New Tyres

Morning.

Need to replace 2 Tyres on the rear of my Van.
Noted although in good condition they are 2010. So too old and worried that Insurance could be void if a blow out? Advised by ex AS Specialist doing mobile repairs in Leicestershire that could become part of MOT soon.

So happy to get new ones asap, peace of mind as well when on the motorways. Any advice on quality and type, considering weight of vehicle, not used a lot, and future life. I hope to be doing say 3000 miles a year starting now, maximum 5000.

Looking at Firestone for around £70 each fitted. 

Any comments please or point me to a previous similar discussion thread on this.

Cheers Min

Min from LFE wrote:Morning.

Need to replace 2 Tyres on the rear of my Van.
Noted although in good condition they are 2010. So too old and worried that Insurance could be void if a blow out? Advised by ex AS Specialist doing mobile repairs in Leicestershire that could become part of MOT soon.

Well he would say that wouldn’t he ! No proof yet that dated tyres will be part of MOT test.

Lots threads on replacing tyres on the forum at the moment Min, everyone has a preference, I generally replace with Continental Vanco, dearer but stronger side walls if your static for longer periods.
Boaby

Roymck wrote:

Min from LFE wrote:Morning.

Need to replace 2 Tyres on the rear of my Van.
Noted although in good condition they are 2010. So too old and worried that Insurance could be void if a blow out? Advised by ex AS Specialist doing mobile repairs in Leicestershire that could become part of MOT soon.

Well he would say that wouldn’t he ! No proof yet that dated tyres will be part of MOT test.

Tyre age for MOT only applies to buses and hgv at present...

"In November 2018 the government updated the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guidance on maintaining roadworthiness, to the effect that tyres of 10 years of age or older should not be used on the front or steering axles of heavy goods vehicles as well as buses and coaches."


Plenty of advice though from manufacturers, tyre fitting companies and Caravan Club etc.

Looks like I am going down the road of new tyres soon.

Just checked the Warwick tyres, 42/14 first reg 01/2016, they are all the same date, loads of tread on all 4 at 17500 miles mostly French toll roads at legal speed.
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Richard

Thanks to all for comments and advice.
Hoping to get two new tyres early next week.
Min

Back in 2018 I purchased a 2008 campervan. It had 2015 tyres on the front but the rears were original equipment, 10 years old and crazing all over the sidewalls. We went away on a shakedown trip and had a call from a friend who was joining us, that her van had suffered a blowout on the way. Her van was also 2008 with original tyres. Our two rear ones were replaced the following week!!!

The first trip out in our Rienza was to Holland for a week. I checked the tyres before we bought it and the tyres looked to have plenty of tread and no sign of any cracking. There was no mention of any tyre issues on the MOT that was carried out before we bought it.
When we got back from Holland I had a closer look over the tyres. They all had cracks in the treads so I checked the age of the tyres. Not easy when the date markings are on the inside. They were all as fitted on build. They were Continental Vanco Not camper just normal van tyres. 
Considering the motorhome has been stood for nine months I think that can’t have helped tyres of that age. We didn’t drive much on the autobahn when were away so our speeds were never very high but it could have caused a lot of problems if one of the tyres had let go.
A bit closer checking on the MOT and an advisory about tyre age would have been a great help.

The MoT still doesn't cover tyres, unless under the tread limit. The government keeps saying that they're working on adding a regulation into the MoT but I can't think why it's taking them so long. A motorhome usually does v low mileage, so it's unusual for tread wear to be an issue, but mileage is what keeps tyre rubber supple and age plus brittle rubber is a deadly combination.

steamdrivenandy wrote:Back in 2018 I purchased a 2008 campervan. It had 2015 tyres on the front but the rears were original equipment, 10 years old and crazing all over the sidewalls. We went away on a shakedown trip and had a call from a friend who was joining us, that her van had suffered a blowout on the way. Her van was also 2008 with original tyres. Our two rear ones were replaced the following week!!!

