**Transit Duetto 1998 tyre size? thanks :0)

Hi Guys

Ive just bough a transit duetto 1998 and had 2 blow outs both rear, van was fine on motorway for 40 miles then start get funny vibrations from rear checked tyre presure which was fine, 30miles later 1st blow out :( the van had just had it Mot, so thought all was good, going to get all 4 changed...you can never be too carful, overall love the look feel and character of the van 

My question what tyre size are you guys running on your smiley transits 1998Duetto's.

Is a 1998 duetto classed as a mk4?

Thanks for you time guys.

Hi, your Duetto is like mine, a 'smiley' mk5.
I have 195x14c tyres on mine. I run mine at 50psi front, 58psi rear.
Scary to have one blow out, yet alone two!

Hi mate

Thank you  for replying I'm going around the bend trying to get 205 70 14c tyres...most companies no longer stock these.

Owners manual also specify 205 70 14c ....Will 195 70 14c be fine..i'm able to get the 195 70 14c off the  shelf...

Your autosleeper does it have alloys as per your profile picture...as these are are identical to the ones fitted to my camper.

Thanks again for your valuable time.

maxnewbie, all Duettos built on the Transit MK4 and MK5, prior to the LE version, were fitted with 14 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels as standard from Auto Sleeper.

A 1998 Duetto if it is built on a 'smiley' Transit will be a MK5 

The LE version (built on the MK5) had 15 inch steel wheels with plastic wheel trims.

The Duettos built on the MK6 and the MK7 Transits had 16 inch steel wheels as standard from A-S.

Sorry to say, but as it is now 8 years since we had our MK5, I cannot remember the tyre size.

Spospe wrote:maxnewbie, all Duettos built on the Transit MK4 and MK5, prior to the LE version, were fitted with 14 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels as standard from Auto Sleeper.

A 1998 Duetto if it is built on a 'smiley' Transit will be a MK5 

The LE version (built on the MK5) had 15 inch steel wheels with plastic wheel trims.

The Duettos built on the MK6 and the MK7 Transits had 16 inch steel wheels as standard from A-S.

Sorry to say, but as it is now 8 years since we had our MK5, I cannot remember the tyre size.

This is correct as mine is an LE model and when first purchased, did puzzle over the differences between mine and a friends Duetto. Took a few weeks before figuring out the exact differences between the Duetto and the LE Duetto as one you cannot see. The LE was professionally injected with extra rustproofing. The tyre size on the LE is 225/70 x 15. I replaced all four tyres at £52 each though that was April 2013.

Hi  

Bulletguy wrote:The tyre size on the LE is 225/70 x 15.

Sounds as if the LE had larger wheels than the bog standard transit.

jollywalker wrote:I have 195x14c tyres on mine.

Same here (but there's a story).

Funny thing, I had a bit of trouble when I wanted to replace both front tyres. I phoned a couple of fast fit places for some prices, same performance each time, they asked for the second number.

"There isn't one" I said.

"It's written on the tyre" they said.

"No it isn't" I said, "or in the handbook".

"You'll have to bring it in! they said (with the implied "idiot" in the tone of voice).

Anyway I phoned the local garage that do the annual service/MOT and spoke to the "old bloke".

He told me there was no problem he could order them in. The second number would be 80 but it was never quoted unless the tyre was a non-standard size. The tyres were duly ordered and fitted and guess what? All that was written on the new tyres was 195xR14c.

You'd think these tyre specialists would have known that wouldn't you!

Presumably (humour me I'm no expert) 195x70 14c s would just be slightly lower profiles).

Brod

!

Hi Max
Have you checked how old the tyres are.  There is a method of finding the date on them.
We bought a 98 Duetto as our first van and needed to replace all tyres within a couple of months as it had been sitting on oldish tyres so the walls were splitting.
There is a rough age of 5-6 years of life in a tyre as light especially seems to cause them problems.
We bought a 1988 Frisky as a classic project last year and believe it or not it had the original tyre as the spare.  We had this replaced and it was put out of commission at my request as no one should be using tyres of that age.

Campievanner wrote:Hi Max
Have you checked how old the tyres are.  There is a method of finding the date on them.
We bought a 98 Duetto as our first van and needed to replace all tyres within a couple of months as it had been sitting on oldish tyres so the walls were splitting.
There is a rough age of 5-6 years of life in a tyre as light especially seems to cause them problems.

Precisely the reason mine got replaced. The MOT guy issued an advisory on one tyre but as i was off on a trip a couple of weeks later i drove straight over to the tyre chap i use and told him about the advisory. He looked at the other three tyres and showed me where those were also beginning to crack on the tyre wall. Tread on all tyres was perfect with plenty of depth, but the wall wear wasn't good so i had all four replaced. Maybe a bit belts 'n braces but i didn't fancy a blow out on the motorway before i'd even got to Dover!