Wide single rear tyres boost Sprinter payload and loadspace

Buyers of the 4.6 tonnes gvw Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van can now specify single in place of twin rear wheels. The option, introduced at the NEC show, brings a modest 10kg tare weight saving, but more importantly the loadspace width between the wheelboxes is increased from 978 to 1220mm to accommodate 1m-wide pallet loads.

The option is made possible by the availability of a new 285/65 R16 wider and heavier load capacity tyre size from Continental. It is fitted in combination with 285/75 R16 tyres on the front axle, while a special high-rated 235/65 R16 tyre is provided as a spare, interchangeable between front and rear and sufficiently slim to be held in the spare wheel carrier.