Tyre pressures for towing a caravan
Whether you’re taking off for a long weekend or setting off on a family holiday, checking your car tyres are up the job is important. Correctly inflated tyres wear more evenly and enjoy a longer life so you can hit the open road with your caravan as often as you like.
Why is the right tyre pressure important?
Not only will correctly inflated tyres wear more evenly but they can also increase fuel efficiency because of their better rolling resistance.
Underinflated tyres experience higher rolling resistance which increases CO2 emissions and fuel use. Unfortunately, tyres can deflate over time which causes uneven road contact and excessive wear on the inner and outer edges. Underinflated tyres are also more likely to puncture, putting you and your passengers at risk.
Don’t be tempted to overinflate your tyres either, as this can be equally costly. Overinflated tyres have a smaller contact area on the road which can result in poor handling and a loss of traction. Braking becomes uncertain and the tyre wears heavily across the centre of the tread, compromising safety.
Checking your tyre pressure
Tyres can lose pressure at the rate of around 2 PSI a month, and more quickly in warm weather so if you’re off on your summer holiday it’s essential that you get your tyre pressure checked.
This should always be done when the tyres are cold; pressures should never be adjusted when the tyres are warm as this can result in underinflated tyres. Check that there are no leaking valves and ensure that a valve cap is fitted to each tyre.
Did you know?
Protyre offer free tyre checks at every garage with our UK network. Click the button below to book online, or alternatively, give your local Protyre garage a call and book your vehicle in over the phone.
Take the time to check that you have a tyre tread depth of at least 1.6mm and that there are no signs of wear and tear, bulges in the tyre wall or crazing and cracking in the rubber.
Tyre pressures for caravan towing
You’ll find the correct inflation pressure information in a number of places; your vehicle handbook, the inside of the fuel cap or on a plate on the driver’s door area. You may also need to consult load and inflation tables to make sure that your car and caravan tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and that their load rating is appropriate for the task. Our tyre professionals will be able to advise you on inflation pressures for run flat tyres.
If there’s no indication of special towing recommendations, set the pressure of your rear car tyres at full load pressure, with an added 4 to 7 PSI if there’s no difference between normal and fully laden driving.
Are your tyres up to the job? Protyre can help
Before you set off on the open road, it’s as well to know that your tyres are up to the job. Book into your local Protyre garage and we’ll give your car and caravan tyres a free tyre safety check. If our qualified fitters detect any problems they’ll be happy to advise you as to the best new tyres for your vehicle from brands such as Pirelli and Falken. That way you can head off on holiday with complete confidence.
