Camper Trailer Action — Issue 104 2017

E

very tourer wants good value out of
the mods we purchase, and our tyres
are no different. Tyres are one of the
most costly outlays you’ll make for
both your camper trailer and your tow vehicle,
but also one of the most important. That’s
why it’s essential to make sure your tyres are

cared for properly. Look after them, and they’ll

get you much further on the tracks, and need

replacing a lot less frequently, saving heaps of

money in the long run.

Let’s go through some of the issues tourers

face every day with tyres, and what can be

done to get a longer lifespan from them.

Manufacturers put a recommended tyre
pressure on the side wall of tyres. When
followed, this should give you the optimum
life out of your tyres. However, every tourer
knows that black and white scenarios are
few and far between when you hit the tracks.
Recommended factory inflation guides

don’t factor in track conditions, or the

weight of the trailer you’re towing. That’s

why it’s important to set tyre pressures to

the conditions you’re driving in, not what a

sticker inside your door says.

If you’re running your tyres at pressures

that are too high or too low, you’ll

accelerate tyre wear, and rapidly chew into

a good set of rubber’s lifespan. Luckily, it’s

very easy to spot an over or under-inflated

tyre, and adjust within seconds, to make

your 4WD more capable on the tracks,

improve economy, and most importantly,

prolong tyre lifespan.

CAMBER WEAR FEATHERED

WEAR

(Excessive Toe

In or Out)

UNEVEN LUG WEAR

(Out of balance)

WEAR INDICATOR OVERINFLATION UNDERINFLATION

DIAGONAL WEAR/

HEEL AND TOE WEAR

LOCAL WEAR

Under-inflated tyres will wear on

the outer edges more than the

centre as they bulge out on the side

wall. This bulging of the side wall

takes pressure off the centre of the

tyre, and moves it towards the outer

edge. Because there’s more give

in the tyre, the tyres also lean over

more during cornering. Lowering

tyre pressures when you hit the

tracks is vital; however, lowering

tyre pressures also means lowering

vehicle speed, and if you’re driving

on under-inflated tyres before you

leave the blacktop, you’ll quickly

damage your rubber. Check your

tyres after you’ve loaded the 4WD,

just before you head off, to see

if they’re bulging at the sides.

The added weight of passengers,

trailers, and full fuel tanks often

turns what was a correctly inflated

tyre into an under-inflated one,

before you’ve even set off!

UNDER-INFLATED

UNDER AND OVER INFLATION

We all spend a good amount of money

on our tyres, so getting as much life as

possible out of them is paramount

Ensuring you always maintain

the correct running pressure for

the kind of driving you’re doing

will help your tyres last longer

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Make Your Tyres Last