Back in 2018, we replaced the original Michelin tyres that had been factory fitted in Germany. They had also managed around 60,000km, although, in hindsight, I probably kept them on a little longer than I should have, they were pretty knackered by the time they came off.

A quick step back to 2018. I was at the Hamilton Motorhome Show when I met Phil, one of the senior guys from Carters Tyres. He introduced me to the new GT Radial Maxmiler Pro tyres, which had just been released for the light truck and motorhome market. Knowing the Michelins had well and truly done their dash, I was keen to find a suitable replacement.

Phil arranged to have Rafe weighed, wheel by wheel, and the results were interesting. In almost every case we were right on the weight limit and, looking back, we were probably slightly over on the rear axle. At that stage we didn’t even have the bikes or all the extra gear that now travels with us.

Fast forward to today and, after another 60,000km, it was tyre replacement time again. The GT Radials, however, were in far better condition than the Michelins had been at the same mileage.

Comparing apples with apples, the GT Radial Maxmiler Pros have a load rating of 1,400kg per tyre and feature 10-ply sidewalls. The Michelins were rated at 1,100kg with 6-ply sidewalls. That’s quite a difference. Even better, the GT Radials are about half the price, noticeably quieter on the road, and still had more tread remaining after the same distance.

I gave Mark, who was in charge that day at Carters Tyres in East Tamaki, a call and booked Rafe in, expecting to replace all four tyres. After inspecting them, though, Mark suggested leaving the rear tyres on for a while longer as they still had plenty of tread and were wearing evenly.

So off came the front tyres. Within minutes they had been swapped over to new GT Radials, balanced, and torqued back onto Rafe. The whole process was quick, professional, and very slick.

The difference on the drive home was immediately noticeable. The steering felt more precise and the ride was beautifully smooth.

If you’re an NZMCA member, it’s also worth remembering that Carters Tyres offer a very generous member discount, making the value even better.

Another great experience with Carters and another 60,000km of happy travelling ahead!