as a single number. f fewer people are traveling, more cargo can be added. f more
people are involved, the weight of cargo must be reduced. n any case, remember: the
total weight of a fully loaded vehicle, including passengers, can not exceed the stated
VW .

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[For MH Water and propane also need to be conSidered. The weight of fully filled propane
containers is considered part of the weight of the V before it is loaded with people or
cargo and is not considered part of the disposable cargo load. Water however, is a cargo
weight and is treated as such. f there is a fresh water storage tank of 100 gallons, this tank
when filled would weigh about 800 pounds. f more cargo or people are being transported,
water can be off-loaded to keep the total amount of cargo added to the vehicle within the
limits of the VW so as not to overload the vehicle. Understanding this fleXibility will allow
you, the owner, to make choices that fit your travel and camping needs.
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[Both T and MH When loading your cargo, be sure it is distributed evenly to prevent
overloading front to back and side to side. Heavy items should be placed low and as close
to the axle positions as reasonable. Too many items on one side may overload a tire. The
best way to know the actual weight of the vehicle is to weigh it at a public scale. Talk to
your V dealer to discuss the weighing methods needed to capture the various weights
related to the V. This would include weights for the following: axles, wheels, hitch or pin (in
the case of a trailer) and total weight.

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The results of overloading can have serious consequences for passenger Safety. Too much
weight on your vehicle’s suspension system can cause spring, shock absorber, or brake
failure, handling or steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
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n overloaded vehicle is hard to drive and hard to stop. n cases of serious overloading,
brakes can fail completely, particularly on steep hills. The load a tire will carry safely is a
combination of the size of tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation pressure.

E

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xcessive loads and/or under-inflation cause tire overloading and, as a result, abnormal tire
flexing occurs. This situation can generate an excessive amount of heat within the tire.
xcessive heat may lead to tire failure.
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Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in the road.
Do not run over curbs or other foreign objects in the roadway, and try not to strike
the curb when parking.

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t is the air pressure that enables a tire to support the load, so proper in ation is critical.
Since Vs can be configured and loaded in many ways, air pressures must be determined
from actual loads (determined by weighing) and taken from the load and inflation tables
provided by the tire manufacturer. These air pressures may differ from those found on the
certification label. However, they should never exceed the tire limitation for load or air
pressure. f you discover that your ti res cannot support the actual weights, the load will
need to be lightened.

Check tire pressure regularly (at least once a month), including the spare.
Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread, cracks, foreign objects, or other
signs of wear or trauma.
Remove bits of glass and foreign objects wedged in the tread.
Make sure your tire valves have valve caps.
Check tire pressure before going on a long trip.
Do not overload your vehicle. Check the Tire Information and Loading Placard or
User’s Manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle.

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Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX lbw” on your vehicles placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb.
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passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage capacity is
650 lbw. (1400·750 (5 x 150) ~ 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
capacity calculated in Step # 4.
6. f your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this Manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo
and luggage capacity of your vehicle.

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GLOSSARY

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A

ccessory weight - The combined weight (in excess of those standard items which.may
be replaced) of automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows,
power seats, radio and heater, to the extent that these items are available as factoryinstalled equipment (whether installed or not).
Bead - The part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped or reinforced by ply cords
and that is shaped to fit the rim.

A

Bead separation - This is the breakdown of the bond between components in the bead.
Bias ply tire - pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
alternate angles substantially less than 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.

C

C

C

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C

arcass - The tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, when inflated, bears
the load.
hunking - The breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall.
old inflation pressure - The pressure in the tire before you drive.
ord - The strands forming the plies in the tire.
ord separation - The parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds.
A

C

racking - ny parting within the tread, sidewall, or inner liner of the tire extending to
cord material.
A

CT

- pneumatic tire with an inverted flange tire and rim system in which the rim is
designed with rim flanges pointed radially inward and the tire is designed to fit on the
underside of the rim in a manner that encloses the rim flanges inside the air cavity of the
tire.
C

urb weight - The weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning and
additional weight optional engine.

G

A

E

xtra load tire - tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures
than the corresponding standard tire.
roove - The space between two adjacent tread ribs.
R

G

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ross Vehicle Weight ating ( VW ) - The maximum permissible weight of this fully loaded
motorhome.
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ross xle Weight ating ( W ) - The value specified as the load carrying capacity of a
single axle system, as measured at the tire-ground interfaces.
itch Weight - The vertical trailer load supported by the hitch ball.

