Motorhome owners urged to check tyres

The tyre safety organisation, TyreSafe, has warned motorhomers who are taking their vehicle out of winter storage to ensure they check their tyres before driving

Tyres of motorhomes or campervans parked or stored for any extended period of time may suffer more rapid deterioration when not in use, especially when exposed to the elements or if they have been supporting the vehicle’s weight.

TyreSafe advises owners to begin their visual checks by looking for any signs of damage on the tyres.

Damage can include things such as

• lumps
• bumps
• cuts
• general deterioration
• and cracking in the tyre sidewall

Also look for any objects which might be caught in the tread pattern, which should be removed with a blunt tool if possible. It’s important to remember, a tyre can be damaged even when brand new, so these checks should be carried out regularly, and certainly if you suspect you’ve run over a pothole or through road debris.

Over time, tyres will also slowly deflate so it’s essential pressures are checked.

There is a dedicated motorhome tyre pressure calculator here.

All tyres fitted to cars, trailers, caravans and motorhomes below 3.5 tonnes should have a tread depth of at least the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of each tyre’s width and its entire circumference. Ideally, an accurate tread depth gauge should be used to check but if this is not available then a 20p piece may be used as a guide. Insert the 20p into the main tread and at various points around the circumference – should you see the outer rim at any point, you need to have the tread depth checked as it may be illegal.

A video: ‘Tyre checks for vehicles coming out of storage’ guides owners through the checks they can carry out themselves, before setting off on a tour.

TyreSafe recommends that, in addition to initial checks, all owners consciously check their tyres once a month, to ensure that the overall condition of their tyres hasn’t changed. Particular care should be taken to carry out a thorough and regular visual inspection.

All videos, leaflets and other digital materials are available to download and you can also find our caravan and motorhome pressure calculators at tyresafe.org