{"id":4879,"date":"2018-05-30T07:08:20","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T07:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euro-caravans.com.au\/?p=4879"},"modified":"2023-11-04T18:12:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T07:12:28","slug":"choose-the-correct-tyres-and-rims-for-your-caravan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euro-caravans.com.au\/choose-the-correct-tyres-and-rims-for-your-caravan\/","title":{"rendered":"Choose the Correct Tyres and Rims for Your Caravan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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An important part of road safety and optimising the performance of your caravan is ensuring that you have the correct tyres and rims fitted.<\/p>\n

While the financial investment is a consideration, the safety of you and your family should be what you are focused on when choosing which tyres to use.<\/p>\n

We have a lot of different road surfaces in Australia, from sand to mud, to rock-filled dirt roads and slippery slopes, so choosing the correct tyres for your needs is really important.<\/p>\n

Modern day tyres are typically very reliable, but you shouldn’t forget how important they are in terms of safety. If tyres are not properly maintained and replaced when they should be, your caravanning adventure could be ruined… and maybe even more.<\/p>\n

Choosing the right tyre <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The most essential item when choosing the right tyre for your caravan is to ensure that the load rating suits the size and weight of your caravan. Apart from the damage that having the wrong tyres and rims can inflict on your caravan, you are also faced with the possibility that your insurance policy becomes void.<\/p>\n

So, how to know what the correct load rating is?<\/p>\n

The load rating needs to be more, or at a minimum, equal to the caravan\u2019s Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM). If you are unsure what your caravan\u2019s ATM is, you will find this information on the compliance plate affixed to your caravan. You then need to divide the ATM by the number of wheels your caravan has (which is two for the single-axle Euro Caravan).<\/p>\n

As an example, if your Hobby or Glider has an ATM 850kg, your tyre load rating should be a minimum of 425kg.<\/p>\n

Picking your rims<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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You will find that most rims in Australia are made out of either steel or alloy, and it is really a personal preference as to what you choose. The most important thing to remember when choosing your rims is to make sure they are correctly rated and match the tyres.<\/p>\n

Should the tyres and rims on my car match my caravan? <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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It is important to realise, though, that tyres will wear differently on your tow vehicle and caravan, so what works well on your car may not be the right choice for your caravan. But remember, the optimal tyre for your car and caravan will differ depending on the make and model, so make sure you get the right advice from your tyre store specialist, rather than the lovely couple next to you at the caravan park.<\/p>\n

Understanding the lingo<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Unless you have knowledge about tyres, it can be confusing to know what you are looking at and what it means.<\/p>\n

Every tyre has an alpha-numerical code embossed into the side of it and this will tell you all the vital info you need to know. It may look something like:\u00a0155\/65R1475T.<\/strong><\/p>\n

155:\u00a0<\/strong>This is the width of the tyre in millimetres.<\/p>\n

65:<\/strong>\u00a0This is the height of the sidewall from the rim to the tread and is expressed as a percentage of width to height.<\/p>\n

R:<\/strong> This is the construction code. \u2018R\u2019 means the tyre is made with \u2018radial ply\u2019 construction.<\/p>\n

14:<\/strong> This stands for the diameter of the rim in inches.<\/p>\n

75:<\/strong> This is the load rating (load index \u2013 LI) is a number that represents the maximum load each tyre can carry at its maximum speed. ALI of 75 means a max load of 387kg per tyre.<\/p>\n

T<\/strong>: Is the speed rating (speed index \u2013 TI), which is shown by a letter. This represents the tyre\u2019s maximum speed capability when operating at its maximum load carrying capacity. The Speed index \u2018T\u2019 indicates a maximum speed of 190km\/h.<\/p>\n

Other details you may see on a tyre include their maximum load rating (in kilograms) and max inflation pressure (in psi), as well as LT (light truck), P (passenger), C (commercial), or MT (mud terrain).<\/p>\n

Tyres will also have a date code, which indicates the month and year of manufacture. A code of\u00a00318<\/strong>\u00a0means the tyre was made in the third month (March) of 2018.<\/p>\n

Here is an overview of Load Indexes and Speed Symbols: https:\/\/www.bobjane.com.au\/info\/load-index-speed-symbol\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Tyre Pressure<\/span><\/h2>\n

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It is important that your caravan has the weight distributed evenly in the caravan, and that your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure (for the standard tyres Euro Caravans provide you with, this is 40-42 PSI or 276-290 Kpa.<\/p>\n

Please note that it is important to allow for the driving conditions, ensuring that you \u2018reduce speed\u2019 when driving on rough roads, in high wind areas or cross winds; also in wet conditions.<\/p>\n

If you are unsure what the maximum tyre pressure is, this is usually written on the tyre\u2019s sidewall.<\/p>\n

Tyre maintenance<\/span><\/h2>\n

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