- Nov 11, 2009
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Whilst I agree that the tyre makers will have built in their margins on speed and load for caravans I have tended to go for mid range tyres and since 2005 I bought FRT trailer or latterly "C" rated light truck tyres Although around 20017 when we restarted caravanning I went for Hankook Vantra C rated, which were not much more expensive than mid range tyres.A tyre manufacturer produces a tyre to cope with a clearly displayed speed and load. I expect they know exactly what they are doing when then specify both dont you? Think of the reputational damage even if there is ever half a suggestion that a tyre failed due to it being run near, at, or even a little above its designated load rating.
In addition I doubt very much that there isn't a pretty substantial safety margin built into any classification.
Does anyone worry if their cars tyres are very close to the designated loading? How many drivers even know that their tyres have a load rating? Or even that their car has axles and gross permitted weights?
My cars tyre size is made by many different manufacturers, I am happy to fit those that are in the mid price range. Some cost nearly double, so does that mean they are twice as good, or that the mid range ones are only half as good as the super expensive ones.
Trust me when I tell you that something like 90% of drivers never get anywhere near the limit of the tyres on their car, and would almost certainly be bricking it if anyone took them anywhere near such limit (as I have done a fair few times over the years with other officers having a few days attachment to traffic)
Everyone has the right to spend their money as they wish, but in my experience (30 years as a traffic cop, and many as a collision reconstructor where tyre adhesion is a very important factor) I have driven many cars, of many makes, at some VERY high speeds and am not at all convinced of the "value" of fitting expensive tyres (unless on a track, but thats a whole different ball game).
Others are, of course, totally at liberty to hold a different viewpoint, but is that viewpoint based on fact, hearsay, what a mate down the pub reckons, "gut feeling" just supposition, or clever marketing by tyre manufacturers? ?
For caravans tyres it was price and a known established brand as the wet and dry braking performance, aquaplaning resistance, fuel economy and noise etc aren't key priorities. I just wanted them to hang together on trips. If they suit WVM then they are okay for me.
However for cars I take different view, especially since the more comprehensive review sites do show a distinct difference between the performance of premium tyres and mid range tyres. Whilst I don't drive any where near to the tyres limits of performance I am comforted to know that providing I can hit the brake pedal hard enough my car will stop in a shorter distance with its premium tyres as opposed to lower rated tyres. The same philosophy applies to aquaplaning resistance and cornering handling wet/dry, and noise too.
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