Should I carry a spare tyre? AND legality of tyres older than 10 years

[The Raptor]

I would just like to offer this experience with other members. When I purchased my Autotrail Motorhome 11 years ago all that was provided was a tyreweld and pair of tough gloves. Following discussions on forums I decided to buty a spare rim and tyre “Just in case”……well on the way back from Orkney I had that blowout that tyreweld would have fixed NOT…..

The spare was successfully put on and I got home with my spare.
HOWEVER my son who was a policeman in the past said I may be fined with points as my spare was over 10 years old as the tyre regulations changed in February 2021 and this could/would get a 3 point penalty and immediate prohibition order.
Here is the link about this new law and Q&A after so it may help / inform people.
UK gov.uk link
Hope this is useful and yes my front tyres are only 7 years old. (Reading link private Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes may not be included, but it’s advice is to risk assess all vehicles)
Cheers
Dave

 

[Fisherman]

Tyres are what keep you on the road, get new tyres.
Sadly I have seen what happens with dodgy tyes.

 

[SquirrellCook]

Dremel and remove the date code. I didn’t type this

 

[mark61]

Are MH's 3.5T and under included?

 

[SquirrellCook]

Dremel and remove the date code. I didn’t type this

Ok, just read this is as bad. Stupidly you can still use an old carcass with a remould.

 

[QFour]

Dremel and remove the date code. I didn’t type this

Why would you want to drive round on old tyres. They do deteriate over time

 

[The Raptor]

Are MH's 3.5T and under included?

Apparently not, but the advice was to risk assess all exempted vehicles anyway, there is a very lengthy discussion on the gov.uk link with lots of questions with DVLA giving answers

 

[maingate]

Only applies to commercial vehicles of certain classes (ie, used for hire or reward).

 

[winks]

A spare is always a good thing but with the miserly payloads applicable to some vans they are sacrificed to artificially up the available payload. I agree with Qfour re driving on old tyres having had twelve year old tyre blow out a while ago.

Cheers

H

 

[Scotia]

That's one of the first things I did when I purchased the motorhome was make a bracket to hold a spare wheel.

 

[rugbyken]

having had 3 motorhome’s over the last 17 years i have had 4 blow outs none of which the cans of gunk would have got me moving the last when i had only had this hymer a month was a bolt hole recovered to a garage in portugal & new tyre took 4 days to arrive ,

 

[Fazerloz]

HOWEVER my son who was a policeman in the past said I may be fined with points as my spare was over 10 years old as the tyre regulations changed in February 2021 and this could/would get a 3 point penalty and immediate prohibition order.
Here is the link about this new law and Q&A after so it may help / inform people.
UK gov.uk link
Hope this is useful and yes my front tyres are only 7 years old. (Reading link private Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes may not be included, but it’s advice is to risk assess all vehicles)
Cheers
Dave

As motor caravans of all weights are Class 4 MOT I find it strange you post this as your own link clearly states.

"A class 4 motor caravan is out of scope for the new tyre regulations."

I guess we shouldn't believe everything a policeman tells us.

 

[Richard Wasteney]

Regardless of the law, just look at The Raptor’s photo and tell me you’re happy on tyres over 10 years old. It’s good practice that could save your life. I bought a motorbike from a dealer two years ago with 14 year old tyres on which I instantly replaced. No point going back to the dealer with the issue as they would point to the law but it’s a risk I don’t find palatable

 

[Fisherman]

We are talking about what keeps us all on the road here, are you feeling lucky, then drive with 10 year old tyres. Quite frankly I don’t give a sh-t what the law says. And don’t forget it’s not only your life that’s on the line here.

 

[1807truckman]

From what I read on the link the ten year rule is only applicable to HGV, coaches and mini busses with more than 9 seats on the front steered axles, having said that it's just common sense to change the tyres by the time they're ten years old afterall they're what keep you on the road.
On my previous Hymer I bought a rim and tyre because it only came with tyre gunk and a compressor, can't say it was for weight saving as it had a 1000kg payload availableeven with full water tanks, full fuel tank and full gas bottles this was on a Mercedes Sprinter 5 tonne chassis.

 

[campervanannie]

That's one of the first things I did when I purchased the motorhome was make a bracket to hold a spare wheel.View attachment 99444View attachment 99445

Dear mr Scotia please will you make me one of those it looks so much easier to carry your spare than the silly rack underneath that gets all rusty and sieges up.

 

[brian c]

Well I was warned that my tyres were Over ten years and would fail class 4 mot. Checked class 4 mot tyres age. On internet And it states it’s a fail if over 10 years or undated. Motstation verified this. So not sure about class4 excluded threads or onlyhgvs etc. Personally check your tyre date and check at mot. Stan. And yes I would trust a policeman if he told me that such and such was illegal/ legal I often wonder if some of the advice given is a bit dated. Ie. It was legal when I was a lad so it’s legal now. I took my test in 1966 in a 4 ton lorry and only heard about the age limit/ tyres 2 months ago it was also pointed out to me that there were small cracks in the tyre that I had not seen So I agree with some posts. If there old change them. Brian.

 

[Sky]

Driving on old tyres is (IMO) the same as smoking - both will kill you eventually, but even more sad is both can kill those around you too.

 

[wildebus]

Dear mr Scotia please will you make me one of those it looks so much easier to carry your spare than the silly rack underneath that gets all rusty and sieges up.

Underslung spares are a right PITA! the VW T5 has those and when I first got my T5 it took nearly an hour of significant physical activity to undo the two securing nuts to free the wheel (probably not been touched for ages and IIRC the spare was bald as well! )

 

[RV2MAX]

Well I was warned that my tyres were Over ten years and would fail class 4 mot. Checked class 4 mot tyres age. On internet And it states it’s a fail if over 10 years or undated. Motstation verified this. So not sure about class4 excluded threads or onlyhgvs etc. Personally check your tyre date and check at mot. Stan. And yes I would trust a policeman if he told me that such and such was illegal/ legal I often wonder if some of the advice given is a bit dated. Ie. It was legal when I was a lad so it’s legal now. I took my test in 1966 in a 4 ton lorry and only heard about the age limit/ tyres 2 months ago it was also pointed out to me that there were small cracks in the tyre that I had not seen So I agree with some posts. If there old change them. Brian.

quoted from MOT Manual cars and passenger vehicles Section 5 tyres .

Tyre age​

The check of tyre age applies to all vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, other than vehicles of historical interest.

so cars (Class 4) and motorcaravans (class 4) with less than 9 seats not applicable HTSH

RFF

(m) A tyre over ten years old is fitted to a front steered axle of a bus, coach, or any axle on a minibus with a single wheel fitment	Dangerous
A date code illegible: (i) on a tyre fitted to a rear axle of a bus or coach (ii) or not visible on a tyre fitted to a front steered axle of a bus or coach or any axle on a minibus with a single wheel fitment	Minor Major