Q Should we replace our tyres?

We have an Autocruse Starspirit motorhome on a 2004 plate which, although it has a very low mileage and had little use, we suspect that the tyres should be replaced.

Could you please advise the best make of tyres we should put on it. We are long-time members of MMM and would appreciate your advice.

Basil Newman

A

If these are original tyres, then, after this long, I would expect some cracking in the sidewalls and/or the tread blocks. This will normally be OK for MoT purposes, but it will undoubtedly mean that the sidewalls are softer and the tread will be harder than it used to be. These are the effects of ageing and UV on the tyres.

While they are probably legal and perfectly serviceable, the tyres are no longer behaving as they were intended to. There will be more compliance in the casing, which will feel softer and allow the vehicle to move more from side to side than it should, while the hardened tread will give less grip in wet or cold conditions than it used to.

I am confident that new tyres will prove to be a revelation for your enjoyment of driving the vehicle and will also improve the safety of your travels when out touring.

In terms of tyres, it is quite difficult to buy a bad tyre nowadays. There is not quite the proliferation of questionable brand names and sources for van tyres compared to cars.

The obvious answer, given the longevity of your current set, would be to buy the same brand again, but if, as I suspect, these are a premium brand and, given that the longevity of these tyres has actually led you to be using tyres that are definitely past their best (although perfectly legal), I would question why you should spend more than you need to.

I have had a long and satisfying history of purchasing Hankook tyres and would have no hesitation in recommending them. The cost saving over more premium brands is considerable. Avon is another decent tyre that comes without the high price tag.

I do question the need to pay extra for a Camper or CP labelled tyre. There may be some beneficial aspects to these, regarding claims of superior UV protection, but the same manufacturers also state that you should change your tyres every six years or so.

Claims are made regarding stronger sidewalls, too, but the sidewall strength is determined by the load rating.

If you have, for instance, 109 load-rated tyres, they will be very similar to any other 109 tyre. If you want a tougher tyre, look for the same size, but at a higher rating such as 113 or 115.

It would be very hard to make the wrong choice and any new tyres will provide you with a smoother, quieter, more comfortable ride and enhance your travels considerably unless, of course, you go for some really chunky mud tyres.

These can feel harsh, dull the cornering feel and be noisy.

If you are considering travelling in the winter, you might want to think about all-season tyres, which are more widely available now and are pretty durable on the whole, but remember that certain European countries require specific winter tyres when the weather dictates.

Markings on the sidewalls of tyres can be confusing. Some have M+S (mud and snow) stamped on them, but this has to be taken quite lightly because there has never been any specific test or standard for the mud and snow ‘ability’ of these tyres other than they are generally more suitable than the same manufacturer’s standard tyres.

Winter tyres are obviously designed specifically for winter conditions and are widely known to be the best in these situations, but they degrade very rapidly in more moderate conditions. You should not run them all year.

The arrival of all-season tyres provided more options, but the first generation of these were not really much good at summer or winter use and wore out prematurely. They have improved considerably but, unless they bear the logo of a snowflake ( for winter tyres) or the newer 3PMSF (three peak mountain snowflake) symbol, they are not considered acceptable in regions that insist on winter tyres at specific times.

You must always check before travelling to these areas to ensure that you are compliant with current regulations.

I am reliably informed that these latest 3PMSF tyres are very durable throughout the year and are genuinely all-season tyres. At a glance they seem to costs some £20 to £30 more per tyre than an equivalent premium tyre from the better-known brands.

If you are likely to need a winter tyre, and were going to buy premium tyres anyway, this looks like a viable option.

If you don’t need winter tyres and were likely to buy a budget tyre, this will be almost twice as expensive.

Nick Fisher