Key takeaways
- Caravan and trailer tyres usually fail from age, not mileage, because they spend long periods parked and loaded.
- Check the DOT date code; many bodies advise extra caution past about 5 years and replacement around 7–10 years.
- Tyres must meet the load and speed rating for the laden weight you tow — under-rated tyres are dangerous.
- Set pressures to the caravan or trailer maker's figure for a laden outfit, not the car's figure, and check before every trip.
A caravan or trailer can sit unused for months, then be loaded up and towed at speed on a hot motorway — exactly the conditions that expose a weak tyre. Because they cover few miles, these tyres usually have plenty of tread when they fail, so age, load rating and pressure matter far more than tread depth. This guide explains the checks that prevent a roadside blowout when you are towing.
How old is too old for a caravan tyre?
Caravan and trailer tyres are usually replaced on age rather than tread. They often look fine but harden and crack with time, so many caravan and tyre-safety bodies advise extra caution once a tyre is around 5 years old and replacement somewhere around 7–10 years, regardless of how much tread remains. Always check the maker's guidance for your outfit.
The reason is that a parked caravan loads the same patch of tyre for months, and UV light and ageing degrade the rubber even when it is not being used. A tyre with deep tread but a brittle, cracked sidewall is far more likely to fail under load than its appearance suggests.
How do you check a tyre's age?
You read the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits show the week and year of manufacture — for example, 2419 means the 24th week of 2019. This tells you the true age of the tyre, which matters more than how long you have owned the caravan, as it may have been stored before fitting.
- Find the DOT code moulded into the tyre sidewall.
- Read the last four digits: the first two are the week, the last two the year.
- Work out the age and compare it with the maker's replacement guidance.
- Check all tyres, including the spare — it ages even though it is unused.
What load and speed rating do caravan tyres need?
Caravan and trailer tyres must carry the fully laden weight of the outfit at the speed you tow, so the load index and speed rating are critical. Using a tyre with too low a load rating overloads it and risks failure. The correct ratings are specified by the caravan or trailer manufacturer and should be matched exactly when replacing tyres.
| Marking | What it means | Why it matters when towing |
|---|---|---|
| Load index | Maximum weight each tyre can carry | Must cover the laden axle weight |
| Speed rating | Maximum speed the tyre is rated for | Should comfortably exceed towing speed limits |
| DOT date code | Week and year of manufacture | Shows true age — the main reason these tyres fail |
| Tread depth | Remaining grip | Legal minimum still applies, but rarely the limiting factor |
If you are unsure what the numbers mean, our guide to tyre markings explains them.
What pressures should caravan tyres run at?
Caravan and trailer tyres should be set to the pressure specified by the caravan or trailer manufacturer for a laden outfit — not the towing car's pressure. These are often higher than car pressures because the tyres carry concentrated loads. Check them cold before every trip, including the spare, as a parked caravan can lose pressure over months.
Under-inflation is especially dangerous when towing: the tyre flexes, overheats and can fail at speed under load. The car's tyres also need attention — many handbooks list a higher rear pressure when towing. Our guide on setting tyre pressure covers the method.
It is also worth distributing the load in the caravan evenly and not overloading one axle or the rear, as concentrated weight stresses individual tyres. Get the nose weight right too: an unbalanced outfit puts uneven load through the tyres and makes the trailer less stable, which in turn affects how the tyres wear and behave at speed.
What else should you check before towing?
Before any tow, give every tyre on the outfit and the car a proper look, not just a glance. You are looking for the slow-developing problems that age and storage cause, plus correct pressures and ratings. A few minutes here prevents the most common towing breakdown of all — a caravan tyre failure miles from home.
- Cracks and crazing in the sidewall — a sign of age and UV damage.
- Bulges or flat spots from long-term parking in one position.
- Correct pressures on the caravan, the spare and the car, checked cold.
- Load and speed ratings that match the maker's specification.
- Wheel nuts and the spare — tightness and condition, plus a working jack.
Going away soon?
If your caravan has been stored over winter, or the tyres are getting on for 5 years old, it is worth having them checked or replaced before you set off rather than discovering a problem at the roadside. Fast Tyre comes to your home or storage site across London and central England and fits correctly rated tyres on the spot. Book our mobile tyre fitting before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
Usually on age rather than mileage. Many caravan and tyre-safety bodies advise extra caution from around 5 years and replacement somewhere around 7–10 years, even with plenty of tread left, because the rubber hardens and cracks. Always follow your caravan maker's specific guidance.
On the DOT code moulded into the sidewall. The last four digits give the week and year of manufacture — for example 2419 means week 24 of 2019. Check every tyre including the spare, as it can be older than the caravan itself.
Only if they meet the caravan or trailer manufacturer's required size, load index and speed rating for the laden outfit. Caravan tyres often need a higher load capacity than a car's, so never assume a car tyre will do. Match the maker's specification exactly.
Use the pressure specified by the caravan or trailer manufacturer for a loaded outfit, not the car's figure — it is often higher. Check cold before every trip, including the spare, because a parked caravan can lose pressure gradually over months of storage.
Caravans and most light trailers do not have a separate MOT, so there is no enforced annual check — which makes your own inspections more important. Tread, age, load rating and pressure are down to you, and a failure when towing can be very dangerous.
Possibly. Caravan tyres often look perfect but are unsafe because the rubber has aged and weakened internally after years parked and loaded. Tread depth is a poor guide here; the DOT date code and any sidewall cracking tell you far more about real condition.