Timely advice from Protyre

With Easter weekend approaching, many motorhome and caravan owners will be taking to the road for the first time this year.

Out of season storage conditions can sometimes have a detrimental effect on tyres and owners are recommended to carry out these simple checks to ensure their safety during a journey says Protyre, the independent tyre dealer network.

• Carefully examine tyres to ensure that there are no cuts, lumps or bulges and that the sidewalls are sound and not affected by cracking or distortion through being left standing for an extended period

• Tyres must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread, although Protyre recommends that tyres with less than 2.5mm should be considered for replacement

• Older tyres (Protyre says over seven years old) should be replaced regardless of visual condition. To determine the age of each tyre, look at the code marked on the tyre sidewall. The code's first two numbers determine the week and the third and fourth digits refer to the year of manufacture. Should motorhome or caravan owners be in any doubt about the condition or age of tyres, Protyre is offering a free Easter tyre safety check at any of its 53 UK outlets, details of which can be found here.

• Check tyre pressures - under or over inflated tyres can not only affect the handling, but can at the extreme result in tyre failure. Owners should consult the vehicle handbook for the correct tyre pressures.

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