Question On Tyre Pressure

[d.widdy]

Hi,

I have recently purchased a low milage 2nd hand galaxy tdi & am quite happy with it so far, loving the space and comfort.. But.. (Isnt there always with 2nd hand cars)

All the tyres needed changing & being a 7 seater it needed extra load tyres. These have been replaced & the car now has 205 55 16 XL Event tyres on all 4. I am not sure what the proper pressure levels are though. I took it to get the tracking fixed today at national tyres & sadly the car is still pulling to the left. I asked why and the fitter said the tyre pressures could be the reason... Seems a bit odd to me as i thought they would have checked pressures before doing the tracking.... Am a bit stuck now as i need to drive 300 miles tomorrow & not only am i unsure of the correct tyre pressure but the car is still pulling towards the left :( Any help appreciated. Its  a MK1 TDI T reg & 110hp)

Proud new Galaxy Owner :)

[sparky Paul]

205/55R16 tyres are the wrong size for 16" alloys on a mk.1 and you won't find a recommendation for tyre pressure for that tyre size. The load index (the maximum weight capacity) for that size in XL is only 94, which is borderline for the Galaxy - load index should really be 95 or higher.

 

You should have 215/55R16 fitted to 16" alloys, which usually have a load rating of 97 in XL. Tyre pressures for this size should be 39-42 front and 36-48 rear, depending on loading.

 

I wouldn't have thought that the wrong tyres would affect the accuracy of tracking adjustment, I would guess that it was either done wrong, or there is some other suspension or steering issue. Have you checked the tyre pressures, are they reasonable and even? Does the car go straight with the steering wheel held centrally? Does it pull when driving on the crown (centre) of the road?

[seatkid]

All VAG cars (i.e. inc Mk1, Mk2 Galaxies) have a Macpherson strut design that is sensitive to road camber. They drift to the left when driving on UK roads in the LH lane. It drifts to the right if you ever drive on the continent or on the right hand side of a road (but not a motorway - that has same constant camber across the carriageway) , or , as I've found, drives straight, suggesting the design/build is setup for LHD. The older the car, the worse the "drift" seems to get, probably due to a bit of wear in the steering rack.

 

Is the steering wheel straight, when driving straight?, I've seen tracking done with non centred steering and so the PAS/steering rack will always pull towards what it thinks is the centre position.

 

Note:16 inch alloys on a Mk1 are not OEM. What with wrong non-aproved tyre sizes that might be an issue for your insurance company unless you've declared it.

Edited October 23, 2013 by seatkid

[sparky Paul]

SK - 16" arch-style alloys were fitted as standard on later mk.1 Zetecs - mine has them.

Edited October 23, 2013 by sparky Paul

[sparky Paul]

Welcome to the forum OP, by the way! B)

[seatkid]

SK - 16" arch-style alloys were fitted as standard on later mk.1 Zetecs - mine has them.

 

I stand corrected Sparky! :blush:

[sparky Paul]

The wheels might be right, but the tyres are still wrong. :huh:

[BrianH]

You should find if you look on the inside of the fuel filler that there is a sticker there showing the various sizes and pressures (inside of the door for the filler that is). Galaxy pressures do seem generally to be higher than you might expect, although with different tyres not so easy to say what it should be.

[d.widdy]

hi guys thanks for the help - the originals were all 215 XL's but a replacement set was very expensive. I was offered a whole set of new 205's for

[seatkid]

 

I can notice it as i have to correct the drift every 10 - 20 or 30 seconds i guess - i certainly feel a slight ache is my right hand probably from having to keep it straight - thats from just driving around - I at least know all cars do it now but i am still wondering how much is normal & is mine worse than normal....

 

Sounds quite normal

[sparky Paul]

As sk says, a slight drift is normal. On a quiet road, try driving on the crown of the road, and on the other side - obviously when nowts coming the other way!

 

 

the originals were all 215 XL's but a replacement set was very expensive. I was offered a whole set of new 205's for

[xavier]

I've got 205/55 R16 listed in my mk2 book, says:

 

205/55 R 16 C 98/96 H

 

Pressures are :

Normal loading 49 front / 44 rear

Full loading 51 front / 56 rear

 

Might be the previous owner lost their owners guide and replaced it with one for a mkII?

