Having just retired and now with lots of time to do what we want, we
are heading of to Scotland and Ireland for six weeks. We bought our
present caravan just over a year ago, a 2001 Bailey Pageant Magenta. 
The tyres looked in perfect order, good tread, no cracks or wear, but
I have heard and seen so many horror stories where the tyres
disintegrate because of age I thought it best to be safe and put new
ones on. I wasn't looking forward to all the hassle of jacking up the
van, taking the wheels off and taking them to a tyre depot, which
would be easier than trying to get the van into a depot.
I found etyres on the web. Placed an order at about 4 yesterday
afternoon, and he arrived at the door at 11 this morning. Fitted a
pair of Pace 165/80R13C 8ply to the van in the driveway and the total
cost was £79.20. I am well pleased.
The old tyres were manufactured in 2000, 8 years old. I was playing
Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
been changed long ago.

John
---

Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.

"artleknock"  wrote in message n

> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
> been changed long ago.
> 

Why was there an unseen problem with them?
Did your tyre expert point it out to you?

-- 
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

I have a 2001 Pageant and also felt that it was time to change the tyres.
I took then into the local tyre centre and was told they are perfectly good, 
there is no need to change them.  I know that the fitter there is an expert 
but for my own peace of mind I bought one new tyre and fitted it along with 
the spare (it had never been off the carrier).

"David"  wrote in message 
news:vLgUj.29362$jn6.6654@newsfe08.ams2...
>
>
> "artleknock"  wrote in message n
>
>> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
>> been changed long ago.
>>
>
> Why was there an unseen problem with them?
> Did your tyre expert point it out to you?
>
> -- 
> Regards,
> David
>
> Please reply to News Group

>>> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
>>> been changed long ago.
>>>
>>
>> Why was there an unseen problem with them?
>> Did your tyre expert point it out to you?
>>
>> -- 
>> Regards,
>> David
>>
>> Please reply to News Group 
>
I used to work for Michelin (I was a tyre finisher - don't ask) we
used to be issued with a set of company tyres for our private
vehicles. It was a ridged rule that on no account was a tyre to be on
a vehicle for more than five years. The rubber reacts with Oxygen in
the atmosphere and hardens, as it gets older it will take less stress
before it breaks up, and don't forget that a caravan is the weight of
a small car on TWO wheels.
The tyre fitter also said that they should have been replaced a couple
of years ago, and he was an employee, no skin off his nose if I never
changed them.
A caravan that has had a tyre shred is not a pretty sight, even if it
stays on two wheels.

On 7 May, 14:26, artleknock  wrote:
> >>> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
> >>> been changed long ago.
>
> >> Why was there an unseen problem with them?
> >> Did your tyre expert point it out to you?
>
> >> --
> >> Regards,
> >> David
>
> >> Please reply to News Group
>
> I used to work for Michelin (I was a tyre finisher - don't ask) we
> used to be issued with a set of company tyres for our private
> vehicles. It was a ridged rule that on no account was a tyre to be on
> a vehicle for more than five years. The rubber reacts with Oxygen in
> the atmosphere and hardens, as it gets older it will take less stress
> before it breaks up, and don't forget that a caravan is the weight of
> a small car on TWO wheels.
> The tyre fitter also said that they should have been replaced a couple
> of years ago, and he was an employee, no skin off his nose if I never
> changed them.
> A caravan that has had a tyre shred is not a pretty sight, even if it
> stays on two wheels.

The Caravan Club position (from a members only technical link) is
that
"Tyres should ideally be replaced when five years old, and should
never be used when more than seven years old"
They further go on to say that this wiew is supported by their
research into caravan tyre failures.
That's good enough for me.

"Lunar475"  wrote in message 
news:2fbbf4d5-e135-4be9-b560-a686e21c18a7@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> The Caravan Club position (from a members only technical link) is
> that
> "Tyres should ideally be replaced when five years old, and should
> never be used when more than seven years old"
> They further go on to say that this wiew is supported by their
> research into caravan tyre failures.
> That's good enough for me.

i used to work for the breakdown services, it was many years ago now, but i 
can clearly recall a fair few accidents caused by tyres failing at high 
speed, some resulting in fatalities, and when checked the tyres were always 
found to be over 7 years old.

