Caravan Tyre Loads and Pressures from Real Weights

A caravan tyre pressure copied from a mate, a forum or a different van may be wrong for your tyre and load. The useful starting points are the caravan tyre placard, tyre sidewall, manufacturer information and the load actually carried by each tyre.

Use the free Caravan Tyre Load and Pressure Planner to compare axle and per-tyre loads with tyre ratings and record the placard’s cold-pressure guidance. It will not prescribe a pressure; pressure decisions need manufacturer-supported information for the fitted tyre and real operating load.

Tyre load rating is a hard capacity check

The load index on a tyre sidewall maps to a maximum load under specified conditions. The NT Government publishes a load-index table and explains where load and speed ratings appear. Tyre construction, size, load index and speed symbol must be suitable for the caravan and comply with applicable requirements.

VSB 1 Revision 6 says tyres fitted to a low-ATM trailer must be suitable for intended use, including size, speed rating and load rating. For trailers with GTM not exceeding 3,500 kg, the tyre placard includes the manufacturer’s recommended tyre size, load rating, speed rating and cold inflation pressure.

Read the tyre as a complete specification

Size alone is not enough. Record the full service description, construction, load index and speed symbol. Check whether the axle position uses single or another approved fitment and whether the tyre is intended for highway use. Compare it with the caravan placard and manufacturer information.

A replacement that physically fits the rim is not automatically suitable. Wheel dimensions and load rating matter too. Where the placard and fitted tyre differ, obtain written manufacturer or qualified tyre advice rather than inventing a conversion from size alone.

Pressure is linked to load and tyre data

A tyre supports load through its construction and inflation. Load-and-inflation information must come from an authoritative source for that tyre type and application. A calculator cannot infer a safe pressure merely from caravan mass and tyre count.

If a specialist recommends a pressure different from the caravan placard, ask them to document the tyre specification, measured load, operating conditions and data source. Keep that record with the caravan. Reassess it when tyres or loading change.

Axle load is not always divided evenly

Dividing the measured axle-group load by the number of tyres gives an average, not proof that each tyre carries that amount. Kitchen appliances, batteries, slide-outs, tanks and storage can make one side heavier. Road camber and dynamic forces add further variation in motion.

Individual wheel-position measurements are therefore valuable when the caravan is close to its limits or visibly asymmetric. The sum of tyre capacities must cover the relevant load, but each tyre also needs adequate capacity for its own actual load.

Why cold pressure matters

Pressure rises as a tyre heats through driving, flexing and ambient conditions. “Cold” means checked before the trip or after sufficient rest according to tyre and vehicle guidance—not immediately after a long highway run.

Do not bleed a hot tyre down merely to match a cold-pressure figure. Consult the caravan and tyre manufacturers or a qualified tyre specialist if hot behaviour, repeated pressure loss or temperature differences concern you.

Figures to collect

1. Caravan tyre placard: size, load rating, speed rating and recommended cold pressure.
2. Full tyre sidewall markings for every fitted tyre and spare.
3. Tyre make, model, construction and date code.
4. Caravan GTM, axle-group ratings and wheel ratings.
5. Measured loaded axle-group mass.
6. Individual wheel-position loads where available.
7. Normal cruising speed and manufacturer conditions.
8. Current cold pressures measured with a reliable gauge.

Worked load-planning example

A fictional tandem-axle caravan has a measured coupled axle-group load of 2,420 kg. Across four tyres, the simple average is 605 kg per tyre.

Individual measurement then shows:

• Front left: 660 kg
• Rear left: 650 kg
• Front right: 560 kg
• Rear right: 550 kg

The total is still 2,420 kg, but the heaviest tyre carries 660 kg—55 kg above the average. Any capacity assessment must use the actual tyre load rating and applicable manufacturer conditions, not the 605 kg average alone.

This example intentionally does not calculate a pressure. Use the caravan placard and tyre-manufacturer load/inflation data for the exact fitted tyre, confirmed by a qualified tyre specialist where necessary.

Temperature patterns can reveal a problem, not diagnose it

After a safe stop, a large temperature or pressure difference between comparable tyres can justify inspection. It may relate to load, pressure loss, brake drag, bearing trouble, alignment, sun exposure or measurement error. Do not diagnose the cause from one number at the roadside.

If a tyre is losing pressure, unusually hot, damaged or distorted, stop using it and obtain qualified assistance. Never crawl beneath a caravan supported only by a jack, and use only correctly rated lifting and support equipment according to its instructions.

