Weight limits?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,772
Likes: 8
From: If You gave Your life to love them, so will I
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Weight limits?
Any of you guys read this? Just seen it on my Caddy forum. It's a new government mandate as of 2006.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...s_N.htm?csp=34
Originally Posted by USAToday
Many two-seat sports cars, including Mazda MX-5 Miata and Chevrolet (GM) Corvette, aren't certified to carry two 200-pound adults, according to a government formula aimed at tire safety.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: South Corona, California
More 
from the media. Cover my a$$ mentality. 
The last paragraph sums it up...
from the media. Cover my a$$ mentality. The last paragraph sums it up...
The ratings are an outgrowth of the 2000 Firestone tire recall, in which overloading was considered a factor that could cause tires to fail. Weight limits are important because automakers could claim they don't have responsibility for a component failure or a crash if a vehicle is overloaded.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 6
From: Bedford, TX
One more thing I'm not gonna worry about. Four large Z rated steel belted tires on a light car and it can't take a load over 400 lbs in addition to that? But the pertinent things in the story are where they are talking certification and responsibility. This is total CYA for the car companies.
But the pertinent things in the story are where they are talking certification and responsibility. This is total CYA for the car companies.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,885
Likes: 4,337
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
The GY EMT Supertires are rated for max load (44psi) at 1323# (600KG)
That should support a total of 5292# or a pay load of ~2000#
I don't know where they get the 423# payload from....
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
The wife and I top out at 500 lbs or so (mostly me...) and we have probably 100 lbs of "stuff we can't live without" in the back. Been doing that for 7-8 years (4 C5s and my C6) and haven't had a weight related failure yet. Performance probably suffers, though...
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Safety Car
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From: Miami FL
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 807
From: West coast CA
Presumably it's not just tire loading; GM is blessing the Corvette's handling, braking, safety systems, etc. for payloads up to 423 pounds. While it can take more, clearly 2,000 pounds would be overladen.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 397
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From: East Longmeadow MA
I would not worry about any skirting of liability or anything else. This is from Firestone / Explorer I believe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 807
From: West coast CA
The limit comes from the federal law formula. I read the article last night and that's what it said right there. No big deal to me. There was even a GM spokesperson quoted in there saying it was just the law making them put it there.
I would not worry about any skirting of liability or anything else. This is from Firestone / Explorer I believe.
I would not worry about any skirting of liability or anything else. This is from Firestone / Explorer I believe.