One i remember very well was a 10 year old car, bloke had replaced his tyres 
when the car was about 6 years old as he wore them out, but left the spare 
alone as it had never been used,

He ran over some debris in the road, puncturing one of his tyres, so he 
pulled over, put his 'as new' spare on, and tootled off again at 70mph, he 
got about 10 miles up the road, and whilst overtaking someone that 'as new' 
spare tyre blew out, he went into the central reservation barrier, bounced 
back into the car he was overtaking, which bounced him back into the barrier 
where he over turned and did a couple of sommer saults accross the 
caridgeway before coming to a rest a few feet from a bridge parapet.

no one was seriousely hurt that time, but he wrote off 2 vehicles for the 
sake of a 50 quid tyre, he kept on saying when i was sweeping the remains of 
his car up off the road 'the tyre was like new, never been used, is the 
origional spare that came with the car'

he's never heard that tyres age even if not used,

thing that's worrying is all these adverts for the tyre slime stuff that 
fixes punctures as they happen, i've used it my self in a scooter and dog 
trailer, and it works, got 3 punctures that were sealed with less than 2psi 
pressure drop, only knew about them when i noticed the pressure drops when 
checking the tyres and spotted the tell tale marks that a puncture has been 
sealed.

But these sealants are being sold as extending the life of tyres, some claim 
they do this by keeping them cool, now correct me if i'm wrong, but heat is 
something you need in a tyre to keep it sticking to the road, that's 
especcialy true for motorcycles, more accidents happen on cold tyres than 
hot ones,

I have just bought a 10 year old caravan.
Can you tell the age of a tyre from the lettering on the side?
If not, how does one tell the age?

Colin


"artleknock"  wrote in message 
news:62132414pj5kftfd7u09lhl5b85655tcph@4ax.com...
> Having just retired and now with lots of time to do what we want, we
> are heading of to Scotland and Ireland for six weeks. We bought our
> present caravan just over a year ago, a 2001 Bailey Pageant Magenta.
> The tyres looked in perfect order, good tread, no cracks or wear, but
> I have heard and seen so many horror stories where the tyres
> disintegrate because of age I thought it best to be safe and put new
> ones on. I wasn't looking forward to all the hassle of jacking up the
> van, taking the wheels off and taking them to a tyre depot, which
> would be easier than trying to get the van into a depot.
> I found etyres on the web. Placed an order at about 4 yesterday
> afternoon, and he arrived at the door at 11 this morning. Fitted a
> pair of Pace 165/80R13C 8ply to the van in the driveway and the total
> cost was £79.20. I am well pleased.
> The old tyres were manufactured in 2000, 8 years old. I was playing
> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
> been changed long ago.
>
> John
> ---
>
> Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.

On Fri, 9 May 2008 07:51:44 +0100, "Colin Jackson"
<cojack6ATbtinternetDOTcom> wrote:

>I have just bought a 10 year old caravan.
>Can you tell the age of a tyre from the lettering on the side?
>If not, how does one tell the age?
>
>Colin

http://www.pneus-online.co.uk/reading-tyre-markings-advice.html

"Colin Jackson" <cojack6ATbtinternetDOTcom> wrote in message 
news:Ut-dnTSY_9gZab7VnZ2dnUVZ8qfinZ2d@bt.com...
> I have just bought a 10 year old caravan.
> Can you tell the age of a tyre from the lettering on the side?
> If not, how does one tell the age?
>
see
http://www.towitall.co.uk/NTTA_law/trailers/tyres.htm
Every one has different view on changing tyres, CC seem to like us to spend 
money, I get the Tyre Experts to examine mine.  Remember those that say 
change when a tyre is say 5 years old, should apply their rule from date 
tyre made and not fitted.   A tyre you get fitted might well have not been 
made yesturday!   It could have been made a while ago.

After the present towing mirror situation created by the CC I feel I can't 
now always take what they say as in my best interests.  I have been to my 
caravan dealers who now find people not buying the mirrors they have. They 
are expecting a big apology from the CC.


