I seem to remember my N reg petrol had 15" wheels and tyres for this were considerably cheaper than the 16" alloys on the 02 diesel I have now ... anyway target price

[sparky Paul]

If I recall my discussion with a Fraud tech correctly he stated that the original Gals were sent out withjout XL tryes but were recalled and fitted with XL. This was due to the eXtra Load due to the 7 seats etc.

 

According to VOSA, there has never been a recall for tyres on any Galaxy model.

 

That's not to say that Ford may have supplied some cars to dealers with incorrect (non-spec) tyres fitted, but VOSA must conduct, and be involved in, any recall which concerns vehicle safety for cars which are actually in the hands of consumers.

[sparky Paul]

There is obviously a difference between 94XL (or 94RF) and 96 or 98 load index tyres.

Otherwise why bother calling them 94XL's ?

There is a difference, but you would not see a 94XL, 96 and 98 LI rating on a single tyre size. The 94XL tyre in standard form would likely be a 91 rated tyre for example. The 96 and 98 ratings would only be applied to larger tyre sizes, which would naturally be capable of a higher load.

 

For a given tyre size, you will not find an RF or XL tyre with the same (or lower) load rating as a standard tyre. They do not exist. For a given tyre size, a RF or XL tyre will always have a load index 2-4 higher than a standard tyre.

 

 

Can't imagine how a Galaxy would handle without the reinforced tyres.

RF or XL tyres are not to improve handling. They are often confused with RSW, or reinforced sidewall tyres, which are more common in the US but are not the same thing. This is why manufacturers are moving towards the XL, or eXtra Load terminology, which more accurately reflects the specification of these tyres - they are capable of carrying a higher load (and consequently higher tyre pressure) than standard tyres for a given size, nothing else.

 

Most tyres for the Galaxy need to be XL, but there is at least one 15" tyre size which can be obtained in a 95 rating on a standard tyre, and Ford specify a non-RF rating for this tyre. This is also repeated in the later mk.I handbook, where a minimum 95H is specified for all tyre sizes.

 

You will also notice that much lower tyre pressures are required for the sizes in question, even fully laden the recommended pressures are all under 40 psi for the 215/60 R15 size - well within the limits of the standard tyre.

 

Where I disagree with some other posters is that there is a specific requirement for reinforced or XL tyres on MPVs. The critical factor is the tyre's required load index, which is determined by the gross vehicle weight. In the case of the Galaxy, and many other MPVs, this means that in most cases, the tyres must be RF or XL types, where specified, in order to satisfy the required load index.

 

However, this is not always the case. This can be demonstrated by the tyres fitted to one of the largest MPVs, the 3.3 litre Chrysler Grand Voyager. This vehicle is quite a bit bigger than the Galaxy, and yet the 215/65 R15 96H tyres specified are not reinforced - the 96 rating of the standard tyre is sufficient.

 

Of course there is nothing to stop you fitting RF or XL tyres, even when they are not specified, and this does ensure you have the best tyres available. However, RF can be expensive and difficult to obtain in some less common sizes, and until recently, almost impossible to obtain for the disputed 15" tyre sizes on the Galaxy.

Edited November 11, 2009 by sparky Paul

[gregers]

sparky paul,dont think i can add any more on this debate very detailed m8,apart from agreeing with you over the voyager,i was very surprised when a m8 pulled up in his and looked at his tyres and they were not xl,was a bit surprised a huge car like that shod with normal tyres.

[big_kev]

the recommended pressures are all under 40 psi for the 215/60 R15 size - well within the limits of the standard tyre.

 

Should that be MINIMUM recommended pressures ?

 

Of course there is nothing to stop you fitting RF or XL tyres, even when they are not specified, and this does ensure you have the best tyres available. However, RF can be expensive and difficult to obtain in some less common sizes, and until recently, almost impossible to obtain for the disputed 15" tyre sizes on the Galaxy.

 

Ok ....good point.

 

The 15" tyres are not as low a profile as the 16" and as such combined with the lower air pressure may not require to be reinforced.

 

 

 

As mentioned previously reinforced tyres are required to cope with the higher air pressures involved when using low profile tyres ( which they nearly all are....possibly not some of the disputed 15" ones ) on a shalaxy.

 

The load index should not be confused with Extra Load or Reinforced as "load index" is dependant upon the vehicles gross weight whereas RF/XL is dependant upon the tyre pressure.

 

Admittedly tyre pressure is partly dependant upon the vehicles weight as well but more important is the tyre size and type which gives you the air pressure.

[tim-spam]

XL or RF tyres are often fitted to higher performance saloon cars, as well as to MPV's, to improve handling and steering response due to their stiffer sidewalls.

[sparky Paul]

The 15" tyres are not as low a profile as the 16" and as such combined with the lower air pressure may not require to be reinforced.

 

Did you say not reinforced? B)

 

 

The load index should not be confused with Extra Load or Reinforced as "load index" is dependant upon the vehicles gross weight whereas RF/XL is dependant upon the tyre pressure.

 

Admittedly tyre pressure is partly dependant upon the vehicles weight as well but more important is the tyre size and type which gives you the air pressure.

 

Tyre pressure is a direct function of tyre size, profile and loading.

 

The Load Index marked on a standard tyre is determined primarily by the weight a given tyre size and profile can support at the rated maximum pressure, usually around 44 psi. From that maximum, the actual pressure required in the tyre is broadly proportional to the weight it is supporting.

 

Most standard tyres are rated to 44 psi, and at this pressure they can carry their maximum weight. XL tyres are rated several LI points higher, and because of the relationship between weight and tyre pressure, the pressure they must withstand is consequently 5-8 psi higher, in general 49-52 psi. The 95H rated 16" Dunlop 2020Es fitted to many Galaxys are rated at 49 psi.

 

What we are saying seems almost the same, but from different angles.

[big_kev]

What we are saying seems almost the same, but from different angles.

 

Yes, but mine is the right angle.... B)

[sparky Paul]

What we are saying seems almost the same, but from different angles.

 

Yes, but mine is the right angle.... B)

 

If you say so... B)