I have a grey import Toyota Townace motorcaravan
The current tyres show the following size
225/50/12.5 98L.LT
Please anybody where can I buy 4 new tyres
Thanks
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 12 Nov 04 07:37
Those figures don't make any sense. 12.5" wheel size?? Also I've never heard of a Townace motorcaravan, is it a Townace that has been converted into a camper?
Check your tyre sizes. You might try taking it into a local tyre supplier and seek thier advice for size and availability.
- (#14129) Ian Dunse (Derbs), 12 Nov 04 08:48
Yes they do. It's one of the Just-Lo jobbies with the flat rear floor, a CM36, IIRC. Surely tho Martin, it's only the REAR tyres that are that size?
Where to get? Not sure, it is an odd size, right enough. Ask at a good independant tyre centre, alternatively one of the bigger motor factors that sells trailer parts might be worth a try...
- (#14129) david miller, 12 Nov 04 12:37
Could try a search of site below...(supply only)
http://www.tyresdirect.uk.com/index.htm
- (#14129) chris turner, 12 Nov 04 16:18
Going to 13" would raise final drive ratio. Physically them would have to fit nuts and wheel well. If current setup with load of home on back, is undergeared ie: 5th is engaged early, and will pull in top from relatively low speed, maybe going to 13" could work. A heavy duty 8 ply boat trailer tyre, even on the front too would handle a heavy load, higher pressure tyres too. One spare instead of two is a bonus. Or two spares the same for extended trips. They give away rims here in nz. 4th would become 'taller' as would all gears. TRY to measure circumferance of suitable 13" compare to existing 12.5" and intuit how this will affect the driving. A 25% or bigger difference cicumferance, will effect final drive hugely. Having longer legs in 3rd and 4th with 5th becoming more of an overdrive for low load descents and cruize, can be seen as an improvement. Having a readily available tyre is important especially in a camper miles from home. One could argue you would carry a spare, however if isolated, one down and one to go would leave you worried. A downside is high vehicle height: windage and cornering will suffer. MY personal experiece with motorhomes is that going fast isnt an option as body roll is often terrible depending on camper type. If you could borrow some 13" with same circumferance as suitable 13"truck tyre for you. Doesnt matter if there not heavy duty for test, pump up high to 50psi and do some driving: no extra load or bumps because of light duty try out tyre. If cruizing at ideal speed and 5th is too tall maybe forget it. If 4th becomes prefered top gear and 5th a down slope overdrive maybe could work. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Though quite possibly the circumference difference between a 225/50/12.5 and a 165/80/13 may actually be too great. Maybe able to get heavy duty in profile less than 80, not sure in UK
- (#14129) Alternatives, 12 Nov 04 23:01
My townie is a 2.2 deisel turbo 5speed, neighbours same is the just low townie 2l deisel non turbo auto with 225/50/12.5 rear. I have 175/80/14 the highest profile! My gears are much taller, I prefer it and use 4th up to 60mph on hills. Maybe would be worth a test...
- (#14129) frank, 13 Nov 04 01:31
The motorcaravan Toyota Townace has 165 R13 on the front and 225/50/12.5 98L.LT on the rears it also has to as far as I can tell factory fitted spare wheels and cariers one under slung the other rear mounted
I asked to buy 4 tyres because i wanted 2 to hold in stock Bill BBC spares to whom I sent pictures said he had never seen one like it before He is trying to identify it so he can get tyres from Japan I have E mailed just about every tyre supplier in the uk with zero results If any of you would like a picture to help us identify which Townace chasis it is please e mail me
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 13 Nov 04 13:52
Your neighbour sounds the same chasis as mine as mine is non turbo Auto Where does he get his Tyres and what is his model designation so Bill can identify it I would like to E mail you a picture Bill at bbc spares and I want your help please
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 13 Nov 04 13:59
The chassis bit is easy. Look on the VIN plate- it should be under a velcro'd flap in the carpet just in front of the driver's seat. If you can't find one there, the chassis number should be on the chassis leg just in front of the offside front wheel (look under the arch).
I wouldn't worry about Bill having never seen one, he doesn't know just everything townie.
Funny, there was one of those lived somewhere near me for quite a while. Haven't seen it for a bit tho...
Confirm the first bit of the VIN, and we'll take it from there.
- (#14129) david miller, 13 Nov 04 14:02
David please E mail me you may know the model designation CM3611RC i want to send you a picture if I can get the correct model designation Bill at BBC spares says he can help
Thanks
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 13 Nov 04 14:06
David ta will visit the storage site Monday follow your directions and post info Monday Bill is the only supplier from sixty E mailed you offered help other than this board Thanks again
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 13 Nov 04 14:19
Myself and my neighbour are in nz, sorry, I measured tyre radius/radii and height of vehicles to ground at top of wheel archs. The just low is as the name would imply, lower. Initially I thought the flat floor(no arches)of rear area and extra load carrying(springs) were the only real differences between just low and models with 13" all round and lower floors. Floor to ceiling height is less in just low. Along with being closer to ground, maybe ratios are lower too, toyota may have fitted a different differential....
