I was reading something the other day where it stated that when registration safety checks are done on caravans, tyres must be less than ten years old.
Whilst this makes sense, I was wondering how often and at what time frame do other posters renew their caravan tyres, regardless of wear.
I think the tyres on my van have been on since the van was built and although my van has not done many kilometres and the tread is still very good, perhaps they should be changed.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Mike Harding said
01:23 PM Feb 4, 2020
We have touched on this before and there were widely differing opinions with some insisting tyres should be discarded at five years.
This subject implies tyres have a "Use by" date so when buying new tyres we should ensure the date on them is as recent as possible?
However it's a reasonable guess a tyre stored in a warehouse will do not deteriorate at anything like the rate a tyre used on the road and subject to sunlight will.
So if the "five year" people buy a new tyre manufactured two years ago do they discard it after three years? I suspect not.
I rather think this is one of those subjects internet forums love to get on their high-horse about rather like 15 amp to 10amp adaptors.
In 50 years of owning vehicles in many countries I have never discarded a tyre due to its age but rather because inspection indicates the tyre has done its duty by me - never had a tyre fail either except due to the normal punctures caused by foreign objects.
DMaxer said
02:53 PM Feb 4, 2020
Thanks Mike. I casually mentioned the subject to another camper recently and was given a pretty solid sermon about the so called "five year rule". What made me think about it again was when Possum posted the regs regarding registration of vans and the regs mentioned ten years. It made me wonder about five years and whether this was to get us all to keep buying tyres whether we needed them or not.
Radar said
03:30 PM Feb 4, 2020
DMaxer wrote:
I was reading something the other day where it stated that when registration safety checks are done on caravans, tyres must be less than ten years old.
Whilst this makes sense, I was wondering how often and at what time frame do other posters renew their caravan tyres, regardless of wear.
I think the tyres on my van have been on since the van was built and although my van has not done many kilometres and the tread is still very good, perhaps they should be changed.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Hi DMaxer.
I was at my tyre sales who has been very good to me, technically, knowledge and friendly. When I mention that the caravan tyres were coming up to 5 years old for 3 of them, 1 and the spare are 10/2012, his remark was that they are still to good to just throw away showing no external damage e.g.. cracks, wear. Just run them out this year.
None of the tyre companies that he has dealt with for over 40 years have no written agreement on tyre life but did mention that the tyre industry works at not having tyres sitting in warehouses waiting for sales and in reality today most tyres are sold with in 6 months of manufacturing. But he did say anything older then 7 years could become a bit unreliable.
So instead of selling me 4 new tyres for the caravan back in November 2019, we will do it perhaps at the start of our 2021 touring season. To us is his honest approach to sales, 2x4 tyres for the car and 1x4 for the caravan. The last set of tyres on the car on his advice and encouragement we did another 15 thousand kilometres before replacing the tyres. A good bloke.
Hope this is of some help.
Whenarewethere said
03:34 PM Feb 4, 2020
Get TPMS & you will get a warning as soon as something goes wrong.
elliemike said
04:30 PM Feb 4, 2020
Whenarewethere wrote:
Get TPMS & you will get a warning as soon as something goes wrong.
Yep wise words.
My TPMS (Tyre Pressure monitoring System) has informed me about Tyre pressure reduction quite a few times. Four of those were actual punctures and repairable.
Twice over the years it was the valve leaking, (A) one needed replacement Valve, which I had with me, (B) and one in Tennant Creek was the Valve Rubber Stalk cracked.
At least it gets you stopped early to get out, investigate and possibly save the tyre from further damage.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 04:31:11 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 05:01:47 PM
Cupie said
04:32 PM Feb 4, 2020
Whenarewethere wrote:
Get TPMS & you will get a warning as soon as something goes wrong.
I wondered what TPMS meant but good old google informed me that it stood for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
Don't have one of them but both my van & Patrol tyres are around 7 years old but with lots of tread left.
I am planning a SW Qld trip this year & intend to put on a new set all round.
I did have a very old tyre on the Patrol start to loose its tread some time ago ... went thump thump thump, fortunately ... better than a blow out.
