Help with trailer tyres please.

knightstyle

I tow a Smart car with my Cmax. Recently I bought an old Bantam Smart trailer to use instead of an A frame.
The trailer is rated 1300kgs. Driving down through France a tyre exploded, all OK and we had a spare. But looking at the tyres,175/R13, I cannot find the 4 digit date code on either and I see one is made in China with a max rating of 750kgs, the other is a Bridgestone SF228 with lots of numbers, 51485, S228Z, 02-92211, 8CFE, 07X, 436. What do these mean?
I am thinking best would be to buy two new tyres, what would you recommend for this trailer and what should I avoid?

alan_d

Make sure you buy proper trailer tyres as they have higher weight limits than car tyres.
I'd agree that buying 2 is sensible.

System

knightstyle wrote: »

The trailer is rated 1300kgs.

What categories do you have on your driving license and when did you pass your driving test? If you passed your test from 1/1/1997 onwards and haven't added Category E to your license you may well not be towing legally. It isn't how much it actually weighs loaded but what the plated weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer is.

If you got your license in 1997 or later then if the max loaded weight limit of the car is over 2,200kg then because the trailer is rated at 1300kg this would take you over the 3500kg MAM limit of your license even if both the car and the trailer were empty.

Also you must remember that you must also keep within the maximum train weight of the towing vehicle as well which may be lower than 3500kg.

alan_d

Looks like the GVW is upto 2050KG so even with 1300kg trailer he's OK on a B licence.
https://www.carleasingmadesimple.com/data/ford/c-max/gross-vehicle-weight/

knightstyle

Driving licence OK passed in 60s. Trying to get sensible advice on best tyres to buy, make, specs etc.

onomatopoeia99

knightstyle wrote: »

Bridgestone SF228

When I replaced the front tyres on the Hillman Imp I bought in 1991 the (local independent) tyre place fitted a pair of Bridgestone SF228 (they also put 30psi in and I asked if they were trying to kill me, but that's another story).


Given that the manufacturer was making tyres with that designation 27 years ago, it seems likely the ones on your trailer are well past their use by date and there's a good chance they've been left for months or years resting on the same spot. Buy three new tyres (so replace the spare as well) and just make sure of the load rating when you do. As long as it's high enough for the plated weight of the trailer, you should be OK, at least that's my experience from using a two wheeled trailer to tow racing cars. Looks like you need at least a 93 but I'd go higher, I always like plenty of margin on safety critical things.


https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcentre/tyres/what-is-load-rating

Gloomendoom

knightstyle wrote: »

Driving licence OK passed in 60s. Trying to get sensible advice on best tyres to buy, make, specs etc.

You need to work out the gross weight of the loaded trailer and buy some tyres that have the appropriate load index. Note that to prevent blow outs, ensuring the correct tyre pressure is critical. I add a safety margin to the load index.

Load ratings...



As already said, 8 ply trailer tyres are what you need. Ordinary car tyres won't do.

knightstyle

Thanks, so anything over 95 looks OK, next I need to work out the height of the tyres? Where do I find that from all the numbers I listed?
Plus how do I find 8 ply tyres as the specs do not tell me about this.
In France we have 123pneus.fr and allopneus.com but neither reply to my questions. Not easy is it!

Gloomendoom

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks, so anything over 95 looks OK, next I need to work out the height of the tyres? Where do I find that from all the numbers I listed?
Plus how do I find 8 ply tyres as the specs do not tell me about this.
In France we have 123pneus.fr and allopneus.com but neither reply to my questions. Not easy is it!

Try oponeo.fr. Put the tyre size in. When it asks for tyre type, choose utilities. Then look for the correct load index.

With the height (aspect ratio), you might need to try all the options it gives you. It isn't really critical unless you have tight mudguard clearances or are worried about ground clearance.

You may need to check with the tyre manufacturer's website to find the number of plies. After a couple of awkward trailer blow outs, I only use 8 ply.

knightstyle

Thanks, but like the other two I tried oponeo.fr does not have any tyres available in utilities for 175/13 in any height!
I think all the online sites are the same company as they all have the same stock!

forgotmyname

Try yout local independant tyre shop, my local one keeps a couple of these in stock. Not many though because people wont buy tyres with older date codes.

If the date code is over 12 months people tend to want newer tyres.

So try local and ask about the date code, you dont want 5 year old (new) tyres.

I have some Nankank on my caravan, a bit dubious, but no issues so far, they have been all over the country and appear fine. Bargain at £42 i think. And unlike ATS they balanced them without me asking.

ATS said they dont need balancing for a trailer tyre. Didnt go back there.