Don’t risk your safety on the road – UK caravanners should expect their tyres to naturally lose 2 PSI monthly. Under-inflated tyres reduce grip, while over-inflation compromises handling.
Your caravan's tyres are the only point of contact between your holiday home and the road. Despite their crucial role in your safety, tyre maintenance is often overlooked until it's too late. Improper inflation is one of the most common yet dangerous mistakes caravan owners make when preparing for journeys.
Caravan tyres aren't typically made specifically for caravans – they're usually designed for cars or small vans. When tyres are under-inflated, grip is reduced and braking distances increase dramatically. This is particularly dangerous when towing a heavy caravan, where stopping distances are already extended.
Conversely, over-inflation creates its own hazards. With less rubber contacting the road, over-inflated tyres provide reduced traction and control, especially during cornering or emergency maneuvers. Automatic inflators, such as , give caravan owners the ability to maintain perfect pressure regardless of where their travels take them, making tyre safety one less thing to worry about on your journey.
Every tyre has a load rating or index that indicates the maximum weight it can safely carry. For a caravan with a Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass (MTPLM) of 1600kg, each tyre must support half that weight – 800kg. Manufacturers typically add a safety margin of around 20%, bringing the requirement to approximately 960kg per tyre.
This load capacity isn't just about the total weight of your caravan; it's also about how that weight is distributed. Even when your caravan is within its overall weight limits, uneven loading can cause individual tyres to bear more weight than they're designed for. This makes proper weight distribution inside your caravan an essential part of tyre safety.
The sidewall of your caravan tyre contains crucial information about its capabilities. You'll find the size, load index, speed rating, and manufacture date all encoded on the tyre's side. For example, a code ending in "399" indicates the tyre was manufactured in the 39th week of 1999, while "3502" means it was made in the 35th week of 2002.
Understanding these markings helps you ensure your tyres are appropriate for your caravan's weight and your typical driving speeds. It also helps you monitor tyre age, which is crucial since caravan tyres should be replaced every five years regardless of tread condition or mileage.
When your caravan tyres are under-inflated, they make more contact with the road than they're designed to. While this might sound beneficial, it actually creates a host of problems. The increased surface area causes the tyre to flex more, generating excess heat and increasing rolling resistance. This resistance doesn't just wear your tyres out faster – it also directly impacts your fuel economy.
Studies show that under-inflated tyres can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 3%. For those already towing heavy loads, this additional fuel consumption quickly adds up on long journeys. More concerning is the safety aspect: under-inflated tyres have reduced sidewall stability, compromising your ability to corner effectively and increasing stopping distances.
Tyres naturally lose pressure over time – approximately 2 PSI per month under normal conditions, and even faster during warm weather. This makes regular pressure checks essential, especially before long trips.
Over-inflating your caravan tyres creates the opposite problem. With too much air pressure, only the centre portion of the tread makes proper contact with the road. This reduced contact patch means less grip, particularly during braking and cornering – in other words, when you need maximum traction.
The telltale sign of over-inflated tyres is accelerated wear down the centre of the tread pattern, while the edges remain relatively unworn. Not only does this wear pattern reduce the lifespan of your tyres, but it also compromises your caravan's stability, especially in wet conditions.
Over-inflation also makes your tyres more susceptible to impact damage from potholes or road debris, as the rigid, inflexible tyre can't absorb shocks as effectively as a properly inflated one.
Maintaining correct tyre pressure isn't just about safety – it's also a matter of economy. Properly inflated tyres wear evenly across the entire tread surface, maximising their usable lifespan. When you consider that caravan tyres should be replaced every five years regardless of mileage (due to rubber degradation from UV exposure and ageing), getting the maximum wear from each set makes a lot of financial sense.
Correct inflation also improves rolling resistance, reducing the strain on your towing vehicle's engine and improving fuel economy. For those who travel significant distances during touring season, these savings can be substantial over time.
Perhaps most importantly, properly inflated tyres are more resistant to punctures and blowouts – events that can be particularly dangerous when towing a heavy caravan at highway speeds.
Locating the correct inflation pressure for your caravan tyres is straightforward, though the information sources vary depending on whether you have a new or used caravan. For new caravans, the manufacturer provides recommended pressures in the owner's handbook. These figures are calculated specifically for your caravan's weight and tyre specifications.
If you've purchased a second-hand caravan, look for a sticker or plate on the wheel arch or near the door. This will display the recommended pressures for your specific model. If this information is missing, contact the caravan manufacturer directly with your caravan's details.
Remember that recommended pressures may differ depending on the load your caravan is carrying. Some manufacturers provide different pressure recommendations for various load conditions, so use the figure that corresponds to your actual touring weight.
The only accurate way to check your caravan tyre pressure is when the tyres are cold – meaning they haven't been driven on for at least two hours. Driving heats the air inside your tyres, temporarily increasing pressure and giving false readings. For most accurate results, check your tyres in the morning before setting off.
To check pressure properly, remove the valve cap and firmly press a quality pressure gauge onto the valve stem, ensuring no air escapes during the reading. Digital gauges often provide more accurate readings than traditional dial types. Compare the reading to your recommended pressure and adjust accordingly.
Checking caravan tyre pressures at least once a month and always before long journeys helps catch gradual pressure loss before it becomes dangerous. Many garages across the UK offer free tyre pressure checks if you don't have your own gauge.
While caravan tyre pressure is critical, don't overlook your towing vehicle's tyres. The additional weight of a caravan significantly increases the load on your car's rear tyres. Most vehicle manufacturers provide different tyre pressure recommendations for normal driving versus towing conditions.
If your vehicle handbook doesn't specify towing pressures, a general rule is to increase your rear tyre pressure by 4-7 PSI above the standard fully-laden pressure. This adjustment compensates for the additional tongue weight of the caravan pressing down on your vehicle's rear axle.
But never exceed the maximum pressure listed on the tyre sidewall, regardless of the load. Exceeding this pressure creates a dangerous condition that could lead to tyre failure. The temporary pressure increase is only for towing purposes and should be returned to normal levels when not towing.
A reliable portable air compressor is an invaluable addition to any caravanner's toolkit. While roadside services can help with emergencies, having your own compressor gives you independence and the ability to adjust pressures wherever you are – particularly useful when transitioning between different driving conditions or loads.
The AutoPump offers caravan owners a compact yet powerful solution that can be stored easily in your towing vehicle or caravan. With its high-pressure capability and auto-shutoff feature, it provides peace of mind knowing you can maintain optimal tyre pressures throughout your journey without relying on finding a service station.
When selecting a portable compressor, pay attention to its maximum pressure rating, duty cycle (how long it can run continuously before needing to cool down), and power source options. Models that can run from both 12V car sockets and internal rechargeable batteries offer maximum flexibility.
This guide has covered the critical role that properly inflated tyres play in caravan safety, performance, and economy. From understanding caravan tyre specifications to mastering correct inflation, you now have the knowledge to keep your mobile holiday home rolling safely.
Make a habit of checking your tyre pressures at least once a month and always before starting a journey. Watch your tyres' age as well – even with perfect tread depth, caravan tyres should be replaced every five years, regardless of mileage, due to rubber deterioration from environmental factors.
By maintaining optimal tyre pressure, you're not just extending the life of your tyres – you're also enhancing your safety on the road, improving fuel efficiency, and ensuring a smoother, more enjoyable caravanning experience. Whether you tour seasonally or year-round, proper tyre care is an investment in peace of mind.
