Caravan tyre check vital this summer

Around 2 million Britons will take to the road with their trailer caravan in tow this summer and many will not carry out the basic safety checks to ensure a trouble free holiday. Many caravans tend to be used only once or twice a year and whilst ensuring that the tyre tread depth is above the legal minimum of 1.6mm and pressures are correct, there is a real and largely hidden concern says Protyre, the UK’s leading tyre specilalist, that the age and general condition of the tyre is overlooked.

Tyres left static for extended periods may be subject ozone cracking and general deterioration which can affect their operation on the open road. Owners of older trailer caravans are advised that if the tyres on their caravan are older than 7 years, they should be replaced irrespective of the depth of tread. At the very least tyres should be checked on a regular basis.

Barry Norris, technical information officer at the Camping and Caravanning Club said that “tyres are a major factor in caravan safety and the Club encourages caravanners to check their tyres regularly and not to forget that age deterioration can be a real problem.”

Determining the age of a tyre is straightforward. A code is marked on the tyre sidewall which has the first two numbers determining the week, with the third and fourth digits referring to the year of manufacture. If a caravanner is in any doubt as to the condition of their tyres, the tyre retailer, based in Hampshire, is offering a free tyre safety check this summer.

Protyre has also issued the following safety tips for caravanners and as supporters of TyreSafe – the industry safety body - visitors to the organisation’s website tyresafe.org can download a tyre safety leaflet aimed at trailer caravans.

Check the manufacturing dates of your caravan tyres. The Leisure Vehicle Organisation recommends that if they are over five years old, you should consider replacing them. Tyres more than seven years old should not be used;

Inspect your caravan tyres for cuts, sidewall cracking or imbedded objects. This includes the inner sidewalls;

Check the pressures of all your caravan tyres from cold, including the spare. Inflation should be in proportion to the load;

Check the pressure of the tyres of the towing vehicle. Some vehicle manufacturers specify slightly high rear tyre pressures when towing;

Check that the tyre construction on all wheels is the same;

Check the tread depths. UK law requires a minimum of 1.6mm throughout the central 75% of the tread width, and around the tyre’s circumference. A minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the full tread width is strongly recommended to ensure compliance with regulations throughout Europe; and

Check that the jack is in working order. Most jacks benefit from a drop of oil on the screw mechanism, as caravans are frequently parked off road, have a suitable piece of board available to prevent the jack from sinking into soft ground.

For more information, visit protyre.co.uk.