Van tyres

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi All, Further to RobertÔs thread started in January, I have an Avondale Osprey currently touring Spain. We recently had blow out in two tyes in the space of 60 miles. Both tyres (maxmillars) were a right off ( the second actually carried away the waste system for the van)

1. These tyres have a maximum load of 775kg. The max load on the van is 1450kg -- not a lot of margin.

2. Avondale recomend 65psi. Tyres marked for max 65psi--again not a lot of margin.

I have spoken to the Techies at the Caravan Club and their advice is to change from 175 R14 to 185 R14 and reduce the tyre pressure to 54psi. Still using the 99N rating.

On the face of it, it seems a good idea, they tell me that the wheel arch will take the extra profile so it should be OK.

I would welcome comments and ideas from forum boffins before I actually commit myself to buying them.

I await your replies in the sunshine.

Clive

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Clive,

I find the tyre choices between standard Euro-fit and UK-fit quite interesting.

Our Eriba Triton (MTPLM = 1200 kg, MiRO = 800 kg) is fitted with 195/70R14 section tyres running at 2.5 bar (that about 37 psi) - compared your case of tyres running close to the max load rating and max inflation pressure.

I'd certainly try to follow the CC recommendation - a 185 section tyre at a lower inflation pressure.

As the CC guy said it's worth checking that there is room to fit a 185 section tyre inside your wheel arch, but a difference of 10mm (3/8th of an inch) surely isn't going to be noticeable.

What is worth checking is that your caravan wheel rim is OK for a wider section tyre - hopefully it will be and just check with your tyre fitter - because our Eriba runs the standard ALKO pattern wheel and 195 width tyres.

Robert

 

[rayc]

Clive, I thought that one of the advantages of the supplying 14 inch wheels in place of 13 inch ones was that lower pressures would result? I cannot see why Avondale would use a tyre size that are at maximum load and therefore requiring maximum pressure, as difference in cost is minimal. Perhaps you could replace your 175's with 195's? I cannot see that 20mm increase in width should cause a problem with wheel arch clearance.

Look at www.tyreline.com they have loads of info on caravan tyres.

 

[BigAl1]

Clive.

When a tyre states its max pressure, believe it or not that does not mean that it the max pressure that you can put into the tyre. It means that that is the pressure that must be in the tyre for it to carry its max weight.

I discovered this when I talked with Dunlop's Technical boffins when I was concerned with car towing pressures.

In fact the Dunlop man said that the max pressure stated on a tyre sidewall should be worded MIN pressure to carry MAX weight.

Hope this is not confussing and I do agree that this conflicts with what many helpsheets tell.

Al