We will be taking delivery of our new caravan in the near future and in talking to insurers have just heard of 'Tyron Bands'. I have now found out what they are, but was surprised that I have never seen any other mention of them on various blogs etc; can anyone tell me if they use and recommend them please?
We have had them fitted to every new caravan we have had, the first one had them already fitted so we just kept that up.
Fortunately have no experience of them in use.
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All I know about them is that tyre fitters hate them and will almost certainly charge you more to fit new tyres if you have them, as it takes them longer. Maybe they are safer, I really don't know.
our (new to us ten years ago) coachman had them fitted when we bought it , never had a tyre failure on the van to experience their functionality, there is a very long alen key in the handbook folder to use by tyre fitters when changing tyres, there is also available a 3 legged clamp , to compress the tyre to get at the tyron belt with the alen key.
if changing tyres always make sure that the tyre fitter is familiar with tyron bands, or you will end up with a damaged rim
They work perfectly well in themselves, and do all that they claim AFAIK, BUT you will be hard pressed to find ANY tyre fitters that will change/repair tyres if they are fitted! That's my experience anyway!
They were fitted to my van from new, last year the tyres needed replacing on basis of age. I phoned around dozens of tyre fitters, all the big chains and the little independents, NO ONE wanted to sell me new tyres if they had to deal with Tyrons! Some even denied knowing what they were and refused to take my business on that basis! The closest I got was Kwik Fit who ONLY deal with them on SOME of their mobile fitters, but didn't do a mobile service where I live! The ones that do, charge an extra £10/wheel to cover the extra fitting time! I don't live in the wilderness, I'm in NW London/Hertfordshire area with hundreds of tyre dealers around! Even the CAMC who had a discount for members with National Tyres (now discontinued) stated in terms 'Tyrons may not be dealt with'!
I ended up having to remove them myself, with a jury rigged trolley jack and ratchet strap arrangement, not terribly easy to break the tyre bead to wheel seal/fit to push tyre out of way to remove the bands, but doable if strong enough and determined enough! - I DON'T recommend it.
First words from the tyre fitters as I walked in with caravan wheels (now without Tyrons fitted!) and he recognised what they were was "Don't have Tyrons do they!" - think that probably says enough!
I didn't refit them with the new tyres, I figured if I cant get anyone with hundreds of tyre fitters to choose from in the most densely populated part of the country to deal with them, what's the chances out in the sticks or abroad where probably only ONE tyre fitter for hundreds of miles and I may have a puncture to be fixed!!!!
No doubt that trailer wheels are a greater risk than the ones fitted to your car (I've know people have their caravan written off by the damage from a tyre blowout - and that was just the flailing debris!), as deflation and overheating etc. will likely go unnoticed as none of the changes to handling or noises will be noticeable in the car.
My alternative to refitting the Tyrons was to buy a TPMS (TyrePal in this case) that monitors the tyres and triggers dashboard alarms to changes of pressure or temperature outside the set limits. Very reassuring to have some safeguard.
The cost of Tyrons goes a long way to offsetting the cost of TPMS like TyrePal, which I consider more preventative of disaster than containment of consequences which is the function of Tyrons. I opted for the replacement cap sensors rather than the valves with inbuilt sensors, as replacing the batteries is easier and less costly than replacing the valve sensor in its entirety. And a bonus, if your car doesn't have TPM, you can just add the caps (or valves) to you car wheels and monitor from same display as the caravan wheels.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 08/1/2024
No doubt that trailer wheels are a greater risk than the ones fitted to your car (I've know people have their caravan written off by the damage from a tyre blowout - and that was just the flailing debris!), as deflation and overheating etc. will likely go unnoticed as none of the changes to handling or noises will be noticeable in the car.
My alternative to refitting the Tyrons was to buy a TPMS (TyrePal in this case) that monitors the tyres and triggers dashboard alarms to changes of pressure or temperature outside the set limits. Very reassuring to have some safeguard.
The cost of Tyrons goes a long way to offsetting the cost of TPMS like TyrePal, which I consider more preventative of disaster than containment of consequences which is the function of Tyrons. I opted for the replacement cap sensors rather than the valves with inbuilt sensors, as replacing the batteries is easier and less costly than replacing the valve sensor in its entirety. And a bonus, if your car doesn't have TPM, you can just add the caps (or valves) to you car wheels and monitor from same display as the caravan wheels.
Your comments leave me with a couple of questions.
Firstly, would modern anti-snaking and stabilisation devices make it less likely that a change in handling would get noticed?
Secondly, would TPMS be of any use in the event of a sudden blow-out?
If I were to install either system (tyrons or TPMS) I would probably opt for TPMS. However, cost could be a prohibiting factor for me as both my car and caravan are old, and the car certainly isn't fitted at present with TPMS. I have no idea of its cost.
Colin
Firstly the anti-snaking tech ATC is quite noticeable when it engages, you feel the drag from the caravan brakes, so if an alert driver you might query WHY it was operating so frequently. I'd certainly be inclined to stop and check. Mine kicks in with noticeable road conditions that are generally felt in the tow car, any other situation would cause me to think of something being potentially wrong.
TPMS should alert you to the major causes of blowout which are inflation pressures and temperature variations.
What it won't do is alert you to any damage to tyre that does not cause changes to pressure or temp, but sudden failure from say a cut side wall that just lets go. Due diligence of checking tyres before journey should deal with that situation in all but the rarest cases.
