PRESS RELEASE - 3rd October 2008 
Winter Tyre advice for caravanners from Protyre

Care should be taken when laying-up a caravan up for the winter months

The vast majority of trailer caravan owners tend to lay up their units for the winter months. At the end of the summer season caravan tyres should be checked for tread wear and any other damage which might have occurred over the summer months. Protyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre dealer network, warns that the sidewall of caravan tyres can easily sustain impact damage through trailer cut-in on corners and should be acted upon.
To ensure that caravan tyres are fit for next year’s summer motoring season Protyre recommends the following actions:

• Examine and check the tyres for tread depth and any signs of damage to the sidewall or signs of mis-alignment.
• Check the valves for general condition
• The wheels should be chocked up so that the weight of the caravan does not rest on the on the tyres and cover the tyres in black plastic to keep out the winter elements
• Better still remove the tyres/wheels completely and store them flat, in a cool and dry condition, away from sunlight and away from electrical machinery which can emit harmful ozone.
• Cover the brake drums and hubs following servicing if necessary

Commenting on the winter tyre advice Barry Norris from the Camping and Caravanning Club said, “Tyres do tend to be forgotten at the end of the summer season and the Protyre advice is very timely and welcome. Tyres are the only contact the car and caravan has with the road surface and so care should be taken that they are in good condition and fit for purpose.”

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About Micheldever Tyre Services & Protyre
Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) was founded in 1972 as a part-time venture providing car servicing and tyres. Today, the company is the largest independent wholesaler, distributor and retailer of tyres in the UK. Selling six million tyres in 2007 – 20 percent of the total UK market – annual turnover for 2007/08 is forecast to be £250 million. In addition to offering MTS car, motorcycle and off-road tyres MTS also fits exhausts, brakes and shock absorbers.
MTS has two main business units:

• The Protyre retail chain, currently with 31 outlets including Protyre Motorsport, continues to gain geographic coverage in the UK through new acquisitions.
• MTS has established a wholesale distribution network of 10 sites around the UK supplying 2,500 retailers nationwide. This activity has resulted in significant profitable growth for the company.

MTS is managed by a team headed by Paul Fox and Richard Sawney with backing from Graphite Capital and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).