-- 
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

David wrote:

>Every one has different view on changing tyres, CC seem to like us to spend 
>money, I get the Tyre Experts to examine mine. 

Since the worry is the gradual and invisible deterioration of the
tyre materials, perhaps you can tell us exactly what techniques
your "Tyre Experts" use to evaluate this, and what state any tyre
was in when they have advised replacement.

Chris
-- 
Chris J Dixon  Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk

Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

"Chris J Dixon"  wrote in message 
news:9t0824h6gai4srf0leme05k65999v60a8b@4ax.com...
> David wrote:
>
>>Every one has different view on changing tyres, CC seem to like us to 
>>spend
>>money, I get the Tyre Experts to examine mine.
>
> Since the worry is the gradual and invisible deterioration of the
> tyre materials, perhaps you can tell us exactly what techniques
> your "Tyre Experts" use to evaluate this, and what state any tyre
> was in when they have advised replacement.
>

They always looked very good to me, and they have never said a replacement 
recomended, always passed them for another seasons use.
My present caravan 4 years old from new so a couple of years before we hit 6 
years old then will ask the Experts again if still using this caravan.
We use the caravan more than some and I do think lack of use does more harm 
to tyres than use.   Guess that not provable, but say if from my handling of 
Film projectors, drive belts always gone in unused projectors.

-- 
Regards,
David

Please reply to News Group

I had a tyre blow out on my Avondale last year going to Scotland.  I fitted 
the spare and carried on up.

I stopped at about 5 tyre fitters on the way before I could find one that 
had a tyre that was compatible with the van. All of the fitters told me that 
I needed a van tyre and that they only sold car tyres.

Just a thought. Are the tyres you bought rated for a van or car. My Avondale 
van is about 1.5 ton. All sitting on 2 tyres. The side walls have to be that 
little bit thicker.

John.

"artleknock"  wrote in message 
news:62132414pj5kftfd7u09lhl5b85655tcph@4ax.com...
> Having just retired and now with lots of time to do what we want, we
> are heading of to Scotland and Ireland for six weeks. We bought our
> present caravan just over a year ago, a 2001 Bailey Pageant Magenta.
> The tyres looked in perfect order, good tread, no cracks or wear, but
> I have heard and seen so many horror stories where the tyres
> disintegrate because of age I thought it best to be safe and put new
> ones on. I wasn't looking forward to all the hassle of jacking up the
> van, taking the wheels off and taking them to a tyre depot, which
> would be easier than trying to get the van into a depot.
> I found etyres on the web. Placed an order at about 4 yesterday
> afternoon, and he arrived at the door at 11 this morning. Fitted a
> pair of Pace 165/80R13C 8ply to the van in the driveway and the total
> cost was £79.20. I am well pleased.
> The old tyres were manufactured in 2000, 8 years old. I was playing
> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
> been changed long ago.
>
> John
> ---
>
> Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.

"News"  wrote in message 
news:48241663$1_3@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> I had a tyre blow out on my Avondale last year going to Scotland.  I 
> fitted the spare and carried on up.
>
> I stopped at about 5 tyre fitters on the way before I could find one that 
> had a tyre that was compatible with the van. All of the fitters told me 
> that I needed a van tyre and that they only sold car tyres.
>
> Just a thought. Are the tyres you bought rated for a van or car. My 
> Avondale van is about 1.5 ton. All sitting on 2 tyres. The side walls have 
> to be that little bit thicker.
>
Interesting the report on Scotland, just wondering if they did not want to 
help an Englishman.   Here in England I find that most tyre firms will not 
have the tyre in stock, they pick the 'phone up and in 10 to 15 mins a tyre 
arrives.  Whilst waiting they remove the old one.

I saw a demo. of a car tyre on a caravan, WOW it did bend outwards with the 
weight!

-- 
Regards,
David

On Fri, 9 May 2008 10:16:24 +0100, "News"
 wrote:

>I had a tyre blow out on my Avondale last year going to Scotland.  I fitted 
>the spare and carried on up.
>
>I stopped at about 5 tyre fitters on the way before I could find one that 
>had a tyre that was compatible with the van. All of the fitters told me that 
>I needed a van tyre and that they only sold car tyres.
>
>Just a thought. Are the tyres you bought rated for a van or car. My Avondale 
>van is about 1.5 ton. All sitting on 2 tyres. The side walls have to be that 
>little bit thicker.
>
>John.

