There is one main factor in choosing tyres for a van (or van based vehicle) and one supplementary factor which needs to be taken into account. The main factor is the GVW (gross vehicle weight), which is eventally the heaviest the vehicle can legally weigh. The other factor is the weight limit for the axle. This is an important factor because both axles will probably (definitely in the case of the rear) be able to support more than half the GVW of the van. This is to take into account that a van may have more of its weight towards either end of the load area rather than right in the middle. But in my experience, the tyres a van comes with when new, and should subsequently be fitted with, will take this variable into account. For example, the Ford Transit Connect I used to have had a GVW of 2320kg, but the tyres it came with had a weight rating of 95 which equates to 690kg. Four of which adds up to 2760kg.

So, IMO, there is no reason why a motorhome would need tyres specific to a motorhome rather than a van tyre with a suitable weight rating.

Edited by badbusdriver on 13/04/2021 at 19:03

You need to carefully check the load rating.

Decades ago, I had a tyre failure on a caravan on a bank holiday. Had it repaired to complete the journey, but it was obvious I needed a new tyre. Tried to get a new tyre without success. Finally found a replacement to get me home.

The replacement was 4-ply, the original was 6-ply. Felt it all the way home and got it replaced with a 6-ply ASAP.

I understand that many motorhomes run well overweight. Possibly their owners have never taken them to a weighbridge.

I find it difficult to believe that is anything other than the exception rather than the norm. What would a motorhome owner be carrying which would add so much weight?.

Maybe a DIY conversion where the owner has chosen a van which has too small a GVW for what they plan to do, but a vehicle which has been sold new as a camper will surely have been based on a van with a high enough GVW to cope with a fully laden camper van plus a bit extra in reserve?. Plus, any tyre specific to a motorhome is going to have a weight rating, exactly the same as any tyre. So unless the owner knows they are overweight (which is a different discussion), the tyre they choose will be based on the GVW the van base regardless of whether it is for a motorhome or a van.

And for the record, I`d be willing to bet far more vans run overweight than motorhomes!

Many also spend weeks/months not moving.

Many vehicles spend weeks/months not moving, classic cars being the obvious. As far as I am aware, there are no tyres available for classics, or anything else, designed specifically to cope with extended periods of being stationary. Any such tyre would surely be absolutely terrible in any other respect?.