Keep a tyre record

Record cold pressures, tyre specification, date codes, rotation or replacement dates, measured wheel loads and inspections. Note the gauge used so unexplained changes can be checked against another reliable gauge. Photographing sidewalls and the placard provides a quick reference on the road.

Review the record before a long remote leg and after storage. Tyres can deteriorate through age and environment even when tread remains. Ask the tyre manufacturer or specialist for condition and replacement guidance relevant to actual use.

Prepare for a specialist conversation

Bring the placard photograph, full tyre description, wheel and axle ratings, measured wheel-position loads and normal travel conditions. Explain whether the caravan is used mainly on sealed roads, corrugations or mixed surfaces, and whether the tyre specification differs from original.

Ask the specialist to identify the manufacturer data supporting any load and cold-pressure recommendation. Record the answer. “That is what caravans usually run” is not a substitute for information matched to the tyre and load.

Recheck after a load change

Adding a battery, filling a side tank, mounting bikes or moving a toolbox can change individual tyre loads without changing the tyres themselves. Repeat the load comparison whenever the caravan’s permanent fit-out or normal remote-travel load changes materially.

If one side is consistently heavier, review storage with the caravan manufacturer or an appropriately qualified specialist. Do not assume extra pressure can make an overloaded tyre acceptable, and do not shift heavy items into an unsuitable space solely to make the numbers equal.

Tyre condition checks beyond pressure

• Cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords or embedded objects.
• Uneven wear that may indicate alignment, suspension or load issues.
• Tread depth and damage across the full width.
• Valve condition and correctly fitted caps.
• Tyre age and storage history, interpreted with manufacturer guidance.
• Wheel condition, correct nuts and manufacturer torque procedure.
• Matching suitability of the spare tyre and its pressure.

Pressure monitoring systems can alert you to changes, but they do not replace cold manual checks, inspection or correct load planning.

Common mistakes

• Using the maximum pressure moulded on a sidewall as an automatic operating recommendation.
• Copying another caravan’s pressure without matching tyre and load data.
• Checking only GTM and ignoring individual tyre loads.
• Using a pressure value to compensate for an overloaded tyre.
• Ignoring the spare, date code, valves or wheel ratings.
• Bleeding pressure from hot tyres to return to a cold figure.
• Assuming tread depth alone proves an old tyre is fit for service.

A repeatable tyre-planning routine

1. Photograph the placard and every tyre sidewall.
2. Confirm the fitted tyre specification matches approved manufacturer information.
3. Load the caravan as it travels and obtain suitable axle and, ideally, wheel-position measurements.
4. Compare each real load with tyre, wheel and axle ratings.
5. Set and record cold pressure only from manufacturer-supported guidance.
6. Inspect tyres before departure and recheck during travel.
7. Investigate uneven loading, heat, wear or pressure loss rather than normalising it.

Our weighbridge process helps plan total and axle measurements. A mobile service capable of individual wheel readings may add the side-to-side detail a standard platform cannot provide.

Ready to organise your tyre figures?

Use the free Caravan Tyre Load and Pressure Planner to compare the loads and ratings you enter and record the supported pressure source.

It does not prescribe pressure or certify a tyre. Consult the tyre and caravan manufacturers or a qualified tyre specialist. Explore the complete Caravan Calculator Hub for payload and water-weight planning.

Frequently asked questions

What pressure should my caravan tyres use?

Use manufacturer-supported guidance for the exact fitted tyre, caravan and actual load. Start with the caravan placard and seek qualified tyre advice where the setup differs.

Is sidewall maximum pressure the recommended pressure?

Not automatically. A sidewall marking is not a substitute for the caravan and tyre manufacturer’s operating guidance.

Why measure individual wheels?

An axle average can hide a heavily loaded side or tyre. Individual readings show the actual distribution.

Should pressure be checked hot or cold?

Placard recommendations are normally cold figures. Follow the manufacturer’s definition and do not bleed hot tyres merely to match a cold value.

Does higher pressure fix overloading?

No. Do not exceed tyre, wheel or axle capacity. Correct the load and obtain specialist advice.

Sources and safety note

Last checked: 12 August 2026.

• Australian Government — Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 Revision 6
• Australian Government — Current Australian Design Rules
• NT Government — Tyre load and speed rating

This article does not recommend a tyre pressure. Verify the placard, fitted tyre specification, real load and manufacturer information, and use a qualified tyre specialist where needed.