The brand new spare tyre sits in the locker not getting used, when it comes to the 5yr change of tyres what do you do about the spare, can it go on the caravan and be used for another 5yrs or do you get it changed?
Seems a shame to not use!
------------- "Close your eyes and pretend it's all a dream, that's how I get by"
If your spare has been stored in the front locker and kept out of the daylight and not been used it should be perfectly ok. check the presure when you do the road tyers and you will find the tyre will last a lot longer than the road tyers on the van of the same age.
its had no wear scuffs or anything and the rubber will not have degraded in the daylight.
my tyers were 9 years old when i changed them and the fitter told me that although they were old they were still servicable probebly because of the indoor storage and rotating them .
I go the same route as 'alpiner' as the spare is stuck well protected in the front locker and clamped by the wheel rim.
When we had that dreadful under van carrier it seriously indented the side-walls to an extent I would not have been happy using it, and that in less than 5 years anyway. That one also suffered micro crazing of the rubber between the treads and on the side-wall, so even out of direct sun light was in a none too well protected environment.
My spare is on a steel rim and so would only ever be used as a short term spare. If it remains visually 'good' I would accept it for such limited use beyond 5 years, but if it showed any hint of deterioration it would be dumped.
I am another in agreement with alpiner our spare is 6 years old and still ok as are the other two tyres I will continue to use them for at least another year
I also agree with alpiner too but just to add that although the road tyres (not the spare) if standing for long periods can get flat spots whereas the spare won't as there is no pressure being applied. So as already mentioned, if you keep the correct air pressure in the spare and is kept out of sight from the sunlight I would think that the rubber has little chance of deteriorating. After all, it's there just to get you out of trouble just in case of a puncture so as long as it does just that then it's pointless spending money unnecessarily to replace a good unused tyre.
we keep our spare under the fixed bed , Its never been exposed to the elements and the pressure is good so i wont be changing it now its 5 yrs old unless the service mechanic says so
atb Bill
------------- Bill n Kay
............................
when the going gets tough... get someone else to do it.....
I smile besause I have'nt a clue whats going on... appreciate everything in life especially your friends...
My spare was new when the van was new in 2003, it has never been used, I do not expect to use it but if I do then it will only be to get me somewhere to replace the damaged tyre. That being the case I have no intention of replacing it, though I am rigorous in replacing the other tyres at 5 years old.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Was thinking, why not put the unused new 5yr old spare on the caravan and put one of the old 5yr tyres in the locker as a spare, that way we only have to buy 1 new tyre, as the spare is only to get you out of trouble and 5yrs is only a reccommendation, there would certainly be enough life left in your old tyres for troubles.
------------- "Close your eyes and pretend it's all a dream, that's how I get by"
Whilst having no great concern about using a good condition 5 year old tyre as a get to a garage duty spare I would certainly not put it into use as a permanent caravan tyre.
That is a cost saving too far and one I suspect your insurers would view dimly should they be involved.
Quote: Originally posted by freckles63 on 19/5/2012
Was thinking, why not put the unused new 5yr old spare on the caravan and put one of the old 5yr tyres in the locker as a spare, that way we only have to buy 1 new tyre, as the spare is only to get you out of trouble and 5yrs is only a reccommendation, there would certainly be enough life left in your old tyres for troubles.
I would not do that, I would be suspicious of the 5 year old tyre being used and even if it survived a couple of years I would get twitchy about it, and then I would have o replace it. So fom then onwards there would never be two matched tyres on the axle.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
I have my spare in one of those 'bags for everything' and opening the bag it still smells like new and the pressure is still near spot on. I don't then have any intention of changing it, despite now being 9yrs old!
I once bought an unused spare tyre from a breaker for the car, been in the boot well all it's life and already 6yrs old, I fitted it on the front of my car and used it until it wore out?
We asked this question at the last service .at our local dealers . They said it was fine as it had been stored out of light etc . It is the original spare on van made in 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Big Al on 20/5/2012How many of you change your car spare wheel when it gets to 5 years old and its still never been used ?
At 3 years old with 35k on the clock I replaced 3 tyres and used the new spare, now after another three years it is due again and this time I will replace four tyres.
Car tyres re if fervent in that most are unlikely ever to get to 5 years old without bing worn out. Those on my caravan at five years old have about 12.5k miles on them and look like new, the three year olds on the car have 35k on them and are nearing the 3mm minimum that I accept.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
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Topic: Spare tyre age, when to use if still new
, Its never been exposed to the elements and the pressure is good so i wont be changing it now its 5 yrs old unless the service mechanic says so 
