Tyre size

[Andrewt16adc]

I dont know that much about size, i have checked the tyres on the caravan they are 165/70/14. The manual says they should be 195/70/14. Does this make any difference the tyres was on the van when i bought it.

 

[Jaydug]

Yes - It certainly does matter. Your tyres are narrower than those which the manufacturer calculated your van requires to carry its weight. If the tyre size is wrong, then the weight ratio is also probably wrong. Tell us what van you have and its MTPLM. That will also be in the handbook.

 

[Andrewt16adc]

Its an abbey adventura 314 2001 model

 

[Jaydug]

As far as I can tell, the Maximum weight of your van will be just over 1200Kgs. in which case providing the load index is correct, the 165's should be ok. Are you sure the 195 size you've found in your handbook is the size for your model. Often handbooks are printed to cover a whole range of vans. Looking at your tyres, where it's marked 165x14 - what else does it say? The figures/letters which follow are important.

 

[Andrewt16adc]

In the book it say 195/70r14 91

 

[Jaydug]

On the tyres fitted to your van, what else does it say after 165x14? What follows?

 

[Andrewt16adc]

I have misread details they are 195/70r14 91t. There is also E4. 0029818. 0705a. I cannot see anything obvious about the tyres are.

 

[Woodentop]

More importantly what is the date code on the tyre? It will be a burnt-on code such as 9935 close to the wheel rim in an oval 'box.'. 9935 means the tyre was made in week 35 of 1999.

Your tyres should not be older than 7 years and these days 5 years is considered getting on a bit.

 

[Craigyoung]

As i found out on ours a few year back , i keep van in spotless condition , as if its new , tyres still looked brand new , tread still thick untill told they were not road worthy during a service due to the cracks between the tread , which you cant notice unless you look !

 

[Jaydug]

More importantly what is the date code on the tyre? It will be a burnt-on code such as 9935 close to the wheel rim in an oval 'box.'. 9935 means the tyre was made in week 35 of 1999. .

Tyre manufactured before 2000 only had a three digit code on them. The first two showed the week in which they were produced with the last digit denoting the year. It was assumed that a tyre wouldn't last longer than 10 years.

 

[Andrewt16adc]

I have looked on both sides of both tyres the only codes i could find are 0705a and 029818 the tyres are made by vredestein.

 

[otherclive]

More importantly what is the date code on the tyre? It will be a burnt-on code such as 9935 close to the wheel rim in an oval 'box.'. 9935 means the tyre was made in week 35 of 1999.

Your tyres should not be older than 7 years and these days 5 years is considered getting on a bit.

I thought that the manufacture date is month first followed by year. 0711 would be July 2011.
If the 0705 is manufacture date then the tyres are well beyond any safe use period and should be scrapped. The spare too especially if it's over 6 years even though it may never have been used.

 

[Andrewt16adc]

It would not surprise me if they are the original tyres, i only bought the caravan on gumtree 12 months ago, but i will get prices from kwik fit and my local caravan dealership and get prices for new tyres. I have done around 2000 miles travelling in last year but time to get them replaced.

 

[Jaydug]

I thought that the manufacture date is month first followed by year.

The first two digits denote the week in the year so 07 would be middle of February.

 

[otherclive]

I thought that the manufacture date is month first followed by year.

The first two digits denote the week in the year so 07 would be middle of February.

Oops a senior moment. That's what I get after being on the M25 today !!!

 

[Woodentop]

It would not surprise me if they are the original tyres, i only bought the caravan on gumtree 12 months ago, but i will get prices from kwik fit and my local caravan dealership and get prices for new tyres. I have done around 2000 miles travelling in last year but time to get them replaced.

Don't bother with K-F or a caravan dealer - you'll pay through the nose.

Just Google the tyre size ensuring that you select an 8-ply reinforced tyre usually also depicted as extra load or XL. They are normally van tyres. The main manufacturers such as Michelin do them but a a mid-range brand such as Avon or Hankook (and Vredenstein) will be just as good. I got my Avons from Just Tyres at the best price.

Some points:
If the tyre is, say, 185R14C L104/102 you will need to enter 185/80R14 as the size since most sites require a profile and 80 is 'standard'; the C may or may not be present, it is of no consequence; you may have difficulty getting L104/102 but L102/100 will do the job.

195/70R14 91{letter} means a tyre that has a tread 195mm wide, has a tyre wall that is 7/8 of the tread width or about 171mm, has a 14inch rim (i.e. wheel) and 91 is the load code. There should also be a letter after the load code which indicates the speed rating - if you are Googling enter R here as that is one of the most common speed ratings for commercial tyres.

 

[takisawa2]

After suffering a blow out in Devon I had mine replaced by a commercial tyre fitter, (Commercial as in he did mostly van & truck tyres).
He looked up my tyres but said at their 750kg max limit they were right at the limit if our Swift was at it's 1500kg MTPLM.
I went for a slightly wider tyre, rated at 850kg.
It towed so much better.
Manufacturers often design & spec to a budget, I've no doubt a new "std" tyre would have been fine but after the blow out I take no chances.