Tyre Pressure "Help"

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Folks, I had my caravan serviced in May 07, I asked the service engineer to replace the tyres with new ones which he did. The problem I have is my caravan hand book says the tyre pressure should be 65psi, the maximum pressure of the new tyres stated on the side wall is 44psi. The caravan is a 2004 Swift Challenger 500se. Should I take them back to my service centre or what.

Any advice appreciated.

Graham (Ponty)

 

[rayc]

what make and model of tyre is fitted to the van now i.e the speed / load rating and the size e.g 185 R 13 8C. I guess the caravan is single axle MPTLM approx 1500kg?

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Ray, Thanks for getting back.

Make/model: Firestone F-580

Size: 175 80 R14 88T

Load: 560 Kgs 1235 Lbs

Not sure if this is the speed rating H41 or is it the 88T

MTPLM of van: 1465 KG

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Ray, Thanks for getting back.

Make/model: Firestone F-580

Size: 175 80 R14 88T

Load: 560 Kgs 1235 Lbs

Not sure if this is the speed rating H41 or is it the 88T

MTPLM of van: 1465 KG

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

Sorry Single Axle

 

[Hamer_5041128]

If the load of each tyre is 560kgs and your MPTLM is 1465kgs then it would seem that the tyres are not up to the job, as 560 x2= 1120kgs.

I would give your local tyre centre a phone call and check whether your new tyres match the ply rating and weight rating of the origonals.

Hamer

 

[rayc]

Graham, It appears that the tyres are not up to the task. 88T means they are rated up 118mph at max load but as hamer has said this is only 560kg per tyre. They appear more like a car tyre than the commercial van tyres, (6 or 8 ply reinforced), which are normally fitted to caravans of that weight. With the weight of your van you should be looking at tyres with a load rating of 735kg per tyre with a speed rating of 80 mph or so. If there is the physical room in the wheel arch then an upgrade to 195 tyres may also help with the choice.

I am no expert so take independant advise.

 

[GrahamPonty]

Thanks Ray & Hamer, I only noticed this today when I was checking the tyre pressure ready for our trip to North wales tomorrow. You would think the service centre would know what they are doing when you ask them to change the tyres.

I don't quite know what to do now, is the service centre at fault, am I at fault for not checking, where do I go from here!!!

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

 

[BrianStAlbans]

They are at fault as the tyres are "not fit for purpose"

thats assuming you told them what they were for.

Brian

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Brian, Thanks for getting back. The service centre had the caravan in for a service with the old tyres on the wheels there was no chance of them not knowing what they were for.

Thanks

Graham (Ponty)

 

[rayc]

graham, your course of action is to get them replaced asap. I suspect that the weight of your van unloaded is just about the tyres weight limit. In the meantime do not drive for long periods at max speed.

Your handbook should specify the tyres to be fitted to your van e.g. 96N 175 R 14C. The fact that the pressure is rated at 65 psi indicates to me that they are Commercial (light van ) tyres (the C after 14). Ray

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Ray, Thanks for getting back. I have changed the tyres and put the old ones back on which I had put on new steel rims and were going to use as winter storage tyres. I will contact my service centre on Monday and they can pick up the tyres asap and get them changed for the right ones.

We are off to Anglesey North Wales now, keep you posted with the results.

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Graham,

Well done on spotting this fact. How many of us don't bother to check that the tyres are correctly rated after having new ones fitted?

Based on the information in the previous posts you have supplied, In my opinion I have no doubt that the service centre is clearly at fault.

They had a clear instruction from you. (I assume you did not instruct them to fit a particular make or lower specification) and they have supplied goods that are definitely not fit for purpose by fitting tyres of lesser specification that the caravan manufactures design.

As a business trading as a caravan service centre they should have adequate expertise about the specification and fitting of spare or replacement parts for caravans. It is not unreasonable for you to rely on their 'expertise' to carry out the job to the correct specification.

The supply and fitting of inadequate tyres is in my opinion is fundamental negligence on their part, especially as they had 'pattern' to follow, and 'working' knowledge of caravans.

The service centre should be bending over backwards to help resolve this failure on their part. I would venture to suggest that they should be prepared to replace the tyres at no extra cost to you.

I must point out though, If you took these inadequate tyres on the road, the caravan would be classed as un-roadworthy. As the driver of the vehicle you are solely responsible for the vehicles condition and compliance with the statutory regulations. I hope and assume no incident occurred whilst on the road but during this journey your insurance would have most likely be invalid.

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi John, Thanks for getting back, I bought the caravan second hand in May this year (2004 Swift Challenger 500se)for my own piece on mind I had it serviced and the new tyres fitted at the same time. The original tyres were only 21/2 years old when we bought the van. Luckily I decided to keep them and have them fitted onto steel rims to use as winter storage tyres, so it was no problem fitting these back on instead of the new tyres on the alloy rims

I guessed my insurance would be invalid with these tyres fitted lucky for me that I keep the old ones.

We are now on holiday at Anglesey, North Wales, and will give the servive centre a call first thing Monday morning.

Thanks to everyone who has offered advice on this matter.

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Everyone, The latest update on my tyre problem. I phoned my service centre this morning (Pontypridd Caravans Service Centre) and explained the problem to them, they were very apolgetic and said they would sort it out. It turned out they had taken the tyres and rims to a tyre depot to have them changed, the invoice for the tyres says the ones that should have been fitted to the rims should have been light commercial tyres. It seems there was a mistake at the tyre depot where they fitted the wrong tyres.

The tyres were picked up from my home before lunch time and will be returned with the right tyres fitted.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply and offer advice to this post, and also thanks to Pontypridd Caravans Service Centre for sorting out the problem so promptly.

Regards

Graham (Ponty)

 

[mistermac]

Something I will bear in mind when I need my tyres replacing.

How often should you change your tyres, by the way?

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Mark, I think the recommended time limit is five years, but it depends on the condition of the tyres. Myself I take the good tyres off during the winter and put an old pair back on while in storage, that way the good tyres are not left to the elements of the weather, the good tyres are then washed, then stored in the garage out of sunlight.

Hope this helps

Graham (Ponty)