Towng with different-sized spare on van

[Gafferbill]

Back to tyres
.........my memory of 1990 caravans of up to 1200kgs is that their tyres were on 13 inch rims.
I would be suspicious of a previous owner changing the specification.
Maybe worth a bit of research and checking the caravan is good to tow.

 

[Kiwimike]

Back to tyres
.........my memory of 1990 caravans of up to 1200kgs is that their tyres were on 13 inch rims.
I would be suspicious of a previous owner changing the specification.
Maybe worth a bit of research and checking the caravan is good to tow.

I drove it 100 miles home on A/B roads and all was good. He added movers and an ALKO hitch, all done properly. Have sorted a same size spare now so all good

 

[trevormonty]

The spare rating is 96, the fitted tyres are 88 - or 560kg. The van was originally plated for 1000kg, then uprated to 1200kg by the last owner.

It has a MiRO of 820kg - it's had movers added (+32kg) so still has 268kg to match the tyre maximum. I think that's plenty for a 2-berth

The existing tires loading rating is to low you should be looking to upgrade them. Factory tires normally have 10-20% over and above MPTLM. In your case 96 is probably about right. Time will only reduce tires carrying capability. Run right tire pressure for load, see tire datasheet. The recommended pressure in caravan manual will only be valid for factory tires.
I ended up replacing 195 96 rating with 185 104 as that is all I could source, MPTLM is 1100kg. 184 had slightly larger diameter ie 20mm. Had to adjust motor mover clearance.

Check torque on nuts after wheels have been changed, in my case steel spare has lower torque setting than alloys.
NB I'm still carrying original 195 spare which is >7yrs but has been kept in caravan out of sun and has factory sticker still stapled to thread. Hopefully I'll never need to put it to test.

 

[Kiwimike]

The existing tires loading rating is to low you should be looking to upgrade them. Factory tires normally have 10-20% over and above MPTLM. In your case 96 is probably about right. Time will only reduce tires carrying capability. Run right tire pressure for load, see tire datasheet. The recommended pressure in caravan manual will only be valid for factory tires.
I ended up replacing 195 96 rating with 185 104 as that is all I could source, MPTLM is 1100kg. 184 had slightly larger diameter ie 20mm. Had to adjust motor mover clearance.

Check torque on nuts after wheels have been changed, in my case steel spare has lower torque setting than alloys.
NB I'm still carrying original 195 spare which is >7yrs but has been kept in caravan out of sun and has factory sticker still stapled to thread. Hopefully I'll never need to put it to test.

As mentioned, we would need to be taking a quarter-ton of luggage to match the tyre load rating. That’s never, ever going to happen, so I’m happy with the tyres.

I think you should revisit your rationale re spare tyre life. 7 years even in a bag is seven years of exposure to oxygen and 2,555 heating/cooling/freezing/thawing cycles day to night. That’s what kills a tyre, not use.

We just purchased a 2011 V70 with a spare from 2004! Reading up the horror stories of apparently unused spares only a few years older than yours disintegrating on first use, I’ve binned that and paid £100 for a brand new rim and tyre. The industry advice seems to be to replace spares between 6-10 years old, whether used or not. For £100 all up every 5 years I’m not taking chances.

 

[Lutz]

Putting things a bit into perspective, although I swap tyres on the caravan every 6 years because it is a relatively heavy one (1800kg) and it’s used quite regularly, I also have a 750kg trailer which I bought in 2008 and is not used a lot. The tyres on that are still the original ones and show absolutely no signs of deterioration.

 

[Kiwimike]

Putting things a bit into perspective, although I swap tyres on the caravan every 6 years because it is a relatively heavy one (1800kg) and it’s used quite regularly, I also have a 750kg trailer which I bought in 2008 and is not used a lot. The tyres on that are still the original ones and show absolutely no signs of deterioration.

That’s flat out dangerous. It’s not the look of the tyre, it’s what’s inside and how the rubber has aged and hardened internally. Your ~20YO trailer tyres are a 60MPH A-road delamination waiting to happen. Even the briefest Googling of the topic will show you many cases of people damaging or in some cases destroying their cars or trailers/vans using tyres they swore were perfectly good. Up to you.

 

[GUMPY]

It's UV (sunlight) that degrades tyres.
Keeping them covered when not in use helps to prevent this.
As an example my inflatable jockey wheel which is in sun all the time is cracking and showing signs of ageing, the spare one I have that was bought at the same time and has been on a shelf in the garage is in perfect condition, it will get swapped before next trip.

 

[Kiwimike]

It's UV (sunlight) that degrades tyres.
Keeping them covered when not in use helps to prevent this.
As an example my inflatable jockey wheel which is in sun all the time is cracking and showing signs of ageing, the spare one I have that has been on a shelf in the garage is in perfect condition, it will get swapped before next trip.

Again, the briefest of searches shows that UV is just one factor. Exposure to oxygen, ozone and temperature cycling are unavoidable if you leave the tyres on the vehicle. 10 years is what most manufacturers advise. Some less. At 20 years old, you’re just rolling dice and hoping. That’s the firm opinion of the entire industry, road safety bodies, governments (it’s literally illegal to fit tyres older than 10 years to the front of commercial vehicles), and a lot of people far smarter than you or I on the topic.