You need to look for a 6 or 8 ply rating which are normally fitted to
vans and trailers. The side walls on a normal car tyre are far too
flimsy to support the weight of the van and cannot be used at the tyre
pressure recommended for the axle weight.

John
-----
Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.

Many thanks

Colin

"artleknock"  wrote in message 
news:2ku724lb3i4rdlhmp7m6eveqb82ci83mbm@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 9 May 2008 07:51:44 +0100, "Colin Jackson"
> <cojack6ATbtinternetDOTcom> wrote:
>
>>I have just bought a 10 year old caravan.
>>Can you tell the age of a tyre from the lettering on the side?
>>If not, how does one tell the age?
>>
>>Colin
>
> http://www.pneus-online.co.uk/reading-tyre-markings-advice.html

artleknock used his keyboard to write :
> The old tyres were manufactured in 2000, 8 years old. I was playing
> Russian Roulette every time I went out with them, they should have
> been changed long ago.

Age is not the only factor to be considered. If the tyres are in the 
sun an with the van parked in one position for extended periods of 
time, then yes - they need to be changed more frequently.

Mine is parked in the shade and I move it regularly to prevent flat 
spots from developing. Tyres can be in storage for years before they 
are actually fitted, so the date is only a guide to the date of 
manufacturer, not how long they have been in use.

As you correctly indicate the amount of tread is no guide to the real 
condition of a tyre. When checking my tyres on the van I ignore the 
tread - you are highly unlikely to wear one out - I just check for the 
slightest sign of perishing, lumps and splits.

-- 
Regards,
        Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

We have an S registration Ford Ka my wife uses to go to work which although 
9 years old (6 with us) has done less than 30,000 miles. Last year we were 
horrified when the exhaust needed replacing to have it reported to us by the 
exhaust centre that the rear tyres were original and perished. The car had 
of course gone through all it's MOT's and services without problems and we 
had lost track of their age.We now try to check tyres more frequently! THere 
must be many other users with low mileage vehicles in similar ignorance of 
the age of the tyres.

Peter

"artleknock"  wrote in message 
news:d1c8245v5aajh1hb5adva7ftbodouha2o6@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 9 May 2008 10:16:24 +0100, "News"
>  wrote:
>
>>I had a tyre blow out on my Avondale last year going to Scotland.  I 
>>fitted
>>the spare and carried on up.
>>
>>I stopped at about 5 tyre fitters on the way before I could find one that
>>had a tyre that was compatible with the van. All of the fitters told me 
>>that
>>I needed a van tyre and that they only sold car tyres.
>>
>>Just a thought. Are the tyres you bought rated for a van or car. My 
>>Avondale
>>van is about 1.5 ton. All sitting on 2 tyres. The side walls have to be 
>>that
>>little bit thicker.
>>
>>John.
>
> You need to look for a 6 or 8 ply rating which are normally fitted to
> vans and trailers. The side walls on a normal car tyre are far too
> flimsy to support the weight of the van and cannot be used at the tyre
> pressure recommended for the axle weight.
>
> John
> -----
> Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.
>
>

"Peter Balcombe"  wrote in message 
news:86DVj.47000$6a2.23900@newsfe17.ams2...
> We have an S registration Ford Ka my wife uses to go to work which 
> although 9 years old (6 with us) has done less than 30,000 miles. Last 
> year we were horrified when the exhaust needed replacing to have it 
> reported to us by the exhaust centre that the rear tyres were original and 
> perished.

I'm always extremely sceptical about anything 'found' by a fast-fit type 
place.

Out of interest, what do you mean by 'perished' and was this shown to you 
and  clearly visible before the tyres were removed?  I suspect they just got 
the tyres age from its markings and put the frighteners on you.  Did they 
also suggest you have the tracking done at the same time, another easy money 
trick?

I'm not saying keeping tyres for 9 years is a good thing, I just don't trust 
fast-fit type centres.

Rgds

Andy R