Caravans, trailers and motorhomes ask something unusual of their tyres: they spend far more time parked than driving. That single fact flips the priorities. Tread wear matters less; load rating and age matter most.
Load rating comes first
These vehicles are heavy and heavily loaded, so the load rating is the critical figure, more so than on a car:
- Trailer tyres may be specially marked and speed-limited
- Motorhome tyres are often CP-marked, reinforced to carry concentrated loads
- Caravans need the correct high load rating for their laden weight
Fitting below the required load rating is genuinely dangerous on a heavy, loaded unit. If a motorhome specifies CP tyres, equivalent CP tyres are what it needs.
Age is the silent killer
The defining issue for these tyres is ageing. Because the vehicle sits unused for months, the tyres age out before they wear out:
- The rubber hardens and cracks with time, not mileage
- Standing in one spot, often in sun, accelerates it
- Tread can look like new while the tyre is past its safe life
Many makers suggest replacing caravan tyres at around 5 to 7 years regardless of tread, and motorhome tyres on a similar age basis. Checking the date on the sidewall matters more here than on any car, and the same protection against ageing, shade, covers, moving the unit occasionally, genuinely extends their life.
Pressures and storage
Two more essentials:
- High pressures: heavy units run higher pressures than cars, set for the laden weight, in the spirit of pressures for a full load
- Storage: over winter, the principles of storing tyres well apply, with the added trick of moving the unit occasionally to avoid flat spots
Getting the right ones
Because the requirements are specific, load rating, CP or trailer marking, the right size, these are not tyres to guess at. Caravan, motorhome and trailer tyres are a category of their own at online sellers such as Tyres.co.uk, so the correct load-rated and CP-marked options can be matched to the unit's plate rather than approximated. Getting the load rating and age right is what keeps a heavy, loaded unit safe on a long tow.
Check the loaded vehicle, not the empty brochure weight
Luggage, water, equipment and changes to the vehicle can alter the load carried by each axle. Use reliable weight information and the vehicle or tyre manufacturer's load-and-pressure guidance. Do not assume dividing the vehicle's total weight equally between its tyres gives the actual load at each wheel.
A C-marked commercial tyre and a CP-marked motorhome tyre are not simply interchangeable labels. Confirm the approved specification, suitable wheel and valve equipment, and required inflation conditions. Do not increase pressure beyond a component's limits to compensate for overloading.
Before a trip, inspect tyres that have spent months standing, including the inward-facing sidewalls where accessible safely. Check the spare and its pressure too. A deep tread does not rule out age-related or storage damage, so use the manufacturer's inspection and replacement advice as well as tread measurements.
Common questions
What tyres do caravans and trailers need?+
Tyres with the correct, often high, load rating for the weight they carry, and the right speed rating. Trailer tyres may be specially marked and speed-limited, and motorhomes often need CP-marked reinforced tyres. The load rating is the non-negotiable part, because these vehicles are heavily loaded.
How often should caravan tyres be replaced?+
By age as much as by tread. Because caravans sit unused for long periods, the tyres usually age out before they wear out, many makers suggest replacing around 5 to 7 years regardless of tread depth, since the rubber degrades while parked.
What is a CP marked tyre?+
CP marks a tyre designed for motorhomes and camper vans, reinforced to carry the heavy, concentrated loads of a motorhome and run at high pressures. If a motorhome specifies CP tyres, fitting equivalent CP-rated tyres keeps it correctly and safely shod.
Why do caravan tyres crack if they're barely used?+
Because rubber ages with time, not just mileage, and a parked caravan's tyres sit still in the weather. Standing in one spot, often in sunlight, they harden and crack from age while the tread looks new, which is why age matters more than wear for them.