Just had two almost unused 8 ply LT Dunlop tyres changed   on the van  after one  had the tread separate from the case at about  60 KPH. The only warning was a short duration flapping  and it was off  the case in one piece , the casing  held up until I got it off the road then collapsed   .  According to the dealer Dunlop  tyres over 5 years old regardless of  tread wear are prone to tread separation .

thats why I never buy dunlop, my bridgestones on the camper are well over that, and the re 92's on the magna are over that as well and I often cruise at 120 kph

G'day,

Take a look at this site.

http://www.etyres.co.uk/consumer-information/caravan-tyres.htm

Paragraph 3 is of interest.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

Ps : This bridgestone site is also of interest.

http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/passenger/care/age.aspx

-- Edited by JRH at 11:41, 2009-01-17

a lot of assumptions are made in amongst that lot, a "normal" tyre on a motor vehicle kept in a dry shed overnight and used in everyday applications will far exceed the 5 year Bridgestone warranty, expect to see tyres still running fine after ten years, we have if a vehicle is parked in the sun, kept under inflated and only used occasionally the 5 year limit will definitely come into play, these conditions will cause premature eruption of the side walls and in SOME cases heat, as in driving, will lengthen a tyres life apart from wear and tear, a tyre does not like to be left sitting in the sun even marginally under inflated for extended periods, the cleanliness of a tyre actually plays a part as well, strangely enough, dirt will quickly infiltrate a tiny crack and make it very large very fast, thereby allowing moisture in to rust the steel bands and cause failure the quality of the tyre is a major factor, cheap is not better, the rubber compound or what suffices for rubber is far below the quality par of a decent tyre, that cheap cho-sun or whatever tyre will take 5 years to mean a very long time and will exhibit signs of separation very quickly we regularly see tyres exceeding the 5 years and apart from a causal factor, perform very well years after that

G'day,

Let us make another assumption, a caravan used on a part time basis for say 3 - 4 months of the year and then spends the rest of the time sitting in the driveway would in all probability be a candidate for new tyres after 5 -7 years, whilst a caravan on the road on a permanent basis and subject to all weathers would possibly be be a candidate for new tyres earlier.

I agree that, a "normal" tyre on a motor vehicle kept in a dry shed overnight and used in everyday applications will far exceed the 5 year Bridgestone warranty, but how many caravans are kept in a dry shed overnight.  It may be prudent to look at the 5 year limit as a yardstick and after checking the condition of the tyres make a decision as to the need to renew said tyres or not.

John.

 

yep fully agree with that, if the tyre is (1) out in the weather, whether it is on the road, sometimes parked or sitting in a driveway it is a candidate for early retirement (2) if the tyre is on the road but sheltered, as in covered up or in shade it is marginally better off than scenario no 1 and may last a little longer because in theory you are using it (no flat spots) and you are keeping the pressures up where they are supposed to be (3) if tyres are sitting for long periods, no pressure check and very little movement I doubt they would last 5 years (4) tyres in daily use and checked regularly will exceed the 5 year warranty period or the manufacturer would not warrant them for 5 years in the first place just checked my Bridgestone Bison LT's tyres on little blue and all five were replaced in early 2000 making them 8 plus years old and not a sign of wear or deterioration, just rotated them on Thursday, I expect to get at least another three years at least out of them, I will sell her before then, must have a look at how many km's they have done but they are doing exceptionally well I am about to set off with little blue on a journey to Tassie and back clocking up an expected 3,000 plus kilometres and I expect no trouble from any source, particularly tyres, in fact they will be the last thing on my mind, fan belts, radiator hoses, heater hoses, traffic getting through melbourne are way in advance of tyres, I cant remember my last flatty in all the years of traveling I have not had a problem with tyres, look after them, don't listen to the know alls, keep your pressures correct FOR YOUR VEHICLE through trial and error and they will last you a very long time indeed your last statement intrigues me, before anyone sets off anywhere, do they not check the condition/eye the rough pressure of tyres, I do every time, I fire up the old girl then do a walk around, check tyres, blinkers, brake lights, try to get away before the dragon sees I'm gone, wash windscreen and just an all round observance, only a fool fires up and goes to be honest I have seen tyres fail after 12 months of installation and then I have seen them last forever, well in excess of ten years, who knows all the reasons, I have worked in the tyre retail industry for quite a while now and have seen it all come and go, two tyres will go out, one will last for a lifetime the other could be back within a week?????????, we just write it up and send the failures back!!! dont question anymore

yep, just keep an eye on them, if in doubt change them, cant hurt to do it every five years, tyre retailers will love that!

