Tyre replacement
New to all of this, so apologies for dumb questions. Single axle motorhome. Current tyres fitted are "Camping" tyres: Michelin X 225/65 R 16 CP to be precise.
The rears are looking as if they are somewhat "perished", although I understand they got through the last MOT like that.
1. How important is it to get "camping" tyres. What are the benefits ? (I understand they are designed to be able to cope with more time stationary i.e. same position).
2. If I do go with Camping tyres, where is a good place to go to get them ? I've just been looking on blackcircles as a starting point and can't find Camping rated. (Admittedly I've not looked at other places yet like KwikFit, national tyres etc.
Any thoiughts / guidance welcome.
Comments
-
Usually the difference with "Camper Tyres" is that they have reinforced sidewalls which as you suggest help if the vehicle is left standing or if you are inclined to wallop kerbs! Not sure how much choice you will have but certainly Michelin and Conti both do camper tyres.
As to where to buy, probably best to do a few online searches. Some of the mobile companies will come out to your house to fit them others arrange a fitting at a local tyre dealer. If they are over 6/7 years old I would suggest changing them all.
David
1 -
I don't know where you live, but here in a small town in Cornwall there are half a dozen tyre dealers you could go to - independents as well as nationals- handling every sort of tyre from deflated wheelbarrows to articulated HGVs with blow outs and stranded at at midnight on the A30 dual carriageway.
Do you not have similar specialists in your locality who will give you advice and quotations for commercial tyres (no, not camping) . It's good to talk. Let them have a look at your vehicle.
1 -
Yes I have a number of local options, including a tyre and MOT place abut 500 yards up the road (but not a Motorhome/commercial specialist). But I like to know a bit more on the subject before I talk to them so I'm mnot relying entirely on trust e.g. is Camper tyre really needed (or better to simply save the pennies); I didn't put this in the original question, but from the bit of research I did do, I'm also wondering whether I should be going for an all weather tyre for example - specifically perhaps for better grip on green sites.
0 -
Any decent tyre depot will do.
Camper tyres are not essential - it’s personal choice. They tend to be dearer and of a softer compound than commercial vehicle tyres so will probably last for less miles. Bear in mind though that your MH will probably do far less miles per year than white van man so in terms of time, will last plenty long enough.
1 -
I had some car tyres fitted recently and got a quote from a local garage which is part of a well known chain. Went online and ordered from BlackCircles at substantially lower cost. They were fitted by the local “chain” garage as part of the price. It’s a mad world!
1 -
Having camping tyres is not important.
What is important is the size, speed rating and load rating.
You have given the size and speed rating as 225/65 R 16 CP and the load rating for these is 112 (from the web but check on the side of the current tyre for load rating).
You need any van tyre that is 225/65, has an R rating for speed (or better) and is load rated at 112 or higher. Generally as a rule the higher the speed rating the better balanced wheel and ride you get but they are generally all R rated for this size and rating.
I use Black circles as they are usually price competitive, for your tyres search
https://www.blackcircles.com/order/tyres/search?width=225&profile=65&rim=16
Pick your favourite tyre and away you go. As you can see the Michelin are expensive but are highly rated.
The rears will be old, they last forever as they don't get any slippage or lateral wear. Your current tyres will have a date stamp molded in the sidewall, something like 4818 would be week 48, 2018. If yours are more than 5 years old I would change them anything more than 7 years old is getting dangerous in my opinion.
1 -
Thanks to one and all. To answer a few points:
- Blackcircles versus other. I started at Blackcircles (have used for car tyres in the past) but couldn't find "Camping". Part of the reason for coming on here to find out high important that is.
- yes the load rating is 112.
- The R in the code I believe is not the speed rating, but I probably wrote it out wrong. It was R16. The speed code is normally at the end (certainly on my car tyres), but I think the CP (which I understand via mr google means its a "Specialist Tyre") takes its place. Odd that they don't have a speed rating.
Thanks for the date code bit. The rears are way too old (just don't ask). I don't understand how they got through an MOT last year and on another look today I don't want to be driving on them.
Strangely though, having now found this date code on the rears, I can't find it on the fronts :-) (which are of a different age and type)
I'm guessing there is no reason one can't have non-Camping on the rear and Camping on the front ? (Current fronts are also Camping and I see no reason to change them at the moment.
Once again, thanks for inputs.
0 -
Just a thought, have you looked at the ETyres website? They have/had quite a comprehensive section on caravan/camper tyres which might help.
David
0 -
Thanks for the date code bit. The rears are way too old (just don't ask). I don't understand how they got through an MOT last year and on another look today I don't want to be driving on them
There is a suggested max age limit for a tyre but there is no legal max age limit. I've replaced tyres that were just a few years old but were cracked & crazed ...
1 -
Charlie, Buying tyres on line is fine if you know exactly what you want - but I don't think you do. What does the handbook say? If that 's no help then hometown tyre dealers will give you that advice. Get a price from them and compare with an on line price for the exact same tyre. Then smile and negotiate with the dealer down the road to match it.
0 -
My motorhome when delivered came with year old Michelin Agilis commercial tyres on both axles. All were dated late 2010 and I ran on these for eight years. I recently change them all and I have a set of cheap commercial Cooper tyres on the front and Continental Campers on the back where the majority of the weight is. I have found the ride slightly harder but otherwise it runs fine.
peedee
0 -
I changed my five year old Continental tyres last year to 215/70R15 Hankook RA18 109S tyres after reading reports and forum replies of Motorhome owners who were happy with them.
After weighing the Motorhome and knowing the axle weights I have used the TyreSafe chart (www.tyresafe.org) to work out the correct pressures - 3.5 bar (51 psi) Front and 4.2 bar (61 psi) Rear.
My Pilote runs very smoothly on them and they were much cheaper at £75 each from a local tyre depot than Camper tyres.
Hope this helps.
0 -
I use tyre leader for a lot of my tyres including the 5 I commercial tyre I bought for my Motorhome.
a quick search of your size tyres came up with these results
https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres-225-65-16/
0
