As the summer holidays are almost upon us, caravan owners are being urged to carry out checks on the tyres before they head off.
Advice has been issued by one of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers in an attempt to help them remain safe on the road.
For many caravan owners, their caravan may remain unused for most of the year and when it is only moved a couple of times a year it can lead to flat sport developing. This is where the rubber of the tyre deforms as a result of the constant downward pressure on one spot. This can cause dangerous problems when the caravan is towed at high speeds.
Blown Tyre © The Tyre Zoo / Creative Commons CC BY 2.0
They also recommend that caravan tyres are changed every ten years, if purchased new, regardless of how they may look or even how much tread is remaining. Over time, rubber degrades and this means that it can lose grip. It is recommended that owners check for signs or deterioration as a result of age as well as cracking and deforming of the carcass.
If tyres are underinflated for long periods, wearing of the tyre will occur at a quicker rate and this could lead to the tyre deflating extremely quickly and this will mean that the caravan will become unstable and the driver could lose control.
Drivers should be aware that it is not good practice to change a damaged tyre on the hard shoulder, therefore, it is important that caravan tyres are inflated correctly so that wear and tear occurs at an even rate which will enhance the lifespan of the tyre.
Before any journey, the pressure of all tyres should be checked while the tyres are cold. It is important to remember that the pressure should not be checked while they are warm and pressure should not be reduced while the caravan tyres are warm as this will lead to a lower pressure when cold.
Following a pressure check, check the valve and make sure that the valve cap is in place. If you are unsure of the correct pressure, check the owner's’ manual.
