How often should caravan tyres be replaced?

Apart from knowing whether they're all-terrain or mud terrain, many caravanners pay little attention to their trailer's tyres. But that can be a big mistake...

We asked Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Group Technical Field Service Manager, Garth Middleton, for some tips on RV tyre care and replacement.

"When it comes to your tow vehicle, tyres will typically lose around 1-2psi a month but it's recommended you check your tyre pressure at least every fortnight to ensure there isn’t a slow leak or abnormal loss of pressure," he explained.

"At the same time, also visually inspect the tyres by looking at the sidewall to ensure there are no cracks or gouges, and look at the face of the tread to check there is nothing piercing the tyre.

"As well as checking tyre pressures, motorists should also be conscious of how much tread is on their tyres, checking tread depth at least every month."

Middleton said caravan and boat trailers are often overlooked when it comes to checking tyre pressures and condition.

"Usually, caravans and boat trailers will need to be replaced due to age rather than wear, because often they don’t do anywhere near the same mileage as their tow vehicles," he said.

"As tyres age, they begin to degrade through oxidisation and deterioration of the rubber – especially in hot and humid conditions. For this reason, we recommend having a tyre professional inspect tyres more than five years old on an annual basis to ensure they're still fit for use.

"Caravan or camper trailer tyres more than 10 years old should be replaced regardless of their tread condition."

Also see: 
Top-5 tyre-saving tricks
Caravan tyre pressure warning
Off-road tyre pressure warning
The importance of pressure