Q Do I need to replace my tyres?
Can you please advise of cracking on my tyres on my motorhome, a 2018 model. A recent MoT pointed out that there is slight cracking visible between the tread. I was given an advisory on my certificate.
Are these safe to drive on as I have done 15,000 miles and the tread is barely worn? Do I need to replace them now?
Barry and Yolande Richardson A Cracking of the sidewall and between the blocks of tread occurs when tyres are left standing for extended periods and this is exacerbated when they are exposed to direct sunlight; for a motorhome, this is very common. Michelin and Continental make camper-specific (CP) tyres and they claim that these are more resistant to ageing, but they also state that a tyre has a useful life of six years, regardless of whether it is a CP tyre or not.
The best way to get the full life out of a tyre is to use it regularly. The tread will remain compliant and the casing will be ‘worked’ to maintain the right amount of flex and resilience.
An MoT advisory note is intended to draw your attention to something that is considered legal and safe on the day that it was tested, but is potentially going to be a problem before the next MoT test. From my experience, many of these are probably just fine at the moment, but this will change over time.
As you have ageing tyres, they will probably not be as supple as they once were and not offer the same amount of traction in poor weather, so there would be some noticeable gains by changing them. The ride should be quieter, more comfortable and the roadholding improved. It should corner and stop better, too, and even save you fuel. New tyres make a huge difference!
So, yes, you should change them.
Unless you need all-season tyres (for venturing into some European countries or alpine regions during winter and the preference would be for Michelin Agilis all season), I would choose a cheaper option such as Hankook’s RA28. They might wear quicker than a camping-specific tyre or a more expensive brand, but it is likely they will not wear out before they are six years old in your case anyway.
If you do want to keep the existing tyres for a little longer, take some photographs of the tyres now and in a few months to see if there is any evidence of the blocks pulling apart or the cracks becoming deeper. But always check them before driving and make sure they are ok.
Nick Fisher