new tyres for franklin freeway

[savvy]

<sub>hi there everyone im new here and to the world of caravan-ing (even though my bedroom in the backyard growing up was an always staionary caravan) I need some help as I have no idea and though I may sound stupid Id rather be stupid for a little while than forever!

I have recently purchased a great old franklin freeway with tyres with these details on it (old cordovan tyres)

ms P175/80r13 535 max load @ 240 Kpa 35 psi

can someone tell me please how do I find tyres in melbourne that are suitable for my caravan - I guess theres a difference between a regular car weight and then a caravan so anyone with any insight please enlighten me!

thanks!</sub>

[Geoff & Jude]

hi savvy

your tyre code P175/80R13 535 max load @ 240 Kpa 35 psi is an old coding system and means:

P means passenger tyre
175 means 175mm tread width, about 7"
80 means 80% wall height to tread width ratio, about 5.5"
R means radial design
13 means 13" rim diameter
535 max load is 535kg maximum load per tyre, 1070kg maximum vehicle weight for single axle caravan (your van is probably heavier than that when fully loaded)
240kpa/35psi are maximum tyre pressures

a similar modern tyre might be 175/80R13 86N

175/80R13 means the same as in the codes above.

86 is a load rating meaning a maximum load per tyre of 530kg, the higher the number, the greater the load.
(see load rating chart www.tyresave.co.uk/tyreload.html )

N is a speed rating meaning maximum sustained speed of 140kph, the higher the letter, the greater the speed.
(see speed rating chart www.tyresave.co.uk/tyrspeed.html )

i would suggest that you purchase light truck tyres with a minimum load/speed rating of 102N (850kg & 140kph)

modern tyres also carry a 4 figure date of manufacture number moulded into the tyre adjacent to the rim.

eg 2912

29 means 29th week of the year
12 means 2012

due to natural degradation of materials, it is suggested that tyres should be discarded after 6 years, regardless of tread appearance or depth.

hope this helps a bit.

geoff 'n jude

[savvy]

helps a million! thank you very much for clairfying that so well - now i can set to restoring him and taking a well deserved holiday! will be back here checking out the forum and try to upload a few pictures when hes ready