Bringing your camper van out of storage? Check the tyres!

Some vehicles, like motorhomes and classic open-top sports cars, only come out in the warmer months.

If you've got a vehicle that's ready to come out of hibernation now that spring is here, make sure you perform essential tyre safety checks before taking to the road.

TyreSafe warns that when vehicles are parked or stored for any extended period of time, the tyres can suffer more rapid deterioration - especially when exposed to the elements or if they have been supporting the vehicle's weight.

The tyre safety charity advises owners to begin with a visual check by looking for any signs of damage on the tyres.

Damage can include things such as lumps, bumps or cuts, as well as general deterioration, most commonly seen as cracking in the sidewall of the tyre.

Also look for any objects that might be caught in the tread pattern, and remove them with a blunt tool if possible.

As well as looking for damage, it's essential to check your tyre pressures because over time, tyres will slowly deflate.

Look at the vehicle manufacturer's handbook, a plaque on the bodywork, the fuel filler cap or door shut to find the correct settings.

If you can't access those numbers from the manufacturer, visit https://www.tyresafe.org/check-your-pressures/ where TyreSafe has a tyre pressure look-up for cars as well as caravans and motorhomes.

Lastly, make sure your tyres aren't over-worn. All tyres fitted to cars, trailers, caravans and motorhomes below 3.5 tonnes should have a tread depth of at least the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of each tyre's width and its entire circumference.

If you don't have a tread depth gauge, you can use a 20p piece as a guide.

Insert the coin into the main tread and at various points around the circumference - if you can see the outer rim at any point, you need to have the tread depth checked as it may be illegal.

Whether you're a classic car owner, motorbike enthusiast, keen caravanner, motorhome traveller or festival catering specialist, make sure your tyres are safe before you get back behind the wheel!

Make sure you are covered on the road this Spring and visit our motorhome, campervan and car inurance pages.