I have searched the forums but cannot find an answer, so...
I need new tyres and the current ones are 96N rated. kwikfit have an offer of £10 off for fitting which I thought I would take advantage of. But, they cannot supply 96N tyres only 96S or T. The load is correct but does the speed rating matter if its higher. S and Ts allow over 100MPH which is obviosly too much.
Quick answers only please as I dont want to start a debate. Yes or No will be great.
The important thing, as you identify, is the load rating. I can't see that that having a higher speed rating would make any difference. ( Here is an interesting link about speed ratings http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyrspeed.html) N seems to be the lowest speed rating, at least on the link, and even that allows up to 80mph. Just one thing to watch if you are going abroad, especially France. There is a requirement that the caravan tyres have a speed rating at least as high as the maximum national speed limit there regardless of the fact that you may well tow at a much lower speed.
just my opinion but the loading is more important than speed,depends on what your caravan weighs per tyre.MOST are 91 and i require 96.still stuggling to find good tyres of our size without paying £80 each.some 8 ply have a loading of 102.
I haved done quite a bit of research and wanted some opinions. My current load rating as quoted above is 96 and will stick to that. I think Michael, after reading some of your previous replys on this subject we have the same tyre size that being 195/70/14 96N. Kwikfit are offering these at £56 each with £10 fitting (the only difference being the speed rating).
Its so important I really do want to get it right.
I think Michael, after reading some of your previous replys on this subject we have the same tyre size that being 195/70/14 96N. Kwikfit are offering these at £56 each with £10 fitting (the only difference being the speed rating).
Its so important I really do want to get it right.
correct you are,i do not want matador or federal due to the cracking side wall issue.have been told by a tyre fitter things have not improved in this department.what make are they offering for this price please? do not forget the balancing it is important.i like MAXMILLER 8 PLY but they are very hard to find.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
n rated tyres are trailer only tyres and not to be used on cars/ vans but the s /t is fine on your carahut aslong as you stick with the 96 load index hope this helps check there web site if you must go there as its saying £49-00 a tyre plus the con of £10-00 fitting
no speed rating and tyre load index are 2 seperate thing or there would be no reason having the two really would there you do find though the bigger the tyre and speed rating higher load index but as said before 96 is what we call commercial/ reinforced / extra load made for vans etc
Quote: Originally posted by michael on 07/7/20009.
correct you are,i do not want matador or federal due to the cracking side wall issue.have been told by a tyre fitter things have not improved in this department.what make are they offering for this price please? do not forget the balancing it is important.i like MAXMILLER 8 PLY but they are very hard to find.
They cannot give a make name as it all depends what turns up. Our caravan is used all year round and the tyres are checked everytime it goes out so if craking does occur it will hopefully be noticed. In my opinion cracking can happen with any tyre regardless of make. I had a pair crack on my motorbike and they were expensive Avons the back tyre was £180 and only had a life expectancy of 3k miles.
I will let you know what make once fitted and how thye are. As for balancing the ones on there at the moment arent balanced. I will ask though.
please be aware the matador warning is now out of date as matador were taken over by continental some 18 months ago approx and they have re engineered all the tyres but i agree with the dodgey federal
The one thing that did worry me slightly (hence asking on here) was how little Kwikfit actually know. I did ask them about the differences and what if any impact would it have on my caravan and they hadnt go a clue.
At that point I put everything on hold and done exploration of my own.
Joking apart I used to work with a surgeon who used to say that if certain people in theatre couldnt do their job properly then he would take their tyre away (inferring that they were monkeys). Its a big job doing that for Kwikfit people. (only meant in jest and not wanting to offend anybody here!!)
well i agree i have been fitting tyres and ahve many city and guilds etc for doing so i ahve fitted all tyres from sack carts to earth mover tyres and i am sure my 17 years experience is as old as some of the people at kwik fit are!!!!!!
i also have the advantage of being an idividual i am not tied in to sell ing certain brands like kwik rip are so i see the good and the bad and also know things like matador been taken over by continental the kid in kwik has been on a one day course there was a thread on here alll about them im sure they got 1 good comment but this was by a company car owner and kwik fit mobile
This is a copy of part of a reply from Swift Caravans about tyres on another forum
"The Swift Group has always specified its tyres too the higher 80mp/h (130km/h) speed rating not the lower 60 mp/h (100km/h), remembering that 60mp/h is the legal towing limit in this country. By selecting the higher speed rating the load index automatically gains an additional 10% margin on the tyre loading (if the caravan is towed at 60mp/h). In addition it should be pointed out that not all the mass is transfered through the caravan tyres, typically upto 5% goes through the hitch and towball of the towing vehicle (although this goes up and down with towing and vehicle articulation)."
Kwik Fit came out this morning and done a real good job. The fitter knew what he was on about, took real care in jacking the caravan up and I know Michael wanted to know what make of tyre they were supplying and I am pleased to say it was a Trailermaxx the very same that were taken off.
The tyres that were removed were in very good condition with no cracking and still loads of tread left but manufactured in 24th week of 2004.
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Topic: Tyre speed ratings