 

[Buckman]

Many caravans from brand new come fitted with tyres that are up to 3 years old. Most cars today do not have a spare and if they do it is a space saver which never sees light of day during the car's life time.

 

[otherclive]

Again, the briefest of searches shows that UV is just one factor. Exposure to oxygen, ozone and temperature cycling are unavoidable if you leave the tyres on the vehicle. 10 years is what most manufacturers advise. Some less. At 20 years old, you’re just rolling dice and hoping. That’s the firm opinion of the entire industry, road safety bodies, governments (it’s literally illegal to fit tyres older than 10 years to the front of commercial vehicles), and a lot of people far smarter than you or I on the topic.

Following a severe tragic accident in September 2017 on the M5 northbound near Bristol caused by a very old tyre on a motor horse box, tyre age rules were introduced. 10 years from date of manufacture for certain categories of vehicle, but not caravans or cars. I actually passed the scene travelling south minutes after it occurred. The horse box had crossed from southbound to northbound. I’m always ultra cautious on tyres. 5 years on the caravan was my change periodicity. Our cars either require changing at or before 5 years anyway, or if not down to 3mm, 7 years would be my max. I always use quality tyres too.

Tyre age restrictions for goods vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses

www.gov.uk

 

[Kiwimike]

Many caravans from brand new come fitted with tyres that are up to 3 years old. Most cars today do not have a spare and if they do it is a space saver which never sees light of day during the car's life time.

Yup. And it’s terrifying. Of course your personal chances of being involved in a collision with another vehicle caused by their aged tyres is probably up there with being bitten by a shark or hit by lightning (I’m sure someone will be along promptly with the actual stats 😎)

For me it’s 100% selfish. I don’t want to live with the knowledge I killed a family member or someone else for want of a £100 tyre every 5 years.

This as @otherclive mentioned is f’ing terrifying: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-47403571

Why it’s not actually illegal to run tyres older than 10 years on cars is a scandal. I guess the political blowback is seen as too large for any party to consider it, no matter how many lives would be saved each year.

 

[GUMPY]

My jockey wheel tyre is 2 years old and cracked due to UV.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Space saver spare wheels have different rolling radius to the wheels/tyres they are replacing, so clearly that isn't a concern on safety grounds as they would be banned if it was.
Personally I wouldn't be worried, you may never actually need to use your spare, but I would keep my speed down and get the original fixed ASAP.
Others clearly hold a different view, that doesn't necessarily mean that either viewpoint is wrong though.

 

[Dustydog]

Space saver spare wheels have different rolling radius to the wheels/tyres they are replacing, so clearly that isn't a concern on safety grounds as they would be banned if it was.
Personally I wouldn't be worried, you may never actually need to use your spare, but I would keep my speed down and get the original fixed ASAP.
Others clearly hold a different view, that doesn't necessarily mean that either viewpoint is wrong though.

VW supplied me with one of these space savers. Their manual is very clear on the scope of usage.I have to accept VAG know what they are talking about. Mine has never been used yet on the used market they command ridiculously high costs

 

[otherclive]

VW supplied me with one of these space savers. Their manual is very clear on the scope of usage.I have to accept VAG know what they are talking about. Mine has never been used yet on the used market they command ridiculously high costs
View attachment 9400

My two space savers are both clearly marked as your wheel is 50mph/80kph. Also I had a a Skoda Superb 4WD estate and it’s spare was a16 inch steel wheel, whereas it’s OEM alloys were 17 inch. The combination of the width and aspect ratio of the tyre was such that its rolling diameter was almost the same as the OEM alloys. It was still marked 50mph/80kph but was suited for towing positioned in any of the four wheels, and for any distance given that the tyre was a standard road tyre. A typical practical solution by Skoda. Far better than its predecessor XC 70 with a skinny spare 50mm less diameter than its OEM alloys.

 

[Buckman]

I wonder if the government will ever bring in legislation regarding the age of a tyre? I could save lives

 

[Dustydog]

I wonder if the government will ever bring in legislation regarding the age of a tyre? I could save lives

I think they are more concerned with rubber things in the Channel at the moment😉

 

[Buckman]

I think they are more concerned with rubber things in the Channel at the moment😉

We are getting tyred of hearing about that imported rubber and total inaction. LOL! 🤣

 

[Lutz]

I wonder if the government will ever bring in legislation regarding the age of a tyre? I could save lives

I wonder if there is any data which supports evidence of a link between tyre age and traffic accident deaths. I suspect not. However, I do think that the probability is even greater due to underinflation and that is something that has nothing to do with tyre age.

 

[Kiwimike]

I wonder if there is any data which supports evidence of a link between tyre age and traffic accident deaths. I suspect not. However, I do think that the probability is even greater due to underinflation and that is something that has nothing to do with tyre age.

If there was no link, why is it illegal to have 10yo tyres on the front of commercial vehicles? Govt in the pocket of Big Tyre 😉

 

[Hutch]

If there was no link, why is it illegal to have 10yo tyres on the front of commercial vehicles? Govt in the pocket of Big Tyre 😉

Remember commercial tyres on HGV can be retreads, covering hundreds of thousand miles in 10 years.