Establish what the van carries
Tools, shelving and installed equipment often stay in a van permanently. A supposedly empty vehicle may therefore already carry a substantial load. Establish the permitted axle loads and approved tyres before selecting replacements. If its use has changed significantly, for example through conversion, reconsider older assumptions about its working weight.
The C marking identifies tyres intended for relevant commercial-vehicle applications. It is not simply interchangeable with XL on passenger-car tyres. Matching width and diameter also does not automatically make a car tyre suitable. Give the seller the complete vehicle and tyre specification, including additional markings.
Distinguish single from twin fitment
Commercial tyres may display two load indices. These are not alternative numbers to choose at will; they relate to different operating arrangements, such as single and twin fitment. If your van carries such a marking, have its relationship to the actual axle configuration explained. A generic online table does not resolve every vehicle-specific issue.
Pressure requirements belong to the loading specification too. Do not copy values from a similar-looking delivery van. Use instructions for your combination and application, with suitable wheels and valves. Increasing pressure is not a way to compensate for exceeding a permitted vehicle or axle load.
Include the working day in the comparison
A courier van making repeated urban stops uses its tyres differently from a van covering long motorway stages. Describe manoeuvring frequency, changing loads and year-round operation. Compare wet performance and seasonal suitability as well as projected mileage. Availability of a matching replacement may matter on a vehicle needed every working day.
Ask for a quotation including fitting, necessary valves and any sensor work. Discuss how downtime might be handled after later damage, without treating the conversation as a guarantee of immediate stock. Documented inspections are useful in service: routinely recording pressure, visible damage and unusual wear makes changes easier to recognise than waiting until the next statutory vehicle inspection is approaching.
With several drivers, keep the correct pressure reference accessible in the vehicle. A clear handover helps prevent someone from copying familiar values from a private car.
