Tyres

[Alex_374373826]

My van is 5 years old in March and I assume that new tyres will be needed. I know nothing about tyres and need some advice. The tyre size on the wall is 195/70R14 95N. I have looked on tyre sites and can find no comparison. I have seen somewhere else on this forum about changing the 195 part for 185, is that correct?

Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations as to tyre services apart from the likes of Kwik fit?

Thank you

Alex

 

[glen_374237991]

hi alex,

im in exact saame position as you this year, i.e 5 year old van.

im too gonna get some at the start of this year as they reccomend at least every 5 years if not earlier, i dont know much either but some companys will tell you that a car tyre will do ..... they wont tey have to be dedicated caravan tyres...not much info but usefull if you did not know that

cheers glen

 

[paddy1]

one thing you both missed out is weight load per tyre, to carry van load very important also caravan tyres are normally 8 ply try your local caravan dealer first

 

[Alex_374373826]

Thank you for comments so far. Live in Cornwall and local caravan dealers are not that local, if you see what I mean. Please keep the ideas coming though.

Thank you so far.

 

[Lutz]

The two most important things on the tyre markings are the '14' (for the wheel diameter - otherwise they obviously won't go on the existing wheels) and the '95', for the tyre load rating. The latter could be a higher number, i.e. a higher load rating, but never a lower one. mytyres.co.uk offer Maxxis CR966 tyres in a size 195/70R14 96N for

 

[Alex_374373826]

The two most important things on the tyre markings are the '14' (for the wheel diameter - otherwise they obviously won't go on the existing wheels) and the '95', for the tyre load rating. The latter could be a higher number, i.e. a higher load rating, but never a lower one. mytyres.co.uk offer Maxxis CR966 tyres in a size 195/70R14 96N for

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi Alex.so far so good as they say yes change the tyres every 5 years.

I read some time back in Practical caravan that car tyres are a deffinate nono due to weight speed etc .

Caravan dealer is a good start, althought our local tyre dealers sorted me out without any problem.

You will get somebody later with a more techie sort of answer to this one but thats it in a nutshell

Regards Sir Roger

 

[Lutz]

If you read the details of the Pirelli Chrono, Alex, you will find that it only has a '91' load rating, but you need at least a '95'.

 

[TD42]

My bailey champaign mtplm 1360kg is fitted with 195/70/R14 96n tyres I have found only 2 makes that offer the size,both makes seem to have bad reports.I have an email from bailey OK'ing the use of 185/14 commercial 102n tyres, these give a far better load/sustained speed rateing,& so better protection from blowouts

according to the tyresafe website the 195/14/96n is operating at maximum at sustained speeds with with the above load even allowing 10% safety factor to the tyre allowed axle load of 711kg per wheel

go to www.tyrsafe.org/data/files/caravano8.pdf for info

 

[Lutz]

A tyre with an 'N' speed rating is good for 140km/h (87mph) so it will hardly be operating at the maximum sustained speed if fitted to a caravan. You would already have at least a 10% safety factor there.

 

[Alex_374373826]

A tyre with an 'N' speed rating is good for 140km/h (87mph) so it will hardly be operating at the maximum sustained speed if fitted to a caravan. You would already have at least a 10% safety factor there.

Thank you all for your help. I contacted etyres by email and they said

'We have 195/70/14/S which will be ok for you and we have Bridgestone SF226 for

 

[Lutz]

As your dealers says, the Bridgestone SF226 will be OK as it has 95 load index. It is hardly surprising that it is somewhat more expensive because it is a premium run-flat tyre which the other one for

 

[gary]

The British tyre manufactures have a caravan tyre specific PDF fact sheet you can download from there 'tyresafe' website, this details the type of tyre you need and the reasons why.

This link takes you directly to it

http://www.tyresafe.org/data/files/caravan 08.pdf

 

[ERNEST_374391205]

The British tyre manufactures have a caravan tyre specific PDF fact sheet you can download from there 'tyresafe' website, this details the type of tyre you need and the reasons why.

This link takes you directly to it

http://www.tyresafe.org/data/files/caravan 08.pdf

are you sure the tyres are 5years old and are not older the reason i asked is the tyres on my van are 3 year old yet the van is only 2 year old

 

[Alex_374373826]

Thank you all for your help. This site is an internet encyclopedia of personal knowledge and a fantastic resource.

