Overloading tyres is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all times. A poorly distributed load can also lead to overloaded tyres even when the maximum total permissible load is not exceeded. Loads should be spread evenly around the caravan and as low down as possible to maximise the stability and safety of the car and caravan combination. The police may take action against drivers who’s caravans are found to be overloaded or have a poorly distributed load.

To ensure tyres are not overloaded, it is advisable to keep the caravan operating weight below the specified maximum limit. A 10% margin will partly help to compensate for some unequal load distribution. For maximum safety and reassurance regarding vehicle weight, use a Public Weighbridge to check the load.

Tyres are designed and manufactured to provide thousands of miles of excellent service. For maximum benefit, they must be maintained properly to avoid damage and abuse that may result in reduced performance or compromise safety.

The service life of a tyre is dependent upon many factors that impact on it during its life and therefore accurately predicting the service life of any specific tyre in chronological time is not possible. There is no known technical data that supports a specific age for a tyre’s removal from service. However, in the interests of safety a number of vehicle and tyre manufacturers recommend that tyres (including spares) that were manufactured more than a certain number of years previously be replaced with new tyres, even if they appear to be useable from their external appearance and the tread may not have reached the minimum legal limit. It is recommended that any such manufacturer instructions should be followed.

The age of your tyres can be found by examining the DOT (or date of manufacture) code found on the tyres’ sidewall markings.