Caravan and motorhome owners are being urged to check the age of their tyres and look for defects before heading out on the roads this holiday season to reduce the risk of accidents and breakdown Tyre specialist Hometyre East Sussex, based in Eastbourne, warned that some caravan owners simply hooked up and hit the road unaware of hidden dangers.

“Some leisure motorists set off on their journeys without realising that tyres can develop defects – even whilst parked up on their drive over winter – or that caravan tyres should be replaced every five years irrespective of the remaining tread depth,” warned Chris McHugo of Hometyre.

“A tyre puncture is a big inconvenience, while a tyre blow-out is a very serious situation, leading to loss of control and potentially a serious collision.

“Tyres left unprotected and unused on caravans, motorhomes and trailers for long periods degrade faster than tyres in regular use on other vehicles due to their exposure to sunlight. All modern tyres are steel belted and, when kept in one position for months, can deform under stress.

“As well as the legal tread depth it’s vital that motorists thoroughly inspect each tyre for any defects, bulging and cracking before setting off on the road.

“People also tend not to realise that the life of a tyre is measured by age as well as tread depth. Rubber perishes over time, becoming brittle and prone to cracking.

“This is why motoring organisations, including The Caravan Club, recommend that tyres on these vehicles should ideally be replaced when five years old and not used beyond seven years old, irrespective of the tread depth remaining, because the hazards are often hidden.

“The week and year of manufacture can be found stamped on the tyre wall and used to calculate when that tyre should be replaced. It’s simply not worth the risk of endangering lives or potentially damaging what is a very valuable asset. A shredded tyre, rotating around the wheel, can cause serious damage to the wheel-arch and floor of a caravan.”

He also recommended the fitting of special safety devices, such as Tyron bands, to caravan, motorhome and trailer tyres for extra safety and control in the event of sudden tyre failure.