TyrePal units are available from around £119, but cheaper if you take advantage of CAMC members offers. There are any number of cheap ones on Ebay and the like from circa £20-£30 (but beware of the cheap ones, the pressure sensors don't always have scope for caravan tyre pressures which are higher than car pressures!)
When we had a caravan we had them fitted but as mentioned it could be a bit of a pain getting tyres swapped as sometimes it was difficult to find a tyre agent familiar with them. I imagine this would be even truer if abroad.
I think I would now go down the TPMS route. Whilst I suppose a tyre could suddenly let go its more likely that it starts to loose pressure before it goes and that is where the TPMS comes into its own. Less weight as well. Probably goes without saying but good tyre management in the sense that they are regularly checked for defects and being prepared to buy a decent brand will go a long way to providing trouble free life?
Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to answer and share their thoughts. I have also conducted other searches since posting and have reached the conclusion that unfortunately this is one of those ‘marmite’ situations, with a fairly even split each side. I intend to get TPMS fitted anyway but will make further investigations into ease of repair in the event of blowout, particularly abroad……I have seen some posts elsewhere that indicate this should be possible and that Tyron do have a list of fitters both UK and Europe, although they may well charge more.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 08/1/2024
Colin
Firstly the anti-snaking tech ATC is quite noticeable when it engages, you feel the drag from the caravan brakes, so if an alert driver you might query WHY it was operating so frequently. I'd certainly be inclined to stop and check. Mine kicks in with noticeable road conditions that are generally felt in the tow car, any other situation would cause me to think of something being potentially wrong.
TPMS should alert you to the major causes of blowout which are inflation pressures and temperature variations.
What it won't do is alert you to any damage to tyre that does not cause changes to pressure or temp, but sudden failure from say a cut side wall that just lets go. Due diligence of checking tyres before journey should deal with that situation in all but the rarest cases.
TyrePal units are available from around £119, but cheaper if you take advantage of CAMC members offers. There are any number of cheap ones on Ebay and the like from circa £20-£30 (but beware of the cheap ones, the pressure sensors don't always have scope for caravan tyre pressures which are higher than car pressures!)
Thanks for the info Monty. It was just curiosity, as I wondered if the modern tech would mask any handling problems with the caravan. I have no gadgetry at all on my outfit, ordinary old-style hitch, no stabiliser, and no ATC, so I feel sure I would notice if something wasn't right.
I am certainly thinking about TPMS for my outfit, I'll have to do more research. As I have an older and lighter caravan, my caravan's tyre pressures aren't that much different to my car's. The makers recommended tyre pressures for my caravan are just 36psi. My car's rear tyres run at 34psi when towing. Modern caravans are much heavier than mine, and run on different wheels, so tyre pressures tend to be much higher, I know.
On our first caravan we had Tyrons fitted, but since then we have twin axles and see no reason to fit Tyrons. After having a blow out on the motorway in 2015, we purchased a tyrepal TPMS.
It would not have prevented the blow out, but would have notified us of the blow out. However the big advantage is that before setting off, you are aware of the tyre pressures and can adjust accordingly.
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 09/1/2024
On our first caravan we had Tyrons fitted, but since then we have twin axles and see no reason to fit Tyrons. After having a blow out on the motorway in 2015, we purchased a tyrepal TPMS.
It would not have prevented the blow out, but would have notified us of the blow out. However the big advantage is that before setting off, you are aware of the tyre pressures and can adjust accordingly.
Surely, you would check tyres/pressures prior to setting off with or without gadgetry? Also, i would think you would hear, possibly even see, and definitely feel a blow-out without gadgetry.
I was pulling an overloaded trailer once (it didnt matter in the 80's!), when i noticed 'bits' in my mirror. The second i focused on it, there was bang that i could hear in the van - with the radio playing, and lumps of tyre basically obscuring my view of the car behind. Definitely no gadgetry needed to tell me the tyre had blown!
I dont know why people treat caravan tyres any differently to the ones on their cars. Fitting 'safety devices', torquing nuts every five minutes. Not needed. If it was, the Summer roads would be littered with tyre, or even wheel-less caravans. Just general maintenance and common sense is all thats needed to keep them on the road.
Quote: Originally posted by Woody1000 on 08/1/2024
..... Tyron do have a list of fitters both UK and Europe, although they may well charge more.
It's not JUST the extra cost from a VERY limited choice of fitters, it's the limited choice of tyres from them as well! I don't skimp on tyres, choosing the cheapest 'unknown' budget brand, I'll always opt for a reasonable, quality tyre from a major brand. It's often difficult to find much choice in caravan tyres other than budget ones, but I want to have as wide a choice to find quality ones, and Tyrons tend to limit that!
With my van at least, the specified tyre size is pushed to near both pressure and weight limits! When you consider the consequences of a tyre failure, I'm not in the least bit happy entrusting safety to an obscure dirt cheap inevitably Chinese product, because that was the only one available.
Some people have the attitude 'it's ONLY a caravan tyre', it doesn't need to be high spec, it doesn't go very fast, cheap as chips will do! OK you are unlikely to be benefiting from superior grip etc. of premium tyres, you may benefit from better fuel economy though, BUT they ARE often pushed to their technical limits in other ways, and the consequences for failure can be serious from damage inflicted by disintegrating tyre to a major accident when you loose control of the whole outfit, so to me the tyres are VERY important and premium will be my choice for peace of mind, and we are only talking maybe £20 more per pair for premium over budget when you can shop around freely!
Curious as to HOW Tyrons limit your choice of TYRE.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Topic: Tyron Bands
via mobile 08/1/2024 at 9:20pm
