A tyre failure is serious in any vehicle, and harder to handle with a van behind you. Most of the causes are things you can check before you leave and watch while you drive.
Keep the right pressure
Wrong pressure is a common cause of tyre failures. A soft tyre flexes more, and flex makes heat.
- Check regularly: at least monthly, and before every trip, especially when towing heavy.
- Check cold: before you've driven more than a couple of kilometres.
- Use the right figure: the placard, adjusted for the load. Our caravan tyre pressure guide shows how.
A caravan TPMS shows every tyre's pressure and temperature as you drive, so a slow leak shows up between checks.
Don't overload
Going over the load your vehicle and tyres can carry strains the tyres and makes them run hot.
- Check the load index on the sidewall against your axle loads. Our guide to tyre load and speed ratings explains how.
- Spread the weight. Load the van low and near the axles, and consider a weight distribution hitch.
A tyre running hotter than the rest is a sign it's working too hard.
Inspect your tyres
Look before every trip:
- Wear: bald spots, uneven wear, cuts, cracks, bulges or a nail in the tread.
- Tread depth: the legal minimum is 1.5 mm. See legal tyre tread depth in Australia.
- Age: tyres break down with time even when they look fine. See the five-year check.
Drive to the conditions
- Keep to the speed limit. Speed builds heat.
- Drive smoothly. Sharp turns and hard braking load the tyres up.
- Stop and look on long, hot days. A TPMS shows a tyre running hotter than the others.
Choose the right tyres
Pick tyres with the load index and speed rating your placard asks for, or higher. For heavy towing, light truck (LT) tyres are built for bigger loads at higher pressures. Ask your tyre shop what suits your van.
Every tyre on the car and the van can be watched on one screen. See caravan TPMS for kits by setup.
Not sure what your rig needs? Email us your rig: info@flatmate-tpms.com