Edited October 27, 2013 by xavier

[Scorpiorefugee]

Edited October 27, 2013 by Scorpiorefugee

[sparky Paul]

I've got 205/55 R16 listed in my mk2 book, says:

 

205/55 R 16 C 98/96 H

 

Pressures are :

Normal loading 49 front / 44 rear

Full loading 51 front / 56 rear

 

Might be the previous owner lost their owners guide and replaced it with one for a mkII?

 

 

Could be, but those figures don't fit with the pressures given by the OP.

 

Those figures are also for 8 ply C-rated tyres, the OP already said his were XL.

[xavier]

Ah, I see, so the 205/55R16 C rated which has a higher load index than reinforced is suitable, but the reinforced tyre in that size isn't. Had a quick look and I take it this would be suitable :

 

Bridgestone 2055516 (98/96H) ER30C

 

But the reinforced equivalent :

 

Bridgestone 2055516 (94H) ER300 Extra Load

 

Isn't.

 

However, 215's have a higher load rating so a reinforced in that size is sufficient :

 

Bridgestone 2155516 (97W) RE002 Extra Load

 

The key being the numbers 94, 96 and 97.

 

I can understand the confusion to a lay-person (tyres for my other cars are so much easier!) but would have expected the fitters to know their stuff.

[sparky Paul]

It can be confusing, but the only answer is to stick with the tyre size and speed/load rating (or better) that was factory fitted to the car. For used cars, it is usually possible find out the original fit on the internet, and the tyre size and tyre pressures are often marked on the car somewhere. Any deviation from this would have to be agreed with your insurance company.

 

I've seen very few Galaxys fitted with C-rated tyres in the UK, perhaps they were specified for markets where RF/XL tyres were harder to come by. C-rated van tyres are generally quite a bit more expensive than standard RF/XL tyres.

 

I've also seen Galaxys fitted with odd non-reinforced 93 rated 215/55X16s. No doubt some of them passed MOTs with these on, it must be difficult for testers to keep track of what tyres should be fitted to every car on the road, but they should check really. Different matter with the insurance companies, if they find an incorrectly rated tyre when assessing a post-accident vehicle, you're in trouble.

 

The bottom line is that you can't always bung any tyre on, just because it fits.

[seatkid]

I've got 205/55 R16 listed in my mk2 book, says:

 

205/55 R 16 C 98/96 H

 

Pressures are :

Normal loading 49 front / 44 rear

Full loading 51 front / 56 rear

 

Might be the previous owner lost their owners guide and replaced it with one for a mkII?

 

49/44? Wow.

 

On my Mk1 fitted with 215/60R15 H XL (98) Conti Premium2, I run at the recommended 32 / 30psi empty.

 

how the pressures can be so different for what appears a slighlty different size (and a MK2) !!

[sparky Paul]

Partly the tyre profile, and partly the different internal construction of 6 or 8 ply tyres.

 

There's a significant tyre pressure difference between 15", and 55 profile 16", even with standard or XL tyres. I run 215/55R16s around 40psi, the recommended pressures for empty are 39/36 front/rear, and as high as 42/48 for fully laden.

 

Commercial rated tyres are rated for even heavier loads. They have different internal construction to standard tyres, and are designed to stand the higher pressures needed for the weight. Even under lower loads, they need higher pressures to maintain the correct shape.

[d.widdy]

Thanks for all that guys  - i am sure i have the correct handbook for my mk1... I have read that some galaxies do pull to the left and ford are not always too helpful in solving the issue.. Around town i dont notice it too much and as i am giving the car a chance to run in after the previous owner hardly using it ill see how things go but my only other issue is that the bulb for heater control rotaries is dead &i am a bit lost on how to replace it - i tried pulling the bulb out but its smashed and all i have is the plastic housing which has two prongs sticking out from it - is this meant to be one unit or should the bulb detach?

Any help is always appreciated!

[d.widdy]

I have uploaded two images to Imagesup - but am not allowed to post them by this forum?

[BrianH]

Do they look somewhat like these > http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-T5-White-LED-Speedo-Dashboard-Light-Bulbs-Lamps-12V-UK-/180832208965?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a1a708845

 

if so the small size like those seem to be a bit random as to if you need to replace just the centre bulb bit or the holder with it, If its broken on taking it out then its a fair bet they need the holder with the ones you have. Don't think they were particually expensive although finding ones with the correct rating was a bit more tricky the last time i did it. Best bet is take one along to a spares shop and ask for a replacement. The larger ones of a similar design do come out (the ones that take bulbs the same sort of size as the front sidelights). Not had to take that area apart on mine so not sure which you have, though i'd expect the smaller size ones personally.