Every caravan owner knows how important it is to have safe and legal tyres. But its amazing how many caravan owners fail to spot this. Each year hundreds of caravans are destroyed and many result in serious injuries being caused.The reason why caravan tyres are prone to blow outs is due to infrequent usage and the tyre walls are overlooked, owners think the tread looks great, however with the infrequent usage comes cracking in the tyre walls which when heated on a long journey often become more prone to blow outs.
The average caravanner may do up to 1000 miles a year, caravan tyres are good for upto 15,000 miles however this does not mean the tyres will last 10-15 years caravan tyres should be changed every 4-7 years even if the tread looks great.
Caravan tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in order to be legal and roadworthy in the U.K however in some European countries caravan and car tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 2mm so please consider this when touring outside of the U.K.
Sidewall impact damage of caravan tyres is quite common, this is mainly due to clipping the kerbs when towing.
Caravan tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in order to be legal and roadworthy in the U.K however in some European countries caravan and car tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 2mm so please consider this when touring outside of the U.K.
Sidewall impact damage of caravan tyres is quite common, this is mainly due to clipping the kerbs when towing.
Don't risk you and your families lives, Check your tyres before every trip, Make sure you carry a good spare and make sure this is inflated to the right pressure. If you can invest in a good trolly jack, wheel brace and axel stands just in case you do get a puncture
How to read a caravan tyre.
Most tyres have digits along the wall of the tyre for example ( photo top right ) 195/60 R15 88H.195 is the tyre width in millimeters, 60 is the sidewall height, expressed as a percentage of the width.R indicates a radial type construction.15 is the wheel diameter in inches. 88 is the Load Index.H is the speed rating. (see guide right).
Most tyres have digits along the wall of the tyre for example ( photo top right ) 195/60 R15 88H.195 is the tyre width in millimeters, 60 is the sidewall height, expressed as a percentage of the width.R indicates a radial type construction.15 is the wheel diameter in inches. 88 is the Load Index.H is the speed rating. (see guide right).
60 = 250kg
61 = 257kg
62 = 265kg
63 = 272kg
64 = 280kg
65 = 290kg
66 = 300kg
67 = 307kg
68 = 315kg
69 = 325kg
70 = 335kg
71 = 345kg
72 = 355kg
73 = 365kg
74 = 375kg
75 = 387kg
76 = 400kg
77 = 412kg
78 = 425kg
79 = 437kg
80 = 450kg
81 = 462kg
82 = 475kg
83 = 487kg
84 = 500kg
85 = 515kg
86 = 530kg
87 = 545kg
88 = 560kg
89 = 580kg
90 = 600kg
91 = 615kg
92 = 630kg
93 = 650kg
94 = 670kg
95 = 690kg
96 = 710kg
97 = 730kg
98 = 750kg
99 = 775kg
100 = 800kg
101 = 825kg
102 = 850 kg
103 = 875kg
104 = 900kg
105 = 925kg
106 = 950kg
107 = 975kg
108 = 1000kg
109 = 1030kg
110 = 1060kg
111 = 1090kg
112 = 1120kg
113 = 1150kg
114 = 1180kg
115 = 1215kg
116 = 1250kg
117 = 1285kg
118 = 1320kg
119 = 1360kg
120 = 1400kg
121 = 1450kg
122 = 1500kg
123 = 1550kg
124 = 1600kg
125 = 1650kg
61 = 257kg
62 = 265kg
63 = 272kg
64 = 280kg
65 = 290kg
66 = 300kg
67 = 307kg
68 = 315kg
69 = 325kg
70 = 335kg
71 = 345kg
72 = 355kg
73 = 365kg
74 = 375kg
75 = 387kg
76 = 400kg
77 = 412kg
78 = 425kg
79 = 437kg
80 = 450kg
81 = 462kg
82 = 475kg
83 = 487kg
84 = 500kg
85 = 515kg
86 = 530kg
87 = 545kg
88 = 560kg
89 = 580kg
90 = 600kg
91 = 615kg
92 = 630kg
93 = 650kg
94 = 670kg
95 = 690kg
96 = 710kg
97 = 730kg
98 = 750kg
99 = 775kg
100 = 800kg
101 = 825kg
102 = 850 kg
103 = 875kg
104 = 900kg
105 = 925kg
106 = 950kg
107 = 975kg
108 = 1000kg
109 = 1030kg
110 = 1060kg
111 = 1090kg
112 = 1120kg
113 = 1150kg
114 = 1180kg
115 = 1215kg
116 = 1250kg
117 = 1285kg
118 = 1320kg
119 = 1360kg
120 = 1400kg
121 = 1450kg
122 = 1500kg
123 = 1550kg
124 = 1600kg
125 = 1650kg
DOT codes
The date of Manufacture is shown on all tyre walls, this code found close to the wheel rim.(shown right) Example of this code is DOT A57D DEF 799, the final set of three, or four, numbers being the date code. Tyres made between 1990 - 1999 use a three digit code, this indicates the month and year in which the tyre was made (799 being July 1999). From 2000 onward a four digit code is used to show the week and year (414 being the 41st week of 2004).
The date of Manufacture is shown on all tyre walls, this code found close to the wheel rim.(shown right) Example of this code is DOT A57D DEF 799, the final set of three, or four, numbers being the date code. Tyres made between 1990 - 1999 use a three digit code, this indicates the month and year in which the tyre was made (799 being July 1999). From 2000 onward a four digit code is used to show the week and year (414 being the 41st week of 2004).
I have seen caravan sellers apply tyre shine or tyre treatments to give a new glossy look, this can be very deceiving about the condition. Always go by the dot code to find out the age. Check your tyres the following way.
Check the tread - Must be more then the 1.6mm for the UK, look out for nails tacks etc
Check the walls - Check for cracks, cuts, punctures lumps or bumps.
Check the spare - don't forget there are 3 or 5 tyres on a caravan.
Check your wheel nuts - Make sure they are tight and none are missing.
Remember its your responsibility to check the tyres, don't take the sellers word that they are good and securely attached.
Check the tread - Must be more then the 1.6mm for the UK, look out for nails tacks etc
Check the walls - Check for cracks, cuts, punctures lumps or bumps.
Check the spare - don't forget there are 3 or 5 tyres on a caravan.
Check your wheel nuts - Make sure they are tight and none are missing.
Remember its your responsibility to check the tyres, don't take the sellers word that they are good and securely attached.
The new 4 digit dot code. displaying the numbers "2107" manufactured on 21st week of 2007
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