as a quick and easy check, place your palm on the tread and move your hand around circumference of the tyre, any internal belt separation that may not be visible before a big bang will show up as a variation in the feel generally as a bulge. Moving your hand in both directions will also show up any initial scrubbing as tread blocks will feel sharper and slightly raised in one direction or the other if scrubbing is occurring long before you can see it.

Also it pays to check the date code on tyres especially if you are offered new ones cheap as they can be old before you actually get them.
Date of Manufacture is shown on the sidewall of all tyres as part of the DOT (U.S. Department of Transport) code found close to the wheel rim. Example of a code is DOT A87C DEF 699, the final set of three, or four, numbers being the date code. Tyres made between 1990 an 1999 use a three digit code followed by a triangle and indicate the month and year in which the tyre was made (699 being June 1999). From 2000 onward a four digit code is used to show the week and year (0102 being the first week of 2002). A small number of tyres may not have the DOT code but in these cases the date of manufacture may still shown elsewhere on the tyre, for instance if you see as a separate group of letters 4202 that is definitely 42nd week of 2002.

regardless of the date code, if you have a tyre failure for any reason take it back to your supplier, the warranty period begins the day they are fitted even if the tyres are "out of date"

You don't hear much about retreads and remoulds these days do you.... I ALWAYS used retreads; and have 2 on my box trailer that must be 15  years old, though I don't use it that much....
There was a place in Queanbeyan that sold retreads and unbelievably cheap prices, not untill I got the Jackeroo did I start using new tyres....

Ok I'll answer my own question;

Retreaded Tyres
The motor traffic regulations require that all retreaded tyres fitted to motor cars (omnibuses excepted), motor car derivatives and multi-purpose vehicles on and after January 1 1980 comply with the provisions of Australian Standard AS 1973, Retreaded Pneumatic Car Tyres. The standard requires, among other things that an identification of the retreader, and the words "Retread" and "Speed Limited" are permanently and legibly moulded on the retreaded passenger car tyres.	The identification may be provided either by the name, registered trademark or other means, such as a code number assigned by the Motor Traders Association of NSW. The speed limits of 120km/h and 140km/h apply to retreaded cross ply car tyres and radial car tyres respectively

I guess the speed and load rating of modern tyre placards on vehicles precludes their use. Certainly a "green" solution though, helps with the ongoing problem of what to do with used tyres.....

ahh!! now theres something that has come along in leaps and bounds, if you want value for money for your trailer you cant go past retreads I remember when I was a youngster I never bought a tyre for donkeys years on my first car, I bought a set of retreads and they kept flying apart so the company kept replacing them, never had to buy tyres, but as the distances got greater and my reliance on my motor vehicle increased I had to go to newies a set of bridgestone wildcats was my first foray into the radial age, I hated them they "steered" themselves instead of following the surface of the road and I didnt have to chase them everywhere like the old crossplys but now retreads are almost as good as new ones, but I wouldnt set out around australia on them

Is there such a great saving to be had in using retreads compared to the price of new tyre. Not sure if I'd like to push a retread to 120 kph

in real terms "NO" but they would be more than capable of sustained speeds in excess of 120k's, the modern retread (branded ones,) are a far cry from earlier models, the mark up on these things is absolutely phenominal, but we dont sell many because of the old days and the "stigma" attached to them, "oh you got retreads, cant you afford proper tyres" I would be more than happy to have a set on my trailer but not on my car or little blue, the way we live, we could and do shoot off anywhere, anytime at the drop of a hat and I dont want tyres in the back of my mind