Buying wheels and tyres

If you’re thinking of buying new wheels for your caravan, stick to specialist retailers. Be very sceptical of second-hand wheels, unless certain they are in good condition and of an appropriate specification.

When buying alloy wheels, make sure you buy ones specifically designed for caravans, rather than trying to find car ones with the correct characteristics. Any make of tyre which has the correct service description and is Type Approved for use in Europe is acceptable.

If you’re thinking of buying new tyres, shop around; it may be worth consulting our guide on choosing the right tyres if you'd like further information. Prices vary hugely.

If buying more than one tyre, get a price initially for just one, and see if a discount (or free valves and fitting etc) is then available if buying more than one. Make sure you know exactly what specification you want, as many retailers are not very knowledgeable about caravan tyres.

The choice of tyre make is less critical than for motor vehicles, but quality does still vary, usually in proportion to price. Tyre brands can be loosely divided into three categories:

1. Premium – use better materials, better production technology and design skills.
2. Affordable – good quality products but less advanced designs. These are often branded using the associated trade names of premium suppliers.
3. Very cheap – less innovative, use cheaper materials, less stringent production standards.