One that had sat on the back of the van as a spare for a long time (perhaps 10 years) before I used it to replace a punctured tyre started to shed its tread after about 1000km but a passing motorist alerted me to the flapping tread before it went bang.
blaze said
05:05 PM Feb 4, 2020
had a pereill Tyre 90% tread 2 years old, delaminated at 100kmh but didn't blow
had a coaster Tyre blow 80% tread 7 years old, front lhs (fitted 2 new front)
another coaster tyre blow,inner lhs rear, 11 years old, 90% tread (now fitting all new rear tyres)
These are the unuasal tyre problems I have had over my years of driving, when I purchased the coaster I was advised by the previous owner that tyre pressure was 70psi. They had at the very least driven from cains to tassie. The tyres have 90psi all around now as the dealer I have used for 40 years reckons the constant running at a lower pressure and not age is the cause of the tyres blowing.
cheers
blaze
elliemike said
05:13 PM Feb 4, 2020
Cupie wrote:
I did have a very old tyre on the Patrol start to loose its tread some time ago ... went thump thump thump, fortunately ... better than a blow out.
One that had sat on the back of the van as a spare for a long time (perhaps 10 years) before I used it to replace a punctured tyre started to shed its tread after about 1000km but a passing motorist alerted me to the flapping tread before it went bang.
If shredding happens on a Caravan or Camper trailer and you don't get to it in time (I write this from experience) It can cause a great deal of Damage. The delaminated tread can smash through the mudguard into the inside of the van or camper. Take out all your brake wiring, and wrap itself so tight around the axle and other gear you need an angle grinder to cut it off.
Luckily I had some good welders gloves with me when it happened to me, as the metal in the tyre is lethal on your hands. I spent a long time with a Hacksaw slowly removing the delaminated tread on the side of a narrow but busy road. That incident prompted me to get a TPMS. It's about the Price of a good 4x4 tyre. It only has to save one and it's paid for itself.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 05:14:23 PM
Whenarewethere said
06:46 PM Feb 4, 2020
elliemike wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
Get TPMS & you will get a warning as soon as something goes wrong.
Yep wise words.
My TPMS (Tyre Pressure monitoring System) has informed me about Tyre pressure reduction quite a few times. Four of those were actual punctures and repairable.
Twice over the years it was the valve leaking, (A) one needed replacement Valve, which I had with me, (B) and one in Tennant Creek was the Valve Rubber Stalk cracked.
At least it gets you stopped early to get out, investigate and possibly save the tyre from further damage.
It has saved us 3 new tyres in the outback, so well & truely paid for itself. Plugged tyres & we were on our way & still had both spares.
Gives you more options & a lot of piece of mind.
It does take longer changing tyre pressure daily for different surfaces in the outback, but soon you get efficient, & keeping in mind that while driving you have continuous monitoring of the tyres which is priceless!
In the photo the rear right is a bit low, was going down slowly about 3psi over about 3 days. We found a screw in the tyre.
All modern cars have TPMS software built-in. It is just turned off for Australia as by law our country does not require TPMS. So you could turn it on if you are good at coding, or get your manufacturer to turn it on & get the TPMS transmitters from the car's manufacturer. The only issue is it for 5 wheels, & in the outback most of us carry 2 spares for the car.
It is easier to buy a third-party TPMS, & get one for 4, 6 or 8 wheels, & if you do have to exchange a wheel, move the external TPMS to the new wheel.
when wher etc, if you get a small length of 13mm ld(soft poly pipe0 and put it over valve stem, it minimizes the flap and apparent wheel rim damage caused by the sender unit of tpms.
Whenarewethere said
09:55 PM Feb 5, 2020
There is zero damage on the rims, they are just dirty as I rarely wash the car. Also a shadow in the photo. The only marks on the rims are from gutters.
It would be easier to put in a second valve as it would save time taking off & on the TPMS everytime we change tyre pressure.
Tony Bev said
09:26 AM Feb 8, 2020
DMaxer wrote:
I was reading something the other day where it stated that when registration safety checks are done on caravans, tyres must be less than ten years old.
Whilst this makes sense, I was wondering how often and at what time frame do other posters renew their caravan tyres, regardless of wear.
I think the tyres on my van have been on since the van was built and although my van has not done many kilometres and the tread is still very good, perhaps they should be changed.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
It appears to me, (I am not a techi)
If a state rego people say that, a caravan tyre must not be over 10 years of age, then that is the maximum tyre life, in that state
Some years ago now, I purchased a second hand caravan, (private sale), which looked like it had good tyres One tyre blew out, and caused damage to the caravan
I run Michelin tyres on my motorhome, because a motorhome is like driving a vehicle fully loaded to its capacity at all times, I renew my tyres every six years
Michelin say that after five years, check the tyres each year, and to renew them after ten years, even if they look OK
My van is a single axle model TB, and after hearing all the horror stories I think I will just replace the two tyres. They are seven years old with the spare on the back having never been used.
