? Mismatched tyres abroad

[PeterCarole29]

We did experience this 5 yrs ago in France. We were lucky enough to get flagged down on the auto route just before our rear wheel tyre went totally flat. I am known for being Mr Spares as i would carry everything but the kitchen sink. For the life of me i dont know how it happened but i forgot to repack our trolley jack. Called break down who came out and would not use our spare stating it was a mis match. They put air in our tyre and followed us to and exist and then onto a tyre garage. We then had to have 2 new tyres fitted on the rear.

So my question is if we have had a blow out and caused an accident and had mis matched tyres at the time would our insurance be void or does it revert to the country of origin regulations

Is it regulation in France any car driving in france tyres on any one axle must match

I just want to be well informed and realise it cant be policed and now always take a jack and brack/bar

 

[Jev88]

All I know is the experience you had about refusing to fit one tyre unless it matched the axle. So that rings true.

 

[L' Hobo]

I am under the impression that it is illegal to have mis-matched tyres (size etc) on the same axle anywhere in the UK and EU as it was, originally, a EU directive.

Edit: Just looked up my 1997 PSV MOT testers manual (when we were still in EU) and it states,

Reason for failure,

C. of different nominal size to another on same axle.

D. of a different structure to another on same axle.

there are others but, I think, they are the relevant ones.

 

[PeterCarole29]

I am under the impression that it is illegal to have mis-matched tyres (size etc) on the same axle anywhere in the UK and EU as it was, originally, a EU directive.

Sorry i should have been more specific in my description of mis match. They were the same size in every way but they were different makes

 

[Howard B]

I am under the impression that it is illegal to have mis-matched tyres (size etc) on the same axle anywhere in the UK and EU as it was, originally, a EU directive.

My car has 18” wheels, Spare is a 16” as supplied by manufacturer, its a standard steel wheel & tyre & not a spacesaver . Guess the rolling circumferences must be the same.

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[L' Hobo]

Sorry i should have been more specific in my description of mis match. They were the same size in every way but they were different makes

If they were the same size etc but just a different make, as far as I'm concerned, there should not have been a problem.

All the 18tyres on some of my Trucks and 10 tyres on some of my Coaches, (before I retired) could not ALL have been the same manufacturer.

 

[Phill D]

IMO if you are complying with the terms of your insurance and the tyre is physically legal but just different makes then you should have no issues with the insurance

 

[L' Hobo]

My car has 18” wheels, Spare is a 16” as supplied by manufacturer, its a standard steel wheel & tyre & not a spacesaver . Guess the rolling circumferences must be the same.

I know little of cars so cannot help with that one but, to me, it sounds wrong?

 

[DavidCh]

Certainly in Portugal on the two occasions I have wrecked a tyre on the car the fitters have insisted that I replace both on the same axle as they did not have the same manufacturer and type in stock. On the camper I carry a spare tyre of the same type (not a wheel as it was too heavy) so I have one that can be easily fitted. I know the rules are the same in Italy when I lived there so I am sure it is EU wide.

 

[L' Hobo]

Certainly in Portugal on the two occasions I have wrecked a tyre on the car the fitters have insisted that I replace both on the same axle as they did not have the same manufacturer and type in stock. On the camper I carry a spare tyre of the same type (not a wheel as it was too heavy) so I have one that can be easily fitted. I know the rules are the same in Italy when I lived there so I am sure it is EU wide.

IMO, carrying just the tyre, makes infinite sense (as I keep telling people)

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[rb62]

I'm afraid I can't comment on the insurance angle but in the EU you now have to have tyres on the axle that are matched in type ,size and make so if they haven't got a match you have to have two new ones
Did they let you keep the good one? as they have been known to refuse to

 

[David and Sally]

On my 4x4 car I insisted that the dealer replace the pair on the rear by the same make and spec. They replaced one under warranty but put on another make until I pointed out that 4x4s need to have equal tyres on the same axle.

So, other than that in the UK it is legal to have two different makes on the same axle as long as they are of equal specs.

 

[David and Sally]

I
Did they let you keep the good one? as they have been known to refuse to

They probably sell those on to the next British mug who gets a puncture.

 

[Coolcats]

Why would anyone want mismatched tyres if I replace one the other on the same axle is replaced. Imagine your in a downpour one tyre with 7mm another with 4mm there is an imbalance. That little patch of rubber is the only thing keeping you on the black stuff and it doesn’t take much for you to become just a passenger to doom.