 

[TD42]

Lutz your advice is usually greatly appreciated But replacement tyres have become a thing with me Therefor I ask if you would like to check the www.tyresafe.org/data/files/caravan08pdf website & check their caravan tyre rateing table ref 195/14R/95n tyre relating to a 1360 kg s/a van & come back with your interpratation of the final two pink panels in the table relating to these tyres

Regards Tony

 

[TD42]

Lutz sorry ,correction to tyre size should be 195/70/14R 96N R

 

[TD42]

Lutz your advice is usually greatly appreciated But replacement tyres have become a thing with me Therefor I ask if you would like to check the www.tyresafe.org/data/files/caravan08pdf website & check their caravan tyre rateing table ref 195/14R/95n tyre relating to a 1360 kg s/a van & come back with your interpratation of the final two pink panels in the table relating to these tyres

Regards Tony

I make a point that the problem relating to this tyre size is purely only the fact that they are only available from manufactorers who IMO have had a poor record for tyre quality & I do not wish to rely on them for a single axle caravan due to safety reasons

 

[Lutz]

Well, according to the chart, a '96' load index corresponds to 690kg. As the caravan is a single axle, i.e. it has two tyres, the tyres would have a total load carrying capacity of 2 x 690 = 1380kg. The MTPLM of the caravan is 1360kg. Assuming a noseweight of 75kg, the axle load will be 1285kg. So, you will have a safety factor of (1380-1285)/1285 = 7.4%.

 

[hughdavies]

I know from first hand experience how bad brand new looking 6 year olds can be. But what about the spare?? is that ok? or change that as well.

 

[gary]

As the nose weight is only on the car while it's attached and then can only be guaranteed while stood still, I cannot agree that this can be deducted from the weight on the caravan axle.

Looking at the table the most suitable tyre to my mind is the 185/75/14/102 this is identical in rolling diameter to the 195/70/14 and has an adequate load index, this giving a mid range pressure for that tyre of 50/51psi.

Plenty of choice as well!

 

[Lutz]

If the caravan is not hitched up to the car and the noseweight isn't acting on the towball, it will be supported by the jockey wheel. The noseweight is therefore never acting on the axle(s). The tyres are therefore never taking the full weight of the caravan (unless, of course, the load distribution is so poor that the noseweight is zero, but that should never be the case).

If this were not the case, the tyres on a big articulated lorry would have to be capable of taking the full weight of the semi-trailer, for example.

 

[gary]

While on the move the tow hitch load cannot possibly be static, the van is basically a see-saw and the load will vary from plus 75kg to below zero, ie, it will at times try and lift the back of the tow vehicle!. The set nose weight is purely a base line.

The 5th wheel of an articulated truck is designed to carry roughly 40-50% of the trailer load, not the average 5-7% static nose weight of a caravan. This then radically alters the extra load that the trailer rear wheels might have to withstand, nevertheless the loading must be dynamic to some degree.

The point about the extra load capacity is though two hold, yes it will help if you clip a kerb or whatever, but, the greater proportion of the reason is withstanding the static load for long periods while in storage or on site.

If it was on the road all day everyday it would not be needed.

Ultimately with this particular query is the availability of the original tyres of a suitable make, the higher 102 load index gives a better choice and the price is not an issue, surely then, an all round win win solution?

 

[colin_374340395]

While on the move the tow hitch load cannot possibly be static, the van is basically a see-saw and the load will vary from plus 75kg to below zero, ie, it will at times try and lift the back of the tow vehicle!. The set nose weight is purely a base line.

The 5th wheel of an articulated truck is designed to carry roughly 40-50% of the trailer load, not the average 5-7% static nose weight of a caravan. This then radically alters the extra load that the trailer rear wheels might have to withstand, nevertheless the loading must be dynamic to some degree.

The point about the extra load capacity is though two hold, yes it will help if you clip a kerb or whatever, but, the greater proportion of the reason is withstanding the static load for long periods while in storage or on site.

If it was on the road all day everyday it would not be needed.

Ultimately with this particular query is the availability of the original tyres of a suitable make, the higher 102 load index gives a better choice and the price is not an issue, surely then, an all round win win solution?

go for commercial van tyres reinforced side wall as standard bit pricy but will do the job i e carry the load