caravan tyres...

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 22:34
ThreadID: 86717 Views:4930 Replies:8 FollowUps:7
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Has anyone got any information on what age caravan tyres should be replaced??? That is providing there is still plenty of tread. I don't want to get caught with side wall splits or other degenerative issues. Is there an Australian standard or manufacturers recommendation. Are there any insurance issues if a tyre is past a certain age and blows causes damage??
Carts.
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Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 22:56

Thursday, Jun 02, 2011 at 22:56
Hi Carts

While reports on forums and media say that tyres may not last after five or six years from manufacture, a tyre dealer I spoke to about this did not believe the theory at all. He said keeping them covered rather than out in the sun was more important for longevity. We had taken the tyres from our 2004 manufactured F250 and put them on our caravan, and in 2009, one blew (outer casing blown right off). There was plenty of tread on this and the other tyres from the set. The spare was at this stage virtually unused hence i asked him about the five year theory. I am still concerned that the other tyres from the set may not last, but we have not been on any long trips since 2009. With four wheels, a blown tyre is not going to cause much damage so we will leave the tyres we have on the caravan. The van is stored out of doors so tyres are not covered from the sun. Some people put cardboard or similar to shade their tyres when parked up at home.

Motherhen
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Follow Up By: Ray - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 07:36

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 07:36
I must correct you on one matter. A blown tyre can cause damage. I have had the wheel arch of my caravan demolished by a blown tyre.
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Follow Up By: Member - Meggs - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 08:03

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 08:03
I agree blowing a tyre doesn't nothing good for the wheel arch but in addition it is where you blow your tyre is more serious. Blow one on a busy highway and you really have problems changing it.

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Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 16:28

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 16:28
Depends on how it blows, if out the sidewall, no real drama, but if the tread seperates from the case, it can do quite a bit of damage as the tread whips around in side the guard, or wrap around the inside of the axle.

Shane
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 18:29

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 18:29
Yes, and the tread did blow off. There was really not much more than strings left. We were running reduced pressures having come off a dirt road although not low enough to expect that to be the cause. We were very lucky as we were on a narrow bitumen road with drop offs either side, and with a few trucks on the road, it was not safe to change the road side tyre. We were able to travel a few kilometres without further damage until a farm track.

We have a very bent and broken rear mudguard on our Landcruiser trayback from a tyre blowout (a near new tyre), so can see the forces exerted.

If you go through threads on this subject, some people have reported using tyres many years past the five year mark with no problems - maybe they made them stronger year ago.

Mh

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Reply By: Member - Bucky - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 04:01

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 04:01
Carts
Just google your question.

Remember one thing though, if an insurance company can find a way out of paying, they might well use the age of the tyres, as an excuse.

For piece of mind, replace them if old.

Cheers
Bucky
AnswerID: 456200

Follow Up By: Olsen's 4WD Tours and Training - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 04:24

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 04:24
Five to six years is the normally accepted maximum age. UV light does hasten the degradation.
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:31

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 06:31
While UV does have a detrimental effect, so does ozone and you won't stop that by covering them.
They start to deteriorate from the day they are made. If you are loading them to 100% of their design load, I would be very conservative about their age limit.
If you use a tyre which has a load capacity well above the actual load carried, then maybe 7 or 8 years would be OK?
From memory, Michelin will not retread anything over 5 years old.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID: 456204

Reply By: Member - Rob D (NSW) - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 07:36

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 07:36
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have conducted research into tyre aging and have found that tyres in the warmer states, such as Nevada and Texas, degrade quicker than those in the cooler northern states. They recommend replacing tyres after 6 years whether they are used or not.

In the US over the past decade there has been an average of circa 400 people killed per year due to tyre failures.
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 08:26

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 08:26
While I have no argument with replacing tyres at five years old, I certainly dont practise it. I have a Baby Freighter farm trailer with tyres that are 50 year old, carries
huge loads & never had a tyre issue. That will come getting the studs off..:)))). I have
several Dean tipping trailers of ages up to 40..no tyre issues there either. Yes I know
they are low use etc & not comparable to on road usage. I put 20 year old splits on
my hilux during summer when it becomes a fire unit & no tyre gets rougher treatment
than on fire grounds. I think maybe they are so hard now as to be impregnable.
No farmer changes tractor tyres due to age...too bloody expensive. All the tyres on my
daily drivers (2), hilux, & Jackaroo are over 5 years old as shared usage dictates, with
no issues that can be attributed to age. I inspect carefully, run high pressures, &
replace when wear dictates...works for me...cheers....oldbaz.
AnswerID: 456213

Follow Up By: Member Bushy 04(VIC) - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 19:36

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 19:36
Doing the same as you Oldbaz, tyres over 5yrs cannot afford to replace them all the time. If the tyre wear is down or showing signs of damage then it gets a new set, I check my tyres regularly.


Bushy
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Follow Up By: Mark C - Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 20:42

Friday, Jun 03, 2011 at 20:42
Oh, some common sence, not very common now days.
Well said Oldbaz.
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Reply By: Member - Charlie M (SA) - Saturday, Jun 04, 2011 at 19:58

Saturday, Jun 04, 2011 at 19:58
5 Years is what I recommend to my customers
Cheers
Charlie
AnswerID: 456384

Reply By: Ianw - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 18:02

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 18:02
From the Bridgestone tyre site


How old is too old?
This is a subject of much debate within the tyre industry and no tyre expert can tell exactly how long a tyre will last. However, on the results of experience many tyre companies, including Bridgestone, warrant their tyres against manufacturing and material defects for five years from the date of manufacture. Based on their understanding a number of vehicle manufacturers are now advising against the use of tyres that are more than six years old due to the effects of ageing.

Site Link

Ian
AnswerID: 456468

Reply By: carts - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:13

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:13
Thanks you all for your replies.. I note no one had anything to say about insurance companies policies regarding tyres . has any one had any bad experiences with insurance coys. avoiding a payout or reducing a payout because of old tyres contributing to an accident??????????

Carts

AnswerID: 456484

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