Why are car and van tyres different?

There are differences between the tyres that are designed for cars and designed for vans. Some of these differences are un-noticable to someone who has not looked into the topic, however they are vital to be aware of to prevent incorrect tyres being used on a vehicle. So why is it so important that our tyres match their assigned vehicle?

Tyre design

Although this one may seem like the most straightforward point, it is still very important. The main difference between the tyres on a car and a van is the design. Vans are designed to withhold against a construction like environment as they are popular in this industry, therefore their tyres are designed suitable for this. Van tyres are often described as RF (reinforced) and XL (extra load). These tyres are have an extra-strong sidewall, higher tyre pressure and a higher load bearing capacity. Car tyres are not designed in the same way as they do not need to meet the same environmental demands.

Stopping distances differs

No matter how good of a driver you are, at some point an emergency stop has to be used in order to keep you or others safe. One of the main key factors that determine how far your stopping distance is comes down to your vehicles tyres. A lot of car users shall chose to have a set of winter and summer tyres that allow them to have the best grip on the road. Vans however can be slightly more complex. Purchasing from premium manufacturers that design specifically for vans ensures that the vans heavier load and distributed weight has the best stopping distance possible.

Maintenance differences

Unlike cars, vans in a commercial setting tend to do a lot of loading and unloading throughout the day. This process creates lots of weight changes. The tyres on the van therefore must be deflated and inflated to balance the weight fluctuations throughout the day.