- (#14129) Frank, 13 Nov 04 23:50
Yes, Frank. A quick look in the parts cd tells me all of the above. Whilst most townie diffs are in the 4.3-4.5 region, the justlo has a 3.9:1 ratio. It's also leaf-sprung, with unusual, flat leaves whereas most 'aces are coil on trailing arm...
- (#14129) david miller, 14 Nov 04 03:06
Mine is leaf sprung you guys no youre onions but still no closer to getting rear tyres mores the pity
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 14 Nov 04 11:09
Well, here's near but far...
http://www.keatrailers.co.nz/VehicleTransportersPage.shtml
You might email this trailer manufacturer in NZ and ask what brand of tyre they use...
- (#14129) david miller, 14 Nov 04 11:42
Give them a test drive, borrowing 2 would be easy as this is a common rim. If, your ratios are too high, bummer, you'll have to find those 12.5's. Remember that heavy duty may only come in larger profiles, a lower profile may be more ideal. By the way Martin, is yours a large luton type camper with much extra weight or only a standard townie with conversion. The wheel archs look large, as mine running 14" with large '80' profile would confirm.
- (#14129) Frank, 14 Nov 04 13:40
Martin, going for another set of 13" rims *might* be a sensible alternative. You'd be looking at 175/70R13 to get the same rolling diameter though. Your problem then might be getting those in a high enough load index, unfortunately.
I doubt there's enough space under the arches to go much bigger in diameter either.
- (#14129) david miller, 14 Nov 04 16:22
If yours is only a standard body with conversion, weight being only minimally more, would not necessatate going to heavy duty tyres. Theres more just lows in nz than 13" all rounders. This heavier load designated model is generally under utilised. And, like my extra load toyota caldina(now sold-boo hoo), I firmly beleive would benefit from ratio modifications, if, loading is generally light. NZ is REALLY hilly, my picture book of the english countryside shows much fewer hills in comparison. Japan is REALLY hilly too. Dont be afraid to try 13", easpecially if light loaded. David, mine has 2 leaf springs of equal length, they must breed them different here, maybe conceived while standing on ones head.
- (#14129) frank, 14 Nov 04 17:32
Right first of all the vin plate details mine was located by the way under the engine cover below the passenger seats it reads.
S-CM55-TLSDS
CM55-0027821
The camper body is all fiberglass therefore only using the front cab of the Townace the camper body has the words EUROPEAN TOWN ACE CAMPER ON IT
Inside is a stiker saying original fitting from new licesened by Toyota industries and a load of japenese writing i cant understand
My local garage reckons the chasis is some form of Townace truck chasis which would tie in with a japanese handbook which came with it with Town ace truck on the front and pictures inside of various uses the truck can be put to like tipper, or pick up or bodied for some sort of mobile cateen truck.
The camper body on mine is not a luton in respect it does not overhang the front of the cab but it is a a very pregnant size to a normal town ace body being wider higher and has a rising roof. As I have said if anyone wants pictures just E mail me
Re trying 13inch wheels how would i know which wheels to order that would have the right stud pattern?
Re clearence under the wheel arches there is absolutely oudles of room does load index refer to ply raiting as both the front 13 inch and the rear 12.5 are 6 ply which seemed strange to me As i have said these tyres do not seem some after market or crazy converters idea because there are 2 obvious factory fitted spare wheel cariers and a spare of each size provided The camper has only done 85,000 kilomteres and the stamps in the service book seem to bear this out
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 15 Nov 04 05:35
Your tyres are standard fitings, all just lows have these. tyre shop should do everything and lend you/ sell you correct rims. cheap as chips here or free with purchase. you body is heavy for motor size, maybe ratios will be too high. Import from japan or wherever and wait. Get on the phone, its easiest way to shop around...
- (#14129) Frank, 15 Nov 04 14:27
Unfortunately, it doesn't really work like that in the UK, Frank. Some tyre dealers sell alloys, but steel rims a la OEM are basically missing from the aftermarket. Re. the Justlo, in the UK, I doubt there'd be more than a handful of these rare imports, so it's not surprising that no-one has heard of the tyre size.
Martin, If you wish to try to acquire some 13" rims, the measurements you will need are PCD of the stud holes, diameter of the hub hole, width and offset. While I can't confirm, it looks like an early (pre '86 or so) UK-spec Liteace *should* provide just what you're looking for...
- (#14129) david miller, 15 Nov 04 15:15
Bill from BBC spares is trying to import the right tyres for me fingers crossed this is my prefered option.
Wow Frank the Uk is a very diffrent place tyre shops that would help, lend you, they wouldnt lend you the dripings from the end of their nose.
David youre final para on how and what to measure should i be forced into 13inch rims was exactly what i wanted to know thanks pratical instructive help just the ticket.
Nice to have electronicaly shaken hands guys
Good vibes to you both
My thanks
Martin
- (#14129) Martin Noakes, 16 Nov 04 00:32