Change the tyres in pairs keep the tread pattern the same.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Why would anyone want mismatched tyres if I replace one the other on the same axle is replaced. Imagine your in a downpour one tyre with 7mm another with 4mm there is an imbalance. That little patch of rubber is the only thing keeping you on the black stuff and it doesn’t take much for you to become just a passenger to doom.

Change the tyres in pairs keep the tread pattern the same.

Echo that. I would add that it is safer to have the tyres with best grip (especially in the wet) on the back axle if the front and back tyres are not a match. This might seem counter-intuitive to some.

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[stevee2]

My Fiat Burstner has alloy wheels fitted I’m looking to fit a spare wheel , would I be allowed to fit a steel wheel as long as I had the same brand of tyre & size ?

 

[Badknee]

D. of a different structure to another on same axle.

I think this relates to crossply v radial tyres

 

[stevee2]

I thought maybe wrongly that they were referring to having different brand of tyres as a spare . Would it be ok to have a steel spare ?

 

[ontheroadagain]

My Fiat Burstner has alloy wheels fitted I’m looking to fit a spare wheel , would I be allowed to fit a steel wheel as long as I had the same brand of tyre & size ?

Yes. (I also have alloy wheels with a steel spare).

 

[Howard B]

My Fiat Burstner has alloy wheels fitted I’m looking to fit a spare wheel , would I be allowed to fit a steel wheel as long as I had the same brand of tyre & size ?

My spare is a steel

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[SpeedyDux]

My Fiat Burstner has alloy wheels fitted I’m looking to fit a spare wheel , would I be allowed to fit a steel wheel as long as I had the same brand of tyre & size ?

Steel wheels and alloys may use different sets of wheel bolts. Otherwise it will be OK.

 

[stevee2]

Oh thanks for the tip .

 

[gus-lopez]

as far as I'm concerned, there should not have been a problem.

There is, they also have to be of the same make.

France would seem to be the only place that bothers .here in spain the only p`lace you need to have two identical makes on the same axle is at the ITV(mot) centre . They are red hot on it along with ensuring they are the correct size according to the log book. even Trafíco rarely show any interest as long as they are the same size & comply with the log book..

 

[stevee2]

I did gather that they need to be the same size & make , just got to find a steel wheel now , thought I had found one on here , got in touch with advertiser said it was available I said fine I will come & collect since then haven’t replied to me ??

 

[Coolcats]

Have to say the tyres on the same axle should have the same tread pattern so yes that means the same make. You often see cars particularly slightly older ones with odd patterns why on earth do people do this it does and can affect handling performance

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[L' Hobo]

There is, they also have to be of the same make.

France would seem to be the only place that bothers .here in spain the only p`lace you need to have two identical makes on the same axle is at the ITV(mot) centre . They are red hot on it along with ensuring they are the correct size according to the log book. even Trafíco rarely show any interest as long as they are the same size & comply with the log book..

I know I have not been involved with European trucking for some time now but, are really saying that ALL the tyres on a tractor unit and trailer, up to 18 of them, have to be ALL from the same manufacturer with exactly the same tread pattern or, as I understand it, just the same on each of the axles?

(Do they all have to be Michelin?)

 

[L' Hobo]

Have to say the tyres on the same axle should have the same tread pattern so yes that means the same make. You often see cars particularly slightly older ones with odd patterns why on earth do people do this it does and can affect handling performance

It seems strange that the authorities are zealous about the tyre but not about the different road surfaces. There must be a great difference with the kerbside & centre as opposed to that in the 'tramways' caused by the heavy trucks as used to be the case on the motorway going into Brussels from Zeebrugge

 

[Lenny HB]

There is, they also have to be of the same make.

France would seem to be the only place that bothers .here in spain the only p`lace you need to have two identical makes on the same axle is at the ITV(mot) centre . They are red hot on it along with ensuring they are the correct size according to the log book. even Trafíco rarely show any interest as long as they are the same size & comply with the log book..

I met another motorhomer in Spain who need a new tyre, tyre place made him buy two the same they refused to fit different ones on the same axle.

 

[Coolcats]

It seems strange that the authorities are zealous about the tyre but not about the different road surfaces. There must be a great difference with the kerbside & centre as opposed to that in the tranways caused by the heavy trucks as used to be the case on the motorway going into Brussels from Zeebrugge

cant disagree but you have the best chance of staying stable on the road with matching tyres at least you have done your bit. The state of our roads are dreadful and full of potholes !

 

[Coolcats]

I met another motorhomer in Spain who need a new tyre, tyre place made him buy two the same they refused to fit different ones on the same axle.

How sensible

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