buying caravan tyres in france

[john_374360139]

hello & happy new year I have an english caravan stored in france i feel that after reading various items about tyres i should consider renewing my caravan tyres before my summer holidays does anyone know if suitable tyres are readily avliable in france ?? thank you

john m

 

[Guest]

"Speedy" in France have had no problems with tyres for UK caravans when we have used them.

 

[Lutz]

So long as you know the size, load index and speed rating, the tyres that you need can be obtained anywhere. The respective codings are international.

 

[john_374360139]

So long as you know the size, load index and speed rating, the tyres that you need can be obtained anywhere. The respective codings are international.

thank you for your replies this is very helpful as i had read in an article that it was a problem us newbies shouldnt believe every thing we read this forum is so good for us thanks again john m

 

[john_374360139]

"Speedy" in France have had no problems with tyres for UK caravans when we have used them.

thank you for your replies i had read in an article that it was a problem us newbies shouldnt believe everything we read this forum is very good for us thanks again john m

 

[Gafferbill]

John......

I believe there is a difficulty with obtaining 13 x 175 tyres suitable for caravans on the continent.

I have it on good authority that this size is hard to obtain in France, if you have an older caravan and suffer a blow-out.

Caravans now use bigger wheels.

The Caravan Club have information on this if you are a member.

 

[Lutz]

Any tyre can be ordered if you have time. So long as the tyre load rating is adequate one can even find suitable alternatives if difficulty in sourcing is experienced, so long as you are going to replace them all at the same time. For example, a 195/55R14 can often be used instead of a 185/65R14. A reputable tyre dealer will be able to advise.

 

[john_374360139]

thank you for your replies the tyres i would need are 165 R 13 as we intend to go to the south of france from Normandy in the summer we bought the caravan which is a1994 Elddis last year, i dont know when the tyres were changed last i thought it would be best to start off with new as i had read that it is a good idea to renew them every four years regardless ??

we are newbies and are jut being cautious. i would expect tyre sizes to be universal i did think of taking tyres from england and get them fitted in france thanks again

john m

 

[Guest]

If in doubt www.speedy.fr

Translate the sites French pages using http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt

or you could even email them.

 

[john_374360139]

thank you euro just checked www.speedy.fr lots of different makes and at a reasonable prices

john m

 

[Gafferbill]

Yes John ..... but do they have 165x13/6ply suitable for your caravan.

They will have plenty with load ratings suitable fo cars with 13" rims, but caravans ??

See post on this forum :-

Posted by 'Patey' entitled 'Caravan Tyres'

.............................

It so happens I purchased my 175 x 13 tyres from a national UK chain, who also supply tyres for Commercial vehicles, so they know what they are talking about.

They could only supply one make of tyre suitable for my caravan's 13" rims ... Avon.

The manager of my local East Grinstead branch recomended them to me adding .......

We supply hundreds to 'The Club'...... They send them to France for their members who have blowouts, they can't get suitable 13" tyres over there.

 

[Lutz]

If a particular tyre can't be obtained by a dealer wherever you are then only because he can't be bothered. Chances are that the tyre you are looking for is not manufactured in the country where you want to buy anyway. My last car had a tyre size and tread pattern that was only made in Japan so if the wholesaler was out of stock he had to order from there.

 

[Lutz]

If a particular tyre can't be obtained by a dealer wherever you are then only because he can't be bothered. Chances are that the tyre you are looking for is not manufactured in the country where you want to buy anyway. My last car had a tyre size and tread pattern that was only made in Japan so if the wholesaler was out of stock he had to order from there.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

As the van is already in France the best option could be to contact the nearest big tyre outlet to the site with the size and loading and see what they say

If they are unable/unwilling to supply then it may be necessary/expedient to take the tyres with you from UK assuming you aren't flying out!!

 

[john_374360139]

Thank you for your replies, Gafferbil in answer to your question i did not check the ratings on the speedy web site but i will do.

It was always been my intention to go to normandy for a long weekend take our caravan out of storage and clean it up and get it ready for our trip south in the summer so i can try then for tyres if it is a problem i can take them from here with me in the summer if i go on a Calais shopping daytrip before hand i could try some big tyre outlets then.

john m

 

[john_374360139]

Update on tyres i have been on a daytrip to Calais and asked at Speedy tyres and Norauto (both have branches all over France)

yes tyres are avliable but if not in stock it could take a day to get them in. When i asked about 6 ply they said what was the loading etc they then got out some charts to check which type was needed and went on their computer to check stock, no problem in getting them by the following day, they printed out all the information for me .When i first went into both stores i made it clear that wasnt going to buy from them until sometime in May i took with me a translated note from english to french of what i wanted but both companies found an english speaking member of staff to help me they were very very helpfull

and spent time with me. the prices varied from 30--70 euros each

 

[Gafferbill]

John........Thank you for the update.

The upshot is you have to hope the ordering system works efficiently if you have a blowout!

You are going to minimise that risk by having new tyres fitted to your 13" rims.

If your rims had been 14" they would most likely have had them in stock for immediate fitment