Last year our next door neighbours bought an old motorhome and set out in it with their kids on their first trip. Going round the M25 a rear tyre burst, they lost control, span round and came to rest facing the wrong way on the hard shoulder. By a miracle they didn't hit another vehicle. All tyres were found to be old and the rims were too rusty to fit new tyres, so they ended up with replacement wheels (second hand) and five new tyres. They were fortunate, but the incident has made me acutely aware of the need to check on one's tyres.

Early last Summer we were driving north on a newly opened Smart Motorway section of the M6 near Knutsford. That meant four running lanes and no hard shoulder. Suddenly there something happened about four or five vehicles ahead. Dust and smoke and sudden movement. Brake lights went on. All this happened in a second. And a tall white vehicle up ahead angled from Lane 2 to Lane 1, happily avoiding any contact.

It was a largish motorhome, about 15 years old, at a guess, and as we went past, out of the corner of my eye I could see the rear offside tyres was shredded and sparks and smoke were coming from the wheel and surrounding bodywork. The driver had slowed down but he had nowhere to go for safety. The first lay by was about half a mile up the road.

We read later that he made it there but by then the rear of the van was well alight. On our return trip we spotted the layby complete with large blackened area of tarmac and burned grass on its banking.

I'd take money that the van was running on original tyres. I also would be inclined to take money that it was a newly collected van. What a baptism for a newbie driver. And how irresponsible for governments to sanction Smart Motorways that put people into such dangerous situations.

IanH wrote:Richard

Mine are now just 8yrs old, plenty tread, 23000 miles, now see these pics........

Seems to me that you should be! My new ones next Friday...........

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thank you, they are on my list for next spring as no fast trips planned at all till we can travel.

At the moment we only go to Hayling Beach at a steady 30 mph, I know accidents can still happen!

Strange about MOT, I have been advised that on my car once the tyres we cracking where your photo shows, maybe the testing was just being cautious.
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Richard

steamdrivenandy wrote:The MoT still doesn't cover tyres, unless under the tread limit. The government keeps saying that they're working on adding a regulation into the MoT but I can't think why it's taking them so long. A motorhome usually does v low mileage, so it's unusual for tread wear to be an issue, but mileage is what keeps tyre rubber supple and age plus brittle rubber is a deadly combination.

Hi Sorry,the mot does cover more on tyres than the tread limit.
Type of tyre,mixture of tyres etc
Also Lumps,bulges,cuts,punctures or tears.
Visible signs of ply and cords.
For some reason not pressure or the spare.
So more testing required.
I always wonder why Caravan tyres are not tested. Some are driven at 70 mph.
Me with my nearly new tyres being overtaken by a 500 Pound caravan with 20 year old tyres for instance.

Micky

It’s a while since I was doing MOT testing but the point that comes to light is the age of tyres. As I said you have to be lucky to be able to see the date markings on most tyres. 
We are one of the few countries that have no form of road safety test or registration for trailers or caravans. The habitation check by some places is a joke. 
When I was working on the local buses the traffic office would tell the drivers to drive back to the depot if they had puncture on one of the double rear wheels. This was stopped when a driver from another depot did this a long way from his depot and travelling on the motorway. The friction between the tyres caused the bus to catch fire.

Ah but the habitation check is just a habitation check and quite simple. The servicing of the base vehicle is where tyre issues should show up. The two things are totally seperate.

steamdrivenandy wrote:The MoT still doesn't cover tyres, unless under the tread limit. The government keeps saying that they're working on adding a regulation into the MoT but I can't think why it's taking them so long. A motorhome usually does v low mileage, so it's unusual for tread wear to be an issue, but mileage is what keeps tyre rubber supple and age plus brittle rubber is a deadly combination.

I had my MOT in June on an Auto Sleeper Symbol 2005 and there was an advisory on the tyres. When I queried this the tester said that small cracks were appearing on the side wall, but also stated that due to covid19 that if my mileage was low at the next MOT it could still be an "Advisory". Next MOT. So time to change them. Not worth the risk.