New Tyres

[audiorob]

Knowing that I needed a pair of replacement tyres I researched on the internet and a few local phone calls for price and availability. I also drove to a couple of locals to be sure I could access in and out with the van on tow. I hope that the forum does not object to naming a company, I booked on Monday for a mobile fitting at home on Tuesday and received an excellent service from 'TyreMedics'. I had a confirmation call at breakfast, a 20 minute warning call at 11.30, and by 12.15 had 2 tyres fitted on my drive by two efficient guys working from a very tidy van.
Two other things to mention - the tyres looked great, with no 'dings' or scuffs and a good tread depth, but had reached their sell-by date.
Also I found that some quotes were for tyres with an 88 load rating - which seem much more common (and cheaper) that the 98/99 load that were on the van from new. I assume the maths is simple - the 88 = 560kg, so the max carried would be 560 x 2 + say 70 for noseweight = 1190kg, whereas the 98/99 = 775kg which gives a good allowance in comparison to the MTPLM of my caravan.
So now barring mishaps my 'van should follow obediently and safely for the next 5+ of tyre use!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

... and a good tread depth, but had reached their sell-by date.

What do you mean by 'reached their sell-by date'?

 

[Woodentop]

Knowing that I needed a pair of replacement tyres I researched on the internet and a few local phone calls for price and availability. I also drove to a couple of locals to be sure I could access in and out with the van on tow. I hope that the forum does not object to naming a company, I booked on Monday for a mobile fitting at home on Tuesday and received an excellent service from 'TyreMedics'. I had a confirmation call at breakfast, a 20 minute warning call at 11.30, and by 12.15 had 2 tyres fitted on my drive by two efficient guys working from a very tidy van.
Two other things to mention - the tyres looked great, with no 'dings' or scuffs and a good tread depth, but had reached their sell-by date.
Also I found that some quotes were for tyres with an 88 load rating - which seem much more common (and cheaper) that the 98/99 load that were on the van from new. I assume the maths is simple - the 88 = 560kg, so the max carried would be 560 x 2 + say 70 for noseweight = 1190kg, whereas the 98/99 = 775kg which gives a good allowance in comparison to the MTPLM of my caravan.
So now barring mishaps my 'van should follow obediently and safely for the next 5+ of tyre use!

"Reached their sell-by date" - what do you mean by that? There is no such thing as a sell-by date on a tyre BUT you should never use a tyre older than 7 years (and preferably 5) on a caravan. The manufacture date will be moulded into the side of the tyre just above the rim - some date on one side only, some on both - shown as four digits representing week number and (last two digits of) year.

The noseweight is carried by the towing vehicle, not by the caravan tyres. It is usual to have at least 10% headroom on the tyre rating above MTPLM. 98/99 means they are rated 99 (775Kg each) on a single axle van and 98 (750Kg) on a twin axle.

 

[audiorob]

The caravan was registered in Oct 2010, so although low mileage and with no visible signs of wear the tyres were coming up to 7 years old. My 'sell by date' comment was just a turn of phrase!

My comment about the load rating was only a thought to compare the load rating to the MTPLM. As you see in my calculations (if this would be an acceptable way to do the sums!) allowing 560 for each tyre and an additional 70 carried on the towball came to the 1190kg, so the 88 load rating were insufficient.

But thanks for your interest and replies!

 

[otherclive]

You made a good decision to change out the tyres. Did you buy "c" spec tyres as used on commercial vehicles (white vans) as these tend to be more robust than normal car tyres. For those not familiar with LI/ Load Index there are websites with tables of load Index and the relevant tyre loads. One site I use is "tyresafe.org".

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

The caravan was registered in Oct 2010, so although low mileage and with no visible signs of wear the tyres were coming up to 7 years old. My 'sell by date' comment was just a turn of phrase!

I read your original comment as the new tyres had a sell-by date, not that your old tyres were coming up to 7 years.

 

[audiorob]

Yep they are 'c' tyres, as it happens the same brand as those taken off, and I am told a common tyre used by current manufacturers - Maxmiler CX GT Radials. I think there were Nankung and Khumo alternatives with a similar spec.

 

[DaveA1]

I cannot for the life of me see what the nose weight has to do with the tyre rating. Your VIN plate gives a MTPLM so order your tyres accordingly, making things more complicated than they are.

