10 motorhome and caravan tyre safety tips

The National Caravan Council, together with the Approved Workshop Scheme, has released essential advice for Tyre Safety Month

Tyre Safety Month – a campaign set up by tyre safety charity, TyreSafe – runs throughout October, urging vehicle owners to carry out vital checks on their tyres and raising awareness of the dangers of defective and illegal tyres.

In support of the campaign, the National Caravan Council, together with the Approved Workshop Scheme, has put together the following tips to ensure your caravan, motorhome or campervan’s tyres are up to standard:

1. Always check your tyre pressures (if towing, not just on the towcar but also the caravan) before starting a long journey. This will also help with fuel economy.
2. To get an accurate reading, ONLY check pressure when a tyre is cold.
3. While caravan and motorhome tyres rarely wear out, the same legal tread depth limit as for a car (1.6mm) applies. Don’t forget the spare!
4. You should check the tyre sidewalls and treads regularly for cracks, cuts and bulges. Tyres with higher inflation pressures (50 psi and above) may deteriorate faster – therefore always look them over closely.
5. Replace a tourer’s tyres, including the spare, in accordance with the caravan industry’s recommendation. This advises that caravan tyres should ideally be replaced at five years old and should never be used beyond seven years.
6. If your motorhome, campervan or tourer is left unused for long periods, it is a good idea to move it periodically. It is advisable to cover the wheels with breathable material when the vehicle is not in regular use. This will help to protect tyres from the harmful effects of sunlight.
7. Take care when replacing tyres. It is important to ensure that the replacement tyres have at least the same load rating as the originals (tyres suitable for cars may not be suitable for all caravans/motorhomes).
8. Tyre pressures and wheel nuts or bolts on both the car/caravan and motorhome or campervan should be checked regularly to comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
9. Manufacturers provide recommendations for increased tyre pressures when towing or under heavier loading. Incorrectly inflated tyres can initiate instability and/or premature tyre failure.
10. If in doubt, contact your nearest Approved Workshop, where you can get sound, professional advice on both servicing and looking after touring caravans and motorhomes. Each of the 550 Approved Workshops can provide useful leaflets on various topics, including wheels and tyres. Find an Approved Workshop here.

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