Motorhome tyres usually fail from age and standing, not from mileage. Like a caravan, a motorhome spends long periods parked under its own considerable weight, so the rubber perishes and flat-spots while the tread still looks deep. The two rules that keep you safe are: check the age and replace on time, and run the high pressures the weight demands.
Why motorhome tyres are different
A motorhome is heavy, often close to its axle limits, and stands idle for months between trips. That combination is hard on tyres: standing causes flat spots and lets the rubber perish, and the weight means any weakness is punished on a long, hot motorway run. A tyre with plenty of tread can still be unsafe, which is why age and condition matter more than wear.
The CP marking explained
Many motorhomes are designed for CP-marked tyres (the "CP" stands for camping/motorhome use). These are built with reinforced sidewalls and a higher load capacity to cope with sustained high loads and long periods parked. If your motorhome was specified with CP tyres, fit them again, and always match the load rating the vehicle requires. Your handbook or weight plate confirms what's needed.
Age and pressure checks
Read the four-digit DOT date on the sidewall (week and year) to find the age, see how to read a tyre's age. Many manufacturers and clubs advise replacing motorhome tyres at around 7 to 10 years regardless of tread. Pressures are usually much higher than a car's and depend on the actual axle weights, so set them to the figure on the plate, and check them cold before every trip, as under-inflation is a leading cause of failure.
Before every trip
A quick pre-trip routine catches the dangerous ones:
- Check the DOT date and replace if it's aged out.
- Inspect all the way round for cracking, bulges and flat spots, including the inner sidewall.
- Set the correct high pressures cold for the loaded weight.
- Don't forget the spare, which is often the oldest tyre of all.
We come to the motorhome
There's no need to drive a heavy motorhome on doubtful tyres to a garage. We fit motorhome and CP-rated tyres at your home or storage site across the UK, checking age, pressures and condition while we're there. Book a check or fit.
