Replacing tyres, by law, at 10 yrs old

[Brains]

There has recently been a lot of conflicting information over the issue of safety inspections for commercial vans, specifically charity/church/youth group/school owned minibuses, but it also affects motorhomes.

The scuttlebut is that it is a legal requirement to have safety inspections done at regular interval, every 10 weeks, irrespective of the mileage done during these periods.

Motorhomes (and charity etc. minibuses) are classed as privately owned, not commercial users.
Therefore beyond an annual MOT for vehicles older than 3 years and manufacturer’s servicing requirements, there is nothing in law for further inspections.
The requirements are currently the same as for a car.

If running a public service vehicle for payment, or if a truck or van operator; inspections are required by law every 10 weeks and inspection records are to be kept for 15 months.

However what this discussion has bought to light is the rules governing tyres, not only on the Charity etc owned minibus abut also on the motorhome and more importantly any trailer.

Tyres need to be date stamped within less than 10 years (this should be picked up on your annual MOT), this also applies to trailer tyres which also need to be date stamped to less than 10 years old.

The penalty for driving with out-of-date tyres is three points on your licence PER TYRE!

This could mean a tag axle motorhome towing a double wheel trailer (10 tyres in total) could in theory incur a 30 point penalty on your licence.
I'm not sure what that would do for you insurance the following year, assuming you were still on the road.

 

[Brains]

Part of the reason this came up is a 17 seat Scout minibus was towing a canoe trailer down the M1 a couple of weeks ago.
The outside wheel came off the trailer and overtook the minibus.
The wheel bounced over the central reservation and then scraped down the side of an oncoming car.

The M1 had to be closed in both directions to clear up the mess.
The police specifically checked the age of all the tyres, on both minibus and trailer.

Luckily no serious damage done, the occupants of the car had a lucky escape and the canoe trailer is probably a write off.

 

[funflair]

I wasn’t aware that these rules affected privately owned motorhomes.

 

[tacr2man]

10 Year Tyre Legislation | Continental tyres

From 1st February 2021 it is illegal for front axles of HGVs including buses and coaches (vehicles above a gross vehicle weight of 3500 kgs) and all axles on minibuses when fitted in single configuration to use tyres aged more than 10 years.

www.continental-tyres.co.uk

Tyre age restrictions for good vehicles, buses, coaches and minibuses

www.gov.uk

 

[10tenmen]

It doesn’t according to the above.

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[Brains]

It doesn’t according to the above.

If you read it, it specifically covers "most" vehicles over 3.5t.
It also covers most HGV's

Many of us have 'private HGV's' over 3.5t.

Therefore I think if you are being pedantic (and lawyers always are), it would appear there 'may' be a motorhome loophole, at the moment.

However, as we saw first hand on the M1 last week, had one of the tyres been over ten years old the Police would have prosecuted.

In the case of a motorhome having an old tyre related incident where someone is killed then it would then be up to to your lawyer to try to get you off.
Having recently attended a lengthy traffic related case as a jury member (where the driver got 7 years for crashing at a walking pace), even if there is no law against having old tyres, the judge and prosecution will not see it that way.

Bottom line is even your spare tyre should be under 10 years old, and check the age of the tyres, including the spare, on your trailer.

 

[Winger]

Part of the reason this came up is a 17 seat Scout minibus was towing a canoe trailer down the M1 a couple of weeks ago.
The outside wheel came off the trailer and overtook the minibus.
The wheel bounced over the central reservation and then scraped down the side of an oncoming car.

The M1 had to be closed in both directions to clear up the mess.
The police specifically checked the age of all the tyres, on both minibus and trailer.

Luckily no serious damage done, the occupants of the car had a lucky escape and the canoe trailer is probably a write off.

It’s hard to find a connection between tyre age and a wheel coming off tho

 

[Brains]

It’s hard to find a connection between tyre age and a wheel coming off tho

Agreed.
However as we have seen, in the event of an accident, especially one that involves wheels in some way, the Police will be checking the age of the tyres.

Anyone driving a large vehicle or trailer on old tyres, it liable to have a serious problem, even if that is not the eventual cause of the accident.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

If there is no specific legislation related to maximum tyre age for the vehicle type/classification implicated, would potential prosecution more likely be based on general tyre condition/roadworthiness at time of incident? Otherwise would that legislation not have to be changed/updated accordingly (which would be no bad thing)?

 

[Pixies]

It says:

It is illegal for the front (steering) axle or axles of:

• goods vehicles with a gross mass more than 3.5 tonnes
• buses
• coaches
• minibuses and also to the rear axle, or axles, unless equipped with twin wheels

to use tyres aged more than 10-years.

In the same way that goods vehicles have to have regular inspections. This is not motorhomes and has got nothing to do with wheels coming detached. This is Daily Mail panic stories for people who are afraid of their own shadow.

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[chesterfield hooligan]

A wheel falling of a trailer, more than quality of the tyre's might imply that mot's might be needed for trailers and caravans which would include tyre's and brakes.

 

[haganap]

Just can't understand why it's even a discussion.
Using tyres over 10 years old on a heavy motorhome is simply asking for trouble.
Shouldn't need a law to tell you that.

 

[funflair]

I think anybody interested in this subject should read the full document from DVSA on this subject, the short extract below says that it is applicable to steering axles only other than single wheel fitment mini buses and that the date code must be on all tyres but it does not mandate for the age of rear axle tyres on a twin set up.



