Caravan and trailer tyres are dangerous in a different way to car tyres: they usually fail from age, not mileage. They sit unused for months, the rubber perishes from the inside, and the standing weight creates flat spots, so a tyre with full tread can still be unsafe to tow on. A pre-tow check every season is essential.
If you only check one thing, check the age. After that, it's pressures, condition and the spare. Here's the full picture before you hitch up, including how to read the date code and what to do if a tyre fails while you're towing.
Why towing tyres are different
Unlike a car tyre that wears out through use, a towing tyre typically ages out while parked. Months of standing, sunlight and damp do the damage long before the tread does, and the loads involved are unforgiving.
- Age over use. Many caravan tyres age out long before the tread wears, so check the DOT date stamped on the sidewall.
- Flat-spotting from standing in one position for months on end, which can cause vibration when you set off.
- UV and weather damage from being parked outside uncovered, leading to cracking in the rubber.
- Heavy, sustained loads on long motorway tows that build heat, especially on a fully loaded van.
Your pre-tow checklist
Run through this before every trip, and do a fuller inspection at the start of each towing season:
- Check the age. Tyre-safety charity TyreSafe and most caravan clubs advise replacing caravan tyres at around 5 to 7 years regardless of tread.
- Inspect for cracking, bulges and flat spots all the way round, including the inner sidewall you can't see at a glance.
- Set the correct pressure, often much higher than a car; check the handbook or weight plate.
- Mind the load and speed rating, towing tyres have specific limits you must not exceed.
- Don't forget the spare, it's usually the oldest and most neglected of the lot.
- Check the wheel nuts are tight to the correct torque, especially if the wheel has been off.
Reading the age code
The age of a tyre is stamped into the sidewall as part of the DOT code, and it's the single most important check on a caravan or trailer. Look for the last four digits: the first two are the week of manufacture and the last two are the year. So "2519" means the 25th week of 2019, making that tyre well over five years old.
Because a perished tyre can look perfectly fine, the date is what catches the dangerous ones. If you've bought a used caravan, assume the tyres could be much older than the van's apparent condition suggests, and check every wheel including the spare.
On the road
A caravan or trailer tyre failure can trigger dangerous snaking, where the unit sways from side to side and can pull the towing car with it. If it happens, don't brake hard or steer sharply. Ease off the accelerator gently and keep the wheel straight to let the outfit settle, the same principle as a car blowout, then pull over somewhere safe.
Correct pressures and a sensible towing speed are your best defence, because most snaking starts with an under-inflated or overloaded tyre. Spreading the load correctly and not exceeding the noseweight also helps keep the outfit stable.
We come to the caravan or trailer
There's no need to drag a caravan or trailer to a garage on a doubtful tyre. We fit caravan and trailer tyres at your home or storage site across the UK, checking age, pressures and condition while we're there. Book a check or fit.
