Tyre Pressures

Isn't it vehicle and tyre specific though? and the club can't be experts in every car and tyre combination, and I suppose the advice would be to follow what they say.

My previous car had differing pressures for various passenger and load combinations (though we never did) where as my present is the same no matter what.

On our car, VW Touareg, the addition of 100kg on the towball will add about 138 kg to the rear axle load and reduce the front axle load by 38kg. The rear axle load is therefore increased by about 10 to13%, depending on other loads in the car. So yes we increase the pressure when towing, mainly to save the sidewalls of the tyres. A 12% increase in the tyre pressure will keep the footprint of the tyre the same as when not towing.  The footprint is the area of tyre in contact with the road and is proportional to the load the tyre carries and inversely proportional to the tyre pressure.

The rear axle loading calcs for the Disco4, using their European detachable bar, indicates a 100kgs noseweight yields 141.2kgs, 7.67% of its load rating. This is very slightly higher with the "fixed" bar.

Interestingly, only in the Australian market is it stated the tyre pressures be increased to maximum when towing, but there much greater bar weights are typically mandatory. 

The most sensible  comment from the club would be to read the car manual

Would that be the long version of RT*M? 😉

The noseweight of the caravan is about a couple of big passengers plus luggage. inflate to suit and that is that. the small amount of travelling when away won't wear your tyres out, but return to normal if you wish. my inflator is a mains powered Aldi product, with tools and gauge. Not seen them since and that was long ago.

The 12volt inflators are OK for normal car pressures but caravan tyres are usually way above that and the inflator gets hot. You wait a while and gain another couple of pounds, then let it cool off again. That was my experience at any rate, hence my Aldi purchase!!!

Hi everyone,

October is actually ‘Tyre Safety Month’ so this thread is very timely!

For tyre advice we would recommend you visit www.tyresafe.org/campaigns/tyre-safety-month-2019/tyre-safety-information/

We also have information and advice on our website here: Taking care of your outfit/caravan tyres and wheels

To help monitor your tyre pressures we have negotiated discounts on the following products:

TyrePal 

Boo9 

Additionally, we have recently teamed up with National Tyres and Autocare  who offer a FREE  safety check (including tyres) and provide members with a 5% discount on new tyres: Member Offer National Tyres

I hope this helps! 

 Thanks Ro, as you say timely advice.

Thanks Rowena we look forward to definitive answers to the questions raised - presumably via an article in next months magazine?

The phrase that came to mind MM was along the lines of 'Read the Flaming Manual' or similar.