4. Application

The Road Vehicles Construction and Use (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (2020 No. 1178) willintroduce a ban from the 01st of February 2021 on the use of a tyre aged more than 10-years onthe front (steering) axle(s) of goods vehicles over 3500kg DGVW, minibuses, large buses, andcoaches. The ban also extends to the rear axle(s) of a minibus if it employs a single wheelfitment. In addition, there is a new requirement that the date of manufacture code remainslegible, this applies to tyres on any axle including trailers more than 3500kg DGVW, however legislation only requires the date of manufacture code to be marked on one sidewall of the tyre.

 

[Roby2008]

At 10yrs I would be through the second set of tyres due to mileage, and here in Germany the Tüv (MOT) will advise on tyres at 7 years and fail at 10 yrs regardless of condition. Trailers have their own MOT, registration number, and insurance.....

 

[Parrot Face]

Motorhome now 5 years old so I took it to my nearby tyre dealer asking for them all to be changed. He was a bit surprised but said he'd examine each one. He found the walls of each tyre were deteriorating with early cracks developing, agreed that it might be a good idea to replace them all. No way would they have lasted 10 years.

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[Ridgeway]

At 10yrs I would be through the second set of tyres due to mileage, and here in Germany the Tüv (MOT) will advise on tyres at 7 years and fail at 10 yrs regardless of condition. Trailers have their own MOT, registration number, and insurance.....

Same here and insurance would just laugh at a claim where the tyre condition may have been a contributing factor (eg braking distance or blow out).

 

[DandJ]

Tyres (and their replacement) will always have me head-scratching. Folk will 'happily' spend £50k, £80k, £100k plus on a moho and then moan about paying £600-£800 for a set of 4 tyres every 'x' yrs...the 4 things that keep your very expensive vehicle shiny side up. Humans aren't half odd.
" 'ow much !? "

 

[chatteris]

legislation doesnt affect normal motorhomes, from the inspection manual "The check of tyre age applies to all vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, other than vehicles of historical interest"

 

[chatteris]

I had a 6 year old tyre go out of shape on our last trip, trying to find a tyre place that kept anything in stock of the correct size was not that easy so had to have the only tyres that ATS had on the shelf

 

[funflair]

legislation doesnt affect normal motorhomes, from the inspection manual "The check of tyre age applies to all vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, other than vehicles of historical interest"

Agreed, below are a couple of screen shots from DVSA Q&A page,

I will just add that I wouldn't dream of running tyres anything like 10 years old on our van.

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[PaddyM]

Slightly off topic but I’m in the process of buying a 2000 Lotus Elise Type 49 from a classic car dealer and that car is advertised as on its original tyres from the factory .
I shall be replacing them but I’ve been strongly advised to retain the tyres to fit when I sell the vehicle on . Apparently people in the classics game insist on originality!

 

[Tigger-Tim]

...
Therefore beyond an annual MOT for vehicles older than 3 years and manufacturer’s servicing requirements, there is nothing in law for further inspections.
...

HGVs and buses (including coaches) usually must be tested each year. The first test should be 12 months after the vehicle was first registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Get an MOT for a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or trailer

Vehicles which must have the annual test - buses, coaches, lorries and trailers, booking and fees.

www.gov.uk

 

[tacr2man]

"Many of us have 'private HGV's' over 3.5t."
If you mean by this the taxation class , its not the relevant factor . The deciding factor is the vehicle type which decides the MOT class , in the case of members on this forum if a class 4 (motor caravan) or a ministry test (Living van). The former no tyre age law the latter tyre age applicable .

 

[A S R]

Personally I wouldn’t want to use tyres that are 10 years old. On anything!

 

[jumar]

The van we currently have had the original tyres allround when we bought it as a 9 year old van...only 40,000km (25,000ml) ample tread left on them..
I bought the van, drove it directly to a tyre outlet and got them changed..
Having experienced a motorhome tyre blowout...not to be taken lightly I say...

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[Jev88]

I can confirm I have viewed an RV at 6500Kg approximately.
Fresh, valid, REAL MOT - all 6 tyres were 18 years old.

No law broken.

But personally speaking 10 years on COMMERCIAL tyres is my limit.

 

[Brains]

I can confirm I have viewed an RV at 6500Kg approximately.
Fresh, valid, REAL MOT - all 6 tyres were 18 years old.

No law broken.

But personally speaking 10 years on COMMERCIAL tyres is my limit.

As above.

No 'LAW' actually broken.
However a blowout on a motorway that causes a death you would expect to serve several years courtesy of his Majesty.

 

[Brains]

Slightly off topic but I’m in the process of buying a 2000 Lotus Elise Type 49 from a classic car dealer and that car is advertised as on its original tyres from the factory .
I shall be replacing them but I’ve been strongly advised to retain the tyres to fit when I sell the vehicle on . Apparently people in the classics game insist on originality!

I think I'd just wrap them up in brown paper and stick them in a cool dark place until you sell it.
Tyres, 30+ years old, should not be on a vehicle, even if it's just for show.

Plenty of youtube videos of tyres exploding. You don't want to be close!
Even a bicycle tyre exploding can do a surprising amount of damage and write off a wheel (or a hand if too close)

 

[Brains]

A wheel falling of a trailer, more than quality of the tyre's might imply that mot's might be needed for trailers and caravans which would include tyre's and brakes.

Yes, it's odd that in the UK there is no MoT for trailers/caravans.
Most other European countries have had them for decades.

I suspect that the UK also has more trailers/caravans per capita than most other northern European countries as well.

 

[TwistNShout]

I must admit that I forgot about tyre age when buying our MH, just looked at condition. MOT and service reports were "tyres ok, plenty of tread" . Then we had a flat and went to a tyre place, fitter was a motorhomer himself. Spare was original, 20 years old, all others were 10 year old van tyres. Lesson learnt, new MH tyres all round.

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