Pretty false economy if one shreds or blows so I think I will just get a couple of new ones and then work on my next problem.
Thanks for all the helpful advice from the other members too.
elliemike said
11:10 AM Feb 8, 2020
DMaxer wrote:
My van is a single axle model TB, and after hearing all the horror stories I think I will just replace the two tyres. They are seven years old with the spare on the back having never been used.
Pretty false economy if one shreds or blows so I think I will just get a couple of new ones and then work on my next problem.
Thanks for all the helpful advice from the other members too.
In my previous post on my experience of shredding a tyre and the damage it caused.
I did not mention the damaged wheel rim as well. I was able to repair/straighten this myself with heat and tools, when I got to my mates house in Noosa.
The Tyre that destroyed itself, was the "Spare" that was on the van when I bought it. Never used and was 5-7 years old. The rim as well of course was new of course and had never been used.
I had put the spare on a month earlier, and it only travelled about 4000 Klm before shredding on a good sealed road going into Noosa Qld.
Thirty minutes before, we had left our overnight camp area I went around the Ute and Avan checking all the pressures with a gauge. All were OK.
I have since always warned people to rotate the spare and get it on the road. Wear it out on the road and not let it die of boredom on the back of the caravan.
The tread of the tyre after I cut it off was in good nick, No holes or puncture through it. I suspect the tyre wall gave out.
I was reading something the other day where it stated that when registration safety checks are done on caravans, tyres must be less than ten years old.
Whilst this makes sense, I was wondering how often and at what time frame do other posters renew their caravan tyres, regardless of wear.
I think the tyres on my van have been on since the van was built and although my van has not done many kilometres and the tread is still very good, perhaps they should be changed.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
We have touched on this before and there were widely differing opinions with some insisting tyres should be discarded at five years.
This subject implies tyres have a "Use by" date so when buying new tyres we should ensure the date on them is as recent as possible?
However it's a reasonable guess a tyre stored in a warehouse will do not deteriorate at anything like the rate a tyre used on the road and subject to sunlight will.
So if the "five year" people buy a new tyre manufactured two years ago do they discard it after three years? I suspect not.
I rather think this is one of those subjects internet forums love to get on their high-horse about rather like 15 amp to 10amp adaptors.
In 50 years of owning vehicles in many countries I have never discarded a tyre due to its age but rather because inspection indicates the tyre has done its duty by me - never had a tyre fail either except due to the normal punctures caused by foreign objects.
Hi DMaxer.
I was at my tyre sales who has been very good to me, technically, knowledge and friendly. When I mention that the caravan tyres were coming up to 5 years old for 3 of them, 1 and the spare are 10/2012, his remark was that they are still to good to just throw away showing no external damage e.g.. cracks, wear. Just run them out this year.
None of the tyre companies that he has dealt with for over 40 years have no written agreement on tyre life but did mention that the tyre industry works at not having tyres sitting in warehouses waiting for sales and in reality today most tyres are sold with in 6 months of manufacturing. But he did say anything older then 7 years could become a bit unreliable.
So instead of selling me 4 new tyres for the caravan back in November 2019, we will do it perhaps at the start of our 2021 touring season. To us is his honest approach to sales, 2x4 tyres for the car and 1x4 for the caravan. The last set of tyres on the car on his advice and encouragement we did another 15 thousand kilometres before replacing the tyres. A good bloke.
Hope this is of some help.
Get TPMS & you will get a warning as soon as something goes wrong.
Yep wise words.
My TPMS (Tyre Pressure monitoring System) has informed me about Tyre pressure reduction quite a few times. Four of those were actual punctures and repairable.
Twice over the years it was the valve leaking, (A) one needed replacement Valve, which I had with me, (B) and one in Tennant Creek was the Valve Rubber Stalk cracked.
At least it gets you stopped early to get out, investigate and possibly save the tyre from further damage.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 04:31:11 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 05:01:47 PM
I wondered what TPMS meant but good old google informed me that it stood for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
Don't have one of them but both my van & Patrol tyres are around 7 years old but with lots of tread left.
I am planning a SW Qld trip this year & intend to put on a new set all round.
I did have a very old tyre on the Patrol start to loose its tread some time ago ... went thump thump thump, fortunately ... better than a blow out.
