Confused by height of my new van

R

russall

New Member
Hi,

I've just got my new (to me) 21 plate T30, and I want to make sure I can get into carparks etc so looking to get it under the 2 meter mark, I know this has been discussed multiple times, but I can't believe I'm measuring it right. It's on 20 inch alloys with 275/40/r20 tyres, and has roof rails. I'm told it hasn't been lowered and I can't see that it has, the springs don't look like it atleast. It also has rear spoiler.

I'm measuring it at just 2010-2020mm unloaded, which seems low considering the 20ich alloys and roof, do you think I'm not reading it correctly, does that sound right? If I am I'd just have to take the rails off and I'd be under. I'd like to keep the rails as it looks nice, but until I get it lowered that might be all I can do. I will also be occasionally going out loaded with with a 480kg-ish payload so wouldn't ant to get it lowered by much.

20250306_115652.jpg

20250306_115642.jpg
 
measure from the middle of the wheel to top of the arch and post the results, someone will be able to tell you if its been lowered.
 
The standard ride height is 460mm from the centre of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch front and rear.

Larger wheels will increase the wheel centre to ground level dimension by the difference in the radius between the new and original wheels.

The best way to measure the height as it is now is to park it on level ground, lay a straight edge/timber batten across the roof bars so that it overhangs the side of the van, then measure from the batten to the ground.
 
dubber36 said:
The standard ride height is 460mm from the centre of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch front and rear.

Larger wheels will increase the wheel centre to ground level dimension by the difference in the radius between the new and original wheels.

The best way to measure the height as it is now is to park it on level ground, lay a straight edge/timber batten across the roof bars so that it overhangs the side of the van, then measure from the batten to the ground.
Click to expand...
I've done this with a spirit level and tape measure. I'm just baffled as I thought it should be higher
 
dubber36 said:
The standard ride height is 460mm from the centre of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch front and rear.

Larger wheels will increase the wheel centre to ground level dimension by the difference in the radius between the new and original wheels.

The best way to measure the height as it is now is to park it on level ground, lay a straight edge/timber batten across the roof bars so that it overhangs the side of the van, then measure from the batten to the ground.
Click to expand...
Many people do think that larger wheels lift the ride height but it is the over all combination of wheels and tyres. 16 inch wheels with huge tyres might well be much taller than standard tyres on 20 inch rims.
 
russall said:
I've messaged 445mm on front and 450 on back, baring in mind the 20inch alloys
Click to expand...
Assuming your 20 inch wheels have the same/similar circumference as the original wheels (if they don’t this would affect the speedo readings) then your van has been lowered albeit only about 10mm from the standard 460 mm so yeah it’s going to be tight going under a 2.2m car park barrier
 
Are you asking 2 different questions?
If you’ve measured centre of wheel to arch at around 450mm it hasn’t been lowered regardless of what wheels you have that measurement only ever changes if lowered.

My previous van was lowered on 30mm springs and had 18inch alloys so only technically sat 10mm lower than factory as would have had 16inch wheels when left the factory.
I had bars on the top also like yours and never had any issues in car parks
 
russall said:
I've done this with a spirit level and tape measure. I'm just baffled as I thought it should be higher
Click to expand...
VW T6 brochures list heights as 1990mm.

Wheel-size.com lists radius of 275/40r20s as 19mm more than standard 215/60r17s.

Then taking your measured wheel centres to top of wheel arches from those posted by @dubber36 and your maths seems good?
 
Chippie1 said:
Are you asking 2 different questions?
If you’ve measured centre of wheel to arch at around 450mm it hasn’t been lowered regardless of what wheels you have that measurement only ever changes if lowered.

My previous van was lowered on 30mm springs and had 18inch alloys so only technically sat 10mm lower than factory as would have had 16inch wheels when left the factory.
I had bars on the top also like yours and never had any issues in car parks
Click to expand...
Why are you saying a van lowered in 30mm springs is technically only lower by 10mm?
 
Skyliner33 said:
Why are you saying a van lowered in 30mm springs is technically only lower by 10mm?
Click to expand...
Because the springs lowered the ride height by 30mm, but the larger wheel and tyre radius raised the hubs by 20mm off the ground.
 
dubber36 said:
Because the springs lowered the ride height by 30mm, but the larger wheel and tyre radius raised the hubs by 20mm off the ground.
Click to expand...
He didn't say anything to do with tyre radius though. Its nothing to do with wheel size as he stated, its only the tyre size that make a difference.
 
Chippie1 said:
So an 18inch wheel makes no difference compared to a 16 inch?
Click to expand...
I’ve seen details of a T6 single cab pickup which I believe had air suspension.

It had 225/40 r18 tyres. The tyres have a diameter of 637mm.

VW T6 Euro 6 standard 16” tyres are apparently 205/65 r16, which have a diameter of 673mm.

Euro 5 apparently came with 215/65 r16s which are 686mm diameter.

The width x the profile % determines the overall tyre diameter as well as the wheel diameter.

Hope this helps?

IMG_0221.jpeg

IMG_0222.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Suspension help please!
Replies
3
Views
460
CRS Performance
CRS Performance
G
Kombi on 20” - Ride Height Suggestions
2
Replies
21
Views
3K
Curlynot
C
C
Dropped suspension
Replies
18
Views
2K
CRS Performance
CRS Performance
W
Is the T32 a boneshaker even when well loaded?
Replies
15
Views
1K
Bav
Bav
U
Coils AND airbags?
Replies
0
Views
328
UKparafire
U
Back
Top