How To Check & Maintain Your Caravan Tyres

Your caravan tyres are the only thing between you and the road, yet they’re often overlooked until something goes wrong. A blowout on a remote highway can turn your dream trip into a nightmare, but regular maintenance prevents most tyre failures before they happen.

Proper tyre care extends beyond just checking pressure. You’ll need to inspect tread depth, look for damage, monitor wear patterns, and understand when replacement is necessary. The good news? Most maintenance takes just minutes and can be done with basic tools.

1. Check Tyre Pressure

Start with cold tyres that haven’t been driven for at least three hours. Heat from driving increases pressure by 4-6 PSI, giving you false readings. Remove the valve cap and press your tyre pressure gauge firmly onto the valve stem until the reading stabilises.

Check your caravan’s compliance plate or owner’s manual for the correct pressure. Most caravan tyres require 50-65 PSI, significantly higher than car tyres. Don’t use the pressure printed on the tyre sidewall – that’s the maximum pressure, not the recommended operating pressure.

If pressure is low, add air using a compressor or service station pump. Add small amounts and recheck frequently to avoid over-inflation. Under-inflated tyres create excessive heat and wear on the outer edges, while over-inflated tyres wear the centre tread faster and provide a harsher ride.

2. Inspect Tread Depth

Australian law requires minimum 1.5mm tread depth, but replace caravan tyres at 3mm for safety. The additional tread depth provides better grip in wet conditions and reduces the risk of punctures from road debris.

Use a tread depth gauge for accuracy, or try the 20-cent coin test. Insert a 20-cent coin into the tread groove with the platypus facing down. If you can see the top of the platypus’s head, your tread is below 3mm and needs replacement.

Look for wear indicators (small rubber bars) built into the tread grooves. When the tread wears down to these indicators, immediate replacement is required. Don’t wait for the legal minimum – caravan tyres carry heavy loads and need every millimetre of tread for safety.

3. Examine Sidewalls for Damage

Walk around your caravan and closely inspect each tyre’s sidewall. Look for cracks, cuts, bulges, or embedded objects like nails or screws. Even small sidewall damage can lead to sudden failure under the stress of towing.

Cracking is common in older tyres, especially those exposed to UV light and ozone. Surface cracks less than 1mm deep aren’t immediately dangerous, but deeper cracks or those that expose the internal structure require immediate replacement.

Bulges indicate internal structural damage where the tyre’s internal layers have separated. This creates a weak spot that will eventually fail catastrophically. Any bulge, regardless of size, means immediate tyre replacement.

4. Check for Uneven Wear Patterns

Abnormal wear patterns reveal problems with your caravan’s alignment, suspension, or loading. Centre wear indicates over-inflation, while edge wear suggests under-inflation. Scalloped or feathered wear points to alignment issues that need professional attention.

One-sided wear often indicates suspension problems or incorrect wheel alignment. This is particularly common on caravans that sit unused for extended periods or those that frequently travel on unsealed roads.

Rapid or uneven wear between left and right tyres suggests overloading, poor weight distribution, or mechanical problems. Check your caravan’s loading and consider having the suspension and alignment checked by a professional.

5. Clean and Protect Your Tyres

Clean tyres monthly with soap and water to remove dirt, brake dust, and road grime. Avoid petroleum-based cleaners that can damage rubber compounds. Use a stiff brush to clean the tread area and remove embedded stones or debris.

Apply a quality tyre protectant after cleaning to guard against UV damage and ozone cracking. Choose products specifically designed for tyres – household chemicals like armour-all can actually accelerate rubber deterioration.

Don’t use silicone-based products on tyre treads as they make the surface slippery. Apply protectant only to sidewalls, avoiding the tread area where you need maximum grip.

6. Storage Considerations

When storing your caravan for extended periods, increase tyre pressure by 10-15 PSI to support the weight and prevent flat spots. Cover tyres or park in shade to protect from UV damage, which accelerates rubber deterioration.

Move your caravan monthly if possible to prevent flat spots from developing. If you can’t move it, consider using tyre cradles or jacking up the caravan to remove weight from the tyres entirely.

For long-term storage over winter, consider removing the wheels entirely and storing them horizontally in a cool, dark place. This completely eliminates flat-spotting and reduces UV exposure.

Common Maintenance Mistakes

The biggest mistake is checking pressure on hot tyres after driving. This gives artificially high readings and leads to under-inflation. Always check cold tyres, preferably first thing in the morning.

Many caravan owners use car tyre pressures, not realising caravans need much higher pressures. Your caravan weighs more than most cars when loaded, and tyre pressures must reflect this extra load.

Don’t ignore small problems hoping they’ll go away. A small nail in the tread is repairable, but driving on it can cause internal damage that makes repair impossible. Address issues immediately rather than waiting for your next service.

Rotating caravan tyres isn’t necessary like car tyres. Caravans track straight behind your vehicle without the steering forces that cause uneven wear on cars. Focus on maintaining correct pressure and alignment instead.