One that had sat on the back of the van as a spare for a long time (perhaps 10 years) before I used it to replace a punctured tyre started to shed its tread after about 1000km but a passing motorist alerted me to the flapping tread before it went bang.
had a coaster Tyre blow 80% tread 7 years old, front lhs (fitted 2 new front)
another coaster tyre blow,inner lhs rear, 11 years old, 90% tread (now fitting all new rear tyres)
These are the unuasal tyre problems I have had over my years of driving, when I purchased the coaster I was advised by the previous owner that tyre pressure was 70psi. They had at the very least driven from cains to tassie. The tyres have 90psi all around now as the dealer I have used for 40 years reckons the constant running at a lower pressure and not age is the cause of the tyres blowing.
cheers
blaze
If shredding happens on a Caravan or Camper trailer and you don't get to it in time (I write this from experience) It can cause a great deal of Damage. The delaminated tread can smash through the mudguard into the inside of the van or camper. Take out all your brake wiring, and wrap itself so tight around the axle and other gear you need an angle grinder to cut it off.
Luckily I had some good welders gloves with me when it happened to me, as the metal in the tyre is lethal on your hands. I spent a long time with a Hacksaw slowly removing the delaminated tread on the side of a narrow but busy road. That incident prompted me to get a TPMS. It's about the Price of a good 4x4 tyre. It only has to save one and it's paid for itself.
-- Edited by elliemike on Tuesday 4th of February 2020 05:14:23 PM
It has saved us 3 new tyres in the outback, so well & truely paid for itself. Plugged tyres & we were on our way & still had both spares.
Gives you more options & a lot of piece of mind.
It does take longer changing tyre pressure daily for different surfaces in the outback, but soon you get efficient, & keeping in mind that while driving you have continuous monitoring of the tyres which is priceless!
In the photo the rear right is a bit low, was going down slowly about 3psi over about 3 days. We found a screw in the tyre.
All modern cars have TPMS software built-in. It is just turned off for Australia as by law our country does not require TPMS. So you could turn it on if you are good at coding, or get your manufacturer to turn it on & get the TPMS transmitters from the car's manufacturer. The only issue is it for 5 wheels, & in the outback most of us carry 2 spares for the car.
It is easier to buy a third-party TPMS, & get one for 4, 6 or 8 wheels, & if you do have to exchange a wheel, move the external TPMS to the new wheel.
Example of TPMS setup on a Freelander.
There is zero damage on the rims, they are just dirty as I rarely wash the car. Also a shadow in the photo. The only marks on the rims are from gutters.
It would be easier to put in a second valve as it would save time taking off & on the TPMS everytime we change tyre pressure.
It appears to me, (I am not a techi)
If a state rego people say that, a caravan tyre must not be over 10 years of age, then that is the maximum tyre life, in that state
Some years ago now, I purchased a second hand caravan, (private sale), which looked like it had good tyres
One tyre blew out, and caused damage to the caravan
I run Michelin tyres on my motorhome, because a motorhome is like driving a vehicle fully loaded to its capacity at all times, I renew my tyres every six years
Michelin say that after five years, check the tyres each year, and to renew them after ten years, even if they look OK
I have no idea about other brands of tyres
Link to Michelin website below
https://www.michelin.com.au/auto/tips-and-advice/advice-auto/when-should-i-change-my-car-tyres?cid=PSH%7c%7cgoogle%7c335170781191%7cc%7c%7cb&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuNCE2rrA5wIVBLeWCh2W8A8hEAAYASAAEgILmvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
My van is a single axle model TB, and after hearing all the horror stories I think I will just replace the two tyres. They are seven years old with the spare on the back having never been used.
Pretty false economy if one shreds or blows so I think I will just get a couple of new ones and then work on my next problem.
Thanks for all the helpful advice from the other members too.
In my previous post on my experience of shredding a tyre and the damage it caused.
I did not mention the damaged wheel rim as well. I was able to repair/straighten this myself with heat and tools, when I got to my mates house in Noosa.
The Tyre that destroyed itself, was the "Spare" that was on the van when I bought it. Never used and was 5-7 years old. The rim as well of course was new of course and had never been used.
I had put the spare on a month earlier, and it only travelled about 4000 Klm before shredding on a good sealed road going into Noosa Qld.
Thirty minutes before, we had left our overnight camp area I went around the Ute and Avan checking all the pressures with a gauge. All were OK.
I have since always warned people to rotate the spare and get it on the road. Wear it out on the road and not let it die of boredom on the back of the caravan.
The tread of the tyre after I cut it off was in good nick, No holes or puncture through it. I suspect the tyre wall gave out.