My swift challenger 400 2002 model is fitted with 195/70R14 tyres, I'm looking for replacements but it seems everywhere I go I keep getting told that these are a funny size for a caravan. Getting good quality tyres is a problem due to needing a load rating of at least 95. I keep being offered cheaper matador extra load tyres with a load rating of 96. I wondered if anybody else has this size of tyre, which I would think there must be some of you out there & do you have problems getting tyres of this size.
It seems that major manufacturers like michelin or goodyear dont make a tyre this size anymore.
Does this mean I will have to buy new wheels just to get tyres that are availablewhat an expence that would be. Your thought's & views please.
bridgestone make them 195 70 14 95 s i can supply you and even fit if you want to travel to leeds!!! can supply only with fedex delivery you can get me 9-5 01132 392244 tyres leeds check me on yell to prove i am ligit!!! or mail me on tyres2athotmail.co.uk change at for at sign if you wanted i could get them off tomorrow if you paid by card over phone by next day fedex you wpuld have them by friday
had major problems getting these tyre sizes 195/70/14/95N for the bailey.no one wants to stock them because of low demand.have found some tyres 185/70/14/8 ply x 3 at £61 fitted and balanced.will leave until the start of next year now for fitting.think bridgestone but not sure.i can ring if interested.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 16/9/2009
Nothing wrong with Matador. The tread will wear a bit quicker than a Michelin but no one ever wears the tread down on a caravan.
Every thing wrong with Matador just do a quick search on forums they have many reports of blow outs and side walls failing I had some on a 2007 Compass and the side walls split at just 1 year old luckily I noticed and changed them, others have not been so lucky and they have failed while towing you almost certainly wont wear the tread off it might fall off though.
in the last 18 months matador was taken over by continental and all there tyres were re engineered there are now new traed patterns out there and are a lot better tyre believe it or not even michelin get returns for this at some point
and dont think vw would be putting them on the new polos if they were going to cause these problems
just spoken to my local tyre dealer and he confirms my previous post.the replacement tyres from 185/70/14/96N were 185/80/14 8PLY/102 LOADING/ FIRESTONE.cost s £60.56 fitted and balanced.only one trip left to do now so may leave it till next year, i do not want to leave the van standing on new tyres until march.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
If Matador pass VW's tests then they must indeed now be a good tyre?
Autocar Magazine tested several budget tyres and used VW facilities for the testing, the results for all were disappointing as far as fitting on a car were concerned.
What came out of it for me was the 'E' stamp so they can be sold in the EU, this is simply a load/speed test, if it passes that then you can sell in the EU, VW said this is far far below our standards and we would not allow this type of tyre near out products.
Thanks for all your responses. I've now got some bridgestones from a local tyre fitter, who has taken off my matador tyres & is returning them to matador for me as in his opinion they are not fit to use as there are ripples in the side walls. Thankfully got them done as we are going to pevensey on saturday.
Bridgestone are tied up with Firestone. My sister had a set of four Firestones fitted on her car and all four developed a fault in the sidewall within a few months. I would have gone for the Matadors.
You get good and bad in everything, but 4 bad ones out of 4 put me off Firestones and their associates for life.
Matador are under new ownership. To compare them with the Matador of a few years ago is like comparing the new (VW) Skodas to a Skoda Estelle.
Quote: Originally posted by simon23 on 17/9/2009
shame your not near leeds Michael i would do you some bridgestones for that money fitted etc
thanks my friend may take you up on that one day.the price quoted was fitted and balanced though. just checked and bailey are still fitting the same tyre as ours 195/70/R14U96N ON THE 462.185/R14U104 = 514-524-534-546 MODELS.185/65R1493N = 624 TWIN MODEL.
what is the U for simon?
Post last edited on 17/09/2009 21:33:22
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
we dont charge for fitting valva or balancing at my place micheal that is how the bigger firms make more on the bottom line i am happy making a little and selling lots of them as for the u i have never come acrss that but is the speed rating for 125mph
Hi Jellybeans my bailey was fitted with the same size tyre In the end I fitted Avon supervan AV4 tyres 185/R/14 (185/80/14C) with the ok from Bailey These are an 8 ply commercial tyre with a load rating of 102 =axle load up to 1532Kg. I bought them from an internet dealer & they were £56 each fitted & balanced,I have since done 3k miles round Europe with no problem My van has a MTPLM of 1360kg so I have a safety factor in excess of the recommended 10%
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Topic: Funny Sized Tyres
Getting good quality tyres is a problem due to needing a load rating of at least 95. I keep being offered cheaper matador extra load tyres with a load rating of 96. I wondered if anybody else has this size of tyre, which I would think there must be some of you out there & do you have problems getting tyres of this size.
what an expence that would be. Your thought's & views please.
Thankfully got them done as we are going to pevensey on saturday.
