At a recent service the technician told me the tyres on my caravan are five years old and I may wish to consider replacing them soon, how can this be when the caravan’s only three years old?
Due to the supply and demand, the length of the supply chain and batch manufacturing of tyres it's not unusual to find a caravan tyre that’s two years old before being fitted. Caravan tyres are generally light commercial van tyres and tend to be of a less common size so turnover can be slow.
Along with the tyre industry, the Club strongly recommends that tyres on all caravans, motorhomes and trailers are replaced at a maximum of seven years of age regardless of mileage or wear.
Some insurers have a cover term for caravans that will not pay out for tyre-related claims on tyres over five years old, unless you have proof they have had an annual inspection by a competent person.
For further reading on tyre age, see our new datasheet.
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Do I need winter tyres in mainland Europe?
The answer varies from country to country and in some countries even by region. Winter tyres (marked with a snowflake motif) are preferred in colder areas but mud and snow tyres (marked M+S) are an acceptable alternative and the minimum tread depth varies too.
To find out more about winter tyres please see our data sheet. The RAC also has further details about winter driving abroad. Read more »
Where can you buy caravan tyres?
Most caravans and larger trailers are not necessarily fitted with dedicated trailer tyres, though such things exist. More often than not your caravan will be fitted with a light commercial tyre – effectively a van tyre. These are fine to use as long as they are capable of carrying the load.
With lighter caravans a reinforced car tyre should be sufficient. Good tyre retailers will be able to advise you on the correct load rating and get tyres in quickly for you as they may not have any on the shelf.Read more »
How can I find the profile size on my trailer’s tyres?
You should be able to see the tyre size on the side of the tyre. If yours says 175/80 R 13C on the sidewall this means it is 175mm wide, radial in design (R), has a 13in rim diameter and is a commercial tyre (C). The nominal profile is 80, thus if you were filling out a form to order tyres, you’d put 175 80 R 13C.
Don’t forget the speed rating and load index figures too, the full set of markings and what they mean is explained in our tyre datasheet. Read more »
What air pressure should be in my motorhome tyres?
This is a very challenging question to answer as it depends on the load carrying capacity of the tyre and the weight you’re actually putting on it.
Our partner Tyresafe has created a web tool to help you. You will need to know the exact size and specification of the tyres on your motorhome and ideally the axle weights. If you don’t know the axle weights then you can work off the maximum weights on the VIN plate. Either way, once you have this data you can enter it on the web page and find the suggested pressure for most common tyre sizes used.
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Are winter tyres compulsory on the European mainland?
Regulations on tyres vary from country to country and sometimes from region to region within a country so you need to do your homework. As a rule of thumb, it is sensible to expect any mountainous areas to have some form of local rules for winter tyres or the need to carry snow chains as an alternative. This will apply to cars that are towing and to motorhomes, though it may be sensible to avoid high passes altogether if you can.
It is worth noting that France has introduced a winter tyre rule from winter 2021/2 for 48 departments in mountainous areas, more details can be found on this French website, which has an English translation option.
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I noticed my caravan’s tyres were marked for mud and snow (M+S). Is this necessary?
Not really, you’ll gain a marginal braking improvement in slushy or muddy conditions but the other benefits of such tyres in poor weather (such as turning control and traction) aren’t relevant for the caravan’s axle. If you’re looking for replacements, the most critical element is the tyre’s load bearing relative to the caravan’s laden weight. This shows how much weight can be carried per tyre, expressed through the load index. Speak to your tyre supplier when you order in new tyres. It may be the case that like-for-like tyres with the extra M+S features are sensibly priced, but you may find you can get cheaper ones. To gain a broader understanding of tyres we have a dedicated datasheet on them. Read more »
I went to change the tyres on my twin-axle caravan. I currently have car tyres fitted but I’ve been told these should be changed to commercial ones. Is this correct?
This may not be correct. Your caravan may be large and heavy, but the load is spread across four tyres so each probably takes a similar weight as a tyre on a fully-loaded small to medium car. At most you may benefit from extra-load tyres (marked XL). Commercial ones (marked C) may have an excessive load capacity, more suitable for a van.
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The tyre size and pressure plate on my motorhome doesn’t match the details on the tyre sidewalls. Is this OK?
This can happen when the tyres have been changed from the original van specification during conversion or by a previous owner. When the size or load index changes then you may need to keep the tyres at a different inflation pressure from that given on the plate. The two most important points are that the tyres can carry the maximum axle weight with capacity to spare and they’re not under inflated.
Tyresafe has created a pressure calculator for motorhomes but you must know your axle weight to get the best from it.Read more »
I am concerned that several cars I'm considering for towing have either a temporary slim spare tyre or run-flat tyres. Are these compatible with towing?
The slim tyre is normally acceptable but check the car’s handbook for limitations or exact instructions for use when towing.
Slim tyres are subject to a maximum speed of 50mph and a distance limitation set by the manufacturer. The tyre will have a load index at least equivalent to the full size road tyres, hence the loading will be acceptable. But because of the great difference in road contact, caution is needed when braking and manoeuvring, whether towing or not.
