Caravan Tyres

Caravan Tyres online - information

Fitting the right caravan tyre

The original tyres for a caravan are determined by joint consultation between the caravan and tyre manufacturers and take into account all aspects of operation. Any changes in tyre size or type should not be undertaken without seeking advice from the caravan or tyre manufacturer. In some European countries it is illegal to use replacement tyres which differ in certain respects such as size, load or speed rating, from the tyre originally fitted by the manufacturer. It is essential that tyres of the correct specification are fitted to caravans, trailers and motorhomes.

The same tyre construction type, i.e. radial or cross-ply, should be fitted to all tyres on the same axle. Across an axle, tyres should also have an equal size, load index and speed rating with identical wheels. The same combination should apply to the spare. Tyre pressures across an axle should also be equal. Older caravans may be fitted with cross-ply tyres that are no longer available, meaning that radial ply tyres must be fitted. If a caravan is converted from cross-ply to tubeless radial tyres, the latter must only be fitted to safety type rims, i.e. those with a hump or flat ledge on the outer bead seat.

Many older caravans do not have safety type rims and the previous recommendation has been to fit tubes with radial ply tyres. Before doing so, the tyre manufacturer must be consulted, as not all radial ply tyres are suitable for use with tubes.

When travelling abroad during winter months, some country’s laws require winter tyres to be fitted to the vehicle. Even if not required by law, it is still a good practice to fit tyres that are appropriate for the road and weather conditions. If in any doubt, contact your tyre manufacturer for further advice. It is essential that the combined tyre load capacity is sufficient for the maximum weight (MTPLM) of the caravan, but as an extra safeguard it is strongly recommended that the MTPLM does not exceed 90% of the tyre’s load capacity. 

New caravans

If you have bought a new caravan and are new to caravanning, you should be able to assume that the specifications of the wheels and tyres are appropriate. The correct inflation pressure should be indicated in the caravan handbook, and is sometimes marked on the wheel arch for convenience too.

Many new caravans come equipped with a spare wheel, but this is not a legal requirement. If you get one as standard, it should be the same or equivalent specification of wheel and tyre as the others. If you need to buy a spare separately, make sure both the wheel and tyre are suitable, and compatible with the original ones.

We strongly advise carrying a spare wheel and tyre.

Caravan manufacturers tend to buy tyres in bulk, and it may take them some time to use up their stock. This is not necessarily a problem if the tyres have been stored in suitable conditions of temperature, humidity and light. Any time the caravan has been stored awaiting sale or delivery should be counted as time during which the tyres will have started to age.

Wheels and tyres on second-hand caravans

You are unlikely to know the history of a second-hand caravan - at least in terms of issues such as how much care the previous owner took of the tyres. Assume the worst, and look for signs of abuse and wear and tear.

We recommend to always check the tyres are set to their optimum pressure, including the spare tyre.

Some people prefer to take no chances and factor in the cost of replacing all the tyres on a second-hand purchase as a matter of course.

The most important thing to check is the age of the tyres. Even if visually good, and if the caravan has seen careful use over modest mileage, you may still need to replace the tyres due to their age. Particularly on older caravans, the tyre specification may need to be upgraded, either to allow use overseas, or simply because the original type of tyre is no longer available.

Caravan Tyre Safety

Whatever tyres are fitted to the towing car, caravan, trailer tent or motorhome, it is essential to the safety and stability of the combination that all tyres are correctly inflated for the applied load. Tyres that are under-inflated are much more likely to suffer from a sudden rapid deflation which can cause loss of control of the vehicle.

Keeping tyres correctly inflated ensures an even wear rate leading to longer tyre life. Under-inflated tyres places excess loads on the outer edges of the tyre, causing the shoulders to wear more rapidly. Over-inflated tyres will experience higher wear rates in the centre of the tread.

Noseweight

The National Caravan Council’s Caravan Towing Guide recommends that the noseweight should be varied to find the optimum for towing depending upon the actual laden weight of the caravan. Experience and research has found that the noseweight should be around 5% – 7% of the actual laden weight for optimum stability. However, this may be restricted by the towing vehicle manufacturer’s limit and the caravan’s hitch limit. If there is insufficient weight on the hitch the caravan may snake leading to instability and control issues. 

At Leisure Tyres we supply tyres for all Caravan Manufacturers of caravans which includes:
Coachman
Bailey Caravans
Bessacar Caravans
Hobby Caravans
Lunar Caravans
Swift Caravans, Sprite, Challenger, Eccles, Elegance, Basecamp
Tab Caravans
Tabbert Caravans
Weinsberg Caravans
Barefoot Caravans
Adria
Bailey Lowdhams
Swift Lowdhams
Airstream
Prestons Caravans
KNAUS
Grantham Caravans
Erwin Hymer Group, Xplore, Buccaneer, Compass, Elddis
Plus many others not listed above.

Find your correct Caravan tyre pressure by clicking on the link below:
https://www.tyresafe.org/check-your-pressures/caravan-pressure-calculator/