Your privacy is as important to us as your safety on the road
To provide you with the best online experience, Kwik Fit and our partners use technologies such as cookies to store local information on your device. Consenting to our recommended technologies allows us and our partners to process data such as your browsing behaviour or individual identifiers on this website.
Click the green button below to consent with our recommended settings or you may switch the performance and targeting categories on or off individually, then save your settings. You can freely update your choices at any time and view the full list of cookies that may be placed by clicking the Cookies link in the footer of every page of our website.
Taking your own car on holiday has its advantages over travelling by plane – most notably, the absence of a baggage allowance which means you can take practically anything and everything away with you. But if you have a small boot or just a lot of stuff, there simply isn’t room for that kitchen sink.
Trailers provide a great solution for those times when you need a bit of additional space for all that extra gear or when you need to transport large or heavy items. But the very nature of trailers means that they are only used from time to time. The rest of the year they tend to be sat on the drive or stored in the garage. Trailer tyres, just like regular car tyres, don’t fare well when left inactive for long periods of time. Here are a few things you should check before taking your trailer back out on the road.
Check your trailer tyre pressure
All
tyres lose pressure over time whether in use or not, so it’s important to check
the tyre pressure on your trailer tyres before you take it out for the first
time in a while. Flat or low pressure tyres on a trailer are not immediately
obvious if the trailer is unloaded as the tyres may still have enough air to
support their own weight, so check your tyre pressure every time you get the
trailer out. Even if your trailer is in regular use, you should check your tyre
pressure every few weeks and correct when needed. Under inflated trailer tyres
will wear much faster and unevenly if not addressed, especially if you are
transporting heavy loads.
Inspect trailer tyres for damage and ageing
Another
consequence of tyres being in storage for a long time is that they are prone to
cracking. Tyres are constructed with a wax in the veneer, this acts as a sort
of moisturiser which helps to keep the tyre supple. If a tyre is not in regular
use, the wax will slowly seep to the bottom of the tyre which can lead to
cracking as the tyre dries out. Also if the trailer is left outside in the
elements, UV light from the sun will slowly oxidise the rubber in the tyres
which can also lead to premature tyre ageing. Give your trailer tyres a thorough visual
inspection before you take the trailer out. Also check the date of manufacture
on the tyre sidewall as trailer tyres are more likely to be unchanged for several years due to their occasional use. Find out the age of your tyres.
The law in the UK relating to trailer tyres
We’ve
seen plenty of drivers come into our centres with a trailer with tyres so worn that the cords were showing. You wouldn’t let your car tyres
get into this sort of state (well, we certainly hope you wouldn’t) and yet many
drivers seem to think there are no restrictions on the condition of tyres when
fitted to a trailer. In actual fact, the same laws apply to trailer tyres as
regular car tyres. Cars and light trailers up to 3,500kgs must have a minimum
tread depth of 1.6mm across the centre three quarters of the tyre and around
the entire circumference. The tyres should be free of cuts and bulges and mud
guards must be fitted and secure. If the police were to pull you over and
found your tyres to be substandard you could face the same penalty as car
tyres - that is, 3 penalty points and a maximum fine of £2,500.
Trailer tyres at Kwik Fit
At