 

[Woodentop]

I cannot for the life of me see what the nose weight has to do with the tyre rating. Your VIN plate gives a MTPLM so order your tyres accordingly, making things more complicated than they are.

As I said in my reply (second item above) the noseweight is carried by the car so has nothing to do with the van tyre rating.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I cannot for the life of me see what the nose weight has to do with the tyre rating. Your VIN plate gives a MTPLM so order your tyres accordingly, making things more complicated than they are.

As I said in my reply (second item above) the noseweight is carried by the car so has nothing to do with the van tyre rating.

The problem of looking at it that way is that most caravanners don't always know what their actual nose load is.

So it is far easier and always safer to base tyre choice on the MTPLM which does include the nose load.

 

[JonnyG]

clearly we have to assume your caravans MTPLM is 1190kg or less? assume it to be 1190kg and you have left no room for any error when weighing your tow ball weight at 70kg. is that wise ? ok so its highly unlikely you'd ever be pulled over and have your weights scrutineered but to leave no room for error .even i had tyres fitted that covered the total MTPLM of the caravan sitting stationery leaving the 80odd KG carried on the towball as room for error

 

[DaveA1]

clearly we have to assume your caravans MTPLM is 1190kg or less? assume it to be 1190kg and you have left no room for any error when weighing your tow ball weight at 70kg. is that wise ? ok so its highly unlikely you'd ever be pulled over and have your weights scrutineered but to leave no room for error .even i had tyres fitted that covered the total MTPLM of the caravan sitting stationery leaving the 80odd KG carried on the towball as room for error

The nose weight has nothing to do with the tyre rating, you say the, "80 odd kg is carried on the tow ball as room for error" I can see someone saying that if the 70kg 80kg tow ball weight is carried on the car, we can load an extra 70/80kg above the MTPLM into the van, because when we're hitched it won't show..
My vans MTPLM is 1235kg which can be up rated/re-plated up to 1350kg the tyre size is 175RC 99 Q that is a load rating of 775kg (99) and a speed rating of 160kph (Q) which is just as important as the load rating, especially if you are towing in Europe, that, people never seem to mention. That's 100kg per wheel above that needed at the higher (re-plated) MTPLM. There is certainly no room for error there. There is no mention of the nose weight. When I load my van can be between 70/85kg. i.e short trips, as against long ones.
If the OP is not sure, make sure that the load rating is good and high, like wise with the speed rating, and don't worry..

 

[otherclive]

clearly we have to assume your caravans MTPLM is 1190kg or less? assume it to be 1190kg and you have left no room for any error when weighing your tow ball weight at 70kg. is that wise ? ok so its highly unlikely you'd ever be pulled over and have your weights scrutineered but to leave no room for error .even i had tyres fitted that covered the total MTPLM of the caravan sitting stationery leaving the 80odd KG carried on the towball as room for error

The nose weight has nothing to do with the tyre rating, you say the, "80 odd kg is carried on the tow ball as room for error" I can see someone saying that if the 70kg 80kg tow ball weight is carried on the car, we can load an extra 70/80kg above the MTPLM into the van, because when we're hitched it won't show..
My vans MTPLM is 1235kg which can be up rated/re-plated up to 1350kg the tyre size is 175RC 99 Q that is a load rating of 775kg (99) and a speed rating of 160kph (Q) which is just as important as the load rating, especially if you are towing in Europe, that, people never seem to mention. That's 100kg per wheel above that needed at the higher (re-plated) MTPLM. There is certainly no room for error there. There is no mention of the nose weight. When I load my van can be between 70/85kg. i.e short trips, as against long ones.
If the OP is not sure, make sure that the load rating is good and high, like wise with the speed rating, and don't worry..

Don't quite understand what the 160kph (100mph) towing in Europe has to do with the discussion. With the exception of France most of Europe has towing limits around 50mph. Belgium and Austria are bit different but still well below 100mph. France allows motorway towing speeds of 81mph ONLY if the outfit gross train weight is less than 3500kg. And this is plated weights IE MAM and MTPLM combined irrespective of what load is actually in the car or caravan. For outfits whose Gross Train Weight exceeds 3500kg the French motorway speed limit is 56mph.
Also tyre speed ratings are for continuous operation at the rated speed so there are margins built into these products, they aren't suddenly going to fall apart.
But I do support a conservative approach to Load Index. My caravan has 220kg over the MTPLM.