Run-flat tyres are different. The additional flexibility of the deflated tyre may seriously affect the stability of the towing outfit. The car manufacturer should give guidance in the handbook, but be aware they may forbid towing at all or have a very low speed limit and a minimum distance may be imposed.
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I increase the pressure in my car tyres for towing. Should I reduce it again when I’m on site?
In theory you should adjust the pressure to suit the task at hand. Realistically this is often not practical and leaving tyres with a few extra pounds in them for a few days while on holiday normally shouldn’t be an issue. The ride may be a little harsher and there could be a change in the car’s handling, particularly if it’s wet. Read more »
Is it better to jack up a tourer, so it’s not resting on its tyres, when it’s in storage?
It may be. Taking some strain off the rubber suspension bushes and tyres doesn’t do them any harm. However lifting a vehicle is potentially hazardous and as an exercise it is not to be done lightly. Firstly, check the user manual for specific instructions about lifting, including axle stand points, then apply some sensible safety measures such as chocks and other blocks to control motion while lifting. To a trained mechanic or a roadside assistance technician it’ll all seem very straight forward but the rest of us need to be very careful.
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Do caravan wheels have inner tubes?
No, for many years now most caravans have been equipped with tubeless radial tyres. Classic and vintage caravans may have inner tubes, as might some wheels on compact pod caravans that are based on standard small trailers.Read more »
I have added a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and when I’m driving the pressures sometimes exceed the maximum quoted on the sidewall of the tyre. Is this safe?
It is quite normal for tyres to warm up when you’re on the road and all the bouncing of the sidewalls and the small movement of the tread-blocks may increase the pressure significantly due to the temperature increase.
This is why tyre pressures are quoted ‘cold’ – it allows for this perfectly normal process. If you find you have tyres operating close to or at their maximum pressure, for example 65 psi, don’t be surprised if the pressure goes above 70 psi while cruising at speed on a warm summer day.
However if you find one tyre is suddenly warming up but there’s no increase in pressure look for a small leak or puncture, this is a useful early warning symptom.
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I have added a tyre pressure monitor to my vehicle, should the temperature of the tyre rise significantly, as mine suggests?
Any vehicle once in motion puts work into the wheels and tyres raising their temperature and this is quite normal.
You’ll see a more pronounced rise on any highly-worked axle, such as a front-wheel-drive car’s front wheels where there’s drive, cornering and braking all happening on the same wheels, for example. Caravan axles and rear axles on motorhomes will also see a pronounced increase in temperature as they’re used.
If you see a situation where the temperature continues to climb to a point that sets off the warning alarm you could be under-inflated or potentially dangerously overloaded.
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Where do I find the correct tyre pressure for my caravan?
If you cannot find it in your handbook or for whatever reason the tyres fitted are not the same as the original specification then the best place to go is TyreSafe’s caravan pressure calculator.
You’ll need to know the tyre’s exact specification as marked on its sidewall, the number of caravan axles and the MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) of the caravan.Read more »
How long should a gas hose last?
This is variable, depending on the type of hose. Those with a metal core can have a 20-year working life, but some rubber hoses need to be changed after five years. Your service technician will be able to advise, but it’s worth noting and there’s no harm in checking your hose for cracks and other flaws in the surface periodically, as you would with your tyres.
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How old can a ‘new’ tyre be?
This is quite variable. If you have a common car tyre size then when you buy a new replacement it may have been moulded a matter of weeks before purchase. However, a tyre can remain in the supply chain for two years. This is due batch manufacturing combined with low turnover, however all tyres should have been stored correctly and be fit for purpose. It is quite reasonable to ask the age of the tyre while you’re getting quotes. Our data sheet shows you how to check the tyre age.
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What are winter wheels?
The items known as ‘winter wheels’ are not really wheels at all. They’re simply a steel fabricated structure fitted in the place of road wheels. They are often used on trailers and caravans when there’s no plan to move them for a period of time. The normal wheels and tyres can then be stored under cover.
It’s worth noting that winter wheels don’t constitute an immobiliser in insurance policy terms. They mustn’t be used as an alternative to a wheel clamp. Your insurance provider will be able to advise on its security requirements.
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How long should I run my motorhome if I start it up during the winter lay-up?
There’s no exact answer to this but you should do a bit more than just let the engine idle for a few minutes. Ideally, you will get the whole engine up to operating temperature so it circulates the coolant and purges other elements of the vehicle. This is likely to take somewhere in the order of a 30 minutes to an hour.
Going for a drive agitates the tyres and cleans the brake surfaces too, so why not make the most of your vehicle and go out somewhere for the day?
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I would like to fit alloy wheels on my motorhome. Is there anything I should consider before I buy?
Besides the basic question of whether such wheels will fit, there some more nuanced details to consider.
A motorhome is usually based on a van and is often at the top end of the weight the normal van would carry. You need to be sure the new wheels will carry the weight of your motorhome as wheels – like tyres – have a maximum working load limit. Also check with the supplier if you need different lug-nuts or bolts. If you have tyre pressure monitoring valves you will also need to know whether they can be transferred.
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