Inner liner - The layer(s) forming the inside surface of a tubeless tire that contains the
inflating medium within the tire.
Innerliner separation - The parting of the innerliner from cord material in the carcass.
Intended outboard sidewall - The sidewall that contains a white-wall, bears white lettering
or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire or the outward facing sidewall of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted
on a vehicle.

L

A

LT

L

ight truck ( ) tire - tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use
on lightweight trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles.
oad rating - The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure.

M

aximum load rating - The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
M

aximum permissible inflation pressure - The maximum cold inflation pressure to which
a tire may be inflated.

M

M

aximum loaded vehicle weight - The sum of curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle
capacity weight, and production options weight.
easuring rim - The rim on which a tire is fitted for physical dimension requirements.
A

N

on-pneumatic rim - mechanical device which, when a non-pneumatic tire assembly
incorporates a wheel, supports the tire, and attaches, either integrally or separably, to the
wheel center member and upon which the tire is attached.
A

N

on-pneumatic spare tire assembly - non-pneumatic tire assembly intended for
temporary use in place of one of the pneumatic tires and rims that are fitted to a
passenger car in compliance with the requirements of this standard.
A

N

on-pneumatic tire - mechanical device which transmits, either directly or through a
wheel or wheel center member, the vertical load and tractive forces from the roadway to
the vehicle, generates the tractive forces that provide the directional control of the vehicle
and does not rely on the containment of any gas or fluid for providing those functions.
A

N

on-pneumatic tire assembly - non-pneumatic tire, alone or in combination with a
wheel or wheel center member, which can be mounted on a vehicle.

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ormal occupant weight - This means 68 kilograms (150 lbs.) times the number of
occupants specified in the second column of Table of 49 CF 371.110.

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ccupant distribution - The distribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the third
column of Table of 49 CF 571.110.
A

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pen splice - ny parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or innerliner that extends to
cord material.
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uter diameter - The overall diameter of an inflated new tire.

in Weight - The vertical trailer load supported by the king pin of a fifth wheel hitch.
layer of rubber--coated parallel cords.

A

ly -

ly separation -

parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies.

A

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verall width - The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated
tire, including elevations due to labeling, decorations, or protective bands or ribs.

A

P

neumatic tire - mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric and steel or other
materials, that, when mounted on an automotive wheeL provides the traction and contains
the gas or fluid that sustains the load.
P

roduction options weight - The combined weight of those installed regular production
options weighing over 2.3 kilograms (5 lbs.) in excess of those standard items which they
replace, not previously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
A

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adial ply tire - pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.

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ecommended inflation pressure - This is the inflation pressure provided by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire nformation label and on the Certification / V tag.
A

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einforced tire - tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation
pressures than the corresponding standard tire.

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im - metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
im diameter - This means the nominal diameter of the bead seat.
im size designation - This means the rim diameter and width.

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im type designation - This means the industry of manufacturer’s designation for a rim by
style or code.
im width - This means the nominal distance between rim flanges.

S

S

ection width - The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated
tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.
idewall - That portion of a tire between the tread and bead.

S

idewall separation - The parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in the
sidewall.

read - That portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road.
read rib -

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est rim - The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and may be any rim listed as
appropriate for use with that tire.

tread section running circumferentially around a tire.

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read separation - Pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass.
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readwear indicators ( Wl) - The projections within the principal grooves designed to
give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.
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Vehicle capacity weight - The rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilograms (150 bs.)
times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire - The load on an ind ividual tire that is deterrrrined by
distributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by
two.

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Vehicle normal load on the tire - The load on an individual tire that is determined by
distributing to each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal
occupant weight (distributed in accordance with Table of C F 49 571.110) and dividing by
2.
Weather side - The surface area of the rim not covered by the inflated tire.
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Wheel center member - n the case of a non-pneumatic tire assembly incorporating a
wheeL a mechanical device which attaches, either integrally or separably, to the nonpneumatic rim and provides the connection between the non-pneumatic rim and the
vehicle; or, in the case of a non-pneumatic tire assembly not incorporating a wheel, a
mechanical device which attaches, either integrally or separably, to the non-pneumatic
tire and provides the connection between tire and the vehicle.
Wheel-holding fixture - The fixture used to hold the wheel and tire assembly securely
during testing.

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