The Tyre Saga.

It's my own fault, I should have done something about it sooner.
The last MOT flagged up that the tyres on Delfin were old and beginning to deteriorate, especially the sidewalls where fine graining is visible.This is mainly due to a combination of oxidation, a breakdown of the rubber to steel bonding and the brittle nature of rubber that comes with age - not unlike my own ageing skin!   Well in a van of our weight and size, when this happens, there is the possibility of a blow-out and that could be a deadly disaster.We will be covering 4 to 5 thousand miles, not all of them on decent roads, especially in Morocco, where there is often just a narrow strip of tarmac with gravel either side to enable passing.So time to act, despite the fact that there appears to be quite a depth of tread left.
I have spent the last three days learning about tyre sizes, tyre ages and tyre compounds.I know the meaning of all the letters and numbers printed into the rubber on the wall of each tyre and how to apply on-line to have tyres delivered to a local fitter.I know my Michelin from my Dunlop and Continental from Bridgestone.
To think..... I could have been in town buying shoes!!
 For our own safety and the safety of others,we have had to bite the financial bullet and invest in new rubber.Our present tyres are seven years old so by motorhome standards, have done very well.
So why the panic? Because this is the time of year when camping- cars come out of hibernation, are dusted down, checks are made and new tyres are in short supply because everyone wants them! None of this would matter a jot except that we have an appointment with a ferry on the 23rd.
A wonderful organisation called Tyres on the Drive spent the morning ringing around to track down the ones we require and their perseverance paid off. Thunderbirds are GO!! Delfin has new shoes.

Can you see the fine cracks within the tread and the shot below which shows the graining on the sidewall ?