JARGON BUSTERS

Quick Guide to Markings & Features

• AquaControl Technology: Wide circumferential grooves and interlocking sipes that effectively channel water away to maintain contact with the road.
• 3PMSF Certification: Officially verified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake for legal and safe use in severe winter conditions.
• Eco-Plus Tread: A specialised compound designed to lower rolling resistance, helping to reduce fuel consumption and extend tyre life.
• Reinforced Construction: Built with a robust internal structure to handle the high-intensity load cycles typical of modern LCV and courier operations.
• High Sipe Density: Features numerous "biting edges" that grip onto slippery surfaces, significantly improving traction on ice and slush.
• C-Marking (Commercial): Indicates the tyre is specifically designed for Commercial vehicles, vans, and light trucks. These tyres are built with reinforced internal structures and multiple plies to handle heavier load capacities and the higher inflation pressures required for professional use compared to standard passenger car tyres.

Popular Fitments

• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter & VW Crafter: Engineered to maintain high-load stability and traction across the varied Irish landscape, from city streets to rural mountain passes.
• Ford Transit & Toyota Hiace: Provides a rugged, dependable solution for high-mileage delivery workhorses that require consistent grip in both summer heat and winter frosts.
• Renault Master & Opel Movano: Optimises fuel efficiency for long-distance logistics while ensuring the vehicle remains legally compliant for winter travel across Europe.
• Ford Transit Custom & VW Transporter: Enhances driver confidence with passenger-car-like handling and reduced road noise, making it ideal for mobile workshops and crew cabs.

Summer Tyres vs All-Season & The Irish Climate

Summer tyres use a hard compound for maximum grip in temperatures above 7°C, but they lose traction on frost and snow. Conversely, All-Season tyres like the Vector 4Seasons Cargo use a flexible compound and aggressive siping to ensure safety year-round. While summer tyres offer peak efficiency in mild weather, All-Season variants provide the convenience of a "fit and forget" solution with certified 3PMSF winter performance, eliminating the need for seasonal swaps in Ireland’s variable climate.

Load Rating and Speed Rating Explained

For vans and LCVs, the load index is a numerical code representing the maximum weight a single tyre can safely carry; the combined capacity of all four tyres must exceed the vehicle’s gross weight when fully loaded.

The speed rating (a letter) indicates the maximum velocity a tyre can maintain. Common LCV ratings include R (170 km/h), T (190 km/h), and H (210 km/h).

Essential Rule: Always check your vehicle’s tyre information plate (usually on the door pillar) and never fit a tyre with a lower load index or speed rating than the manufacturer's specification. See Table...

Common Sizes

• 195, 70, R15 C, 104/102R
• 215, 70, R15 C, 109/107S
• 225, 70, R15 C, 112/110S
• 195, 60, R16 C, 99/97H
• 195, 65, R16 C, 104/102R
• 195, 75, R16 C, 107/105R
• 205, 65, R16 C, 107/105T
• 205, 75, R16 C, 113/111R
• 215, 65, R16 C, 109/107T
• 215, 75, R16 C, 116/114R
• 225, 65, R16 C, 112/110R
• 235, 65, R16 C, 115/113R
• 215, 60, R17 C, 109/107T
• 215, 60, R17 C, 104/102H
• 225, 55, R17 C, 109/107H
• 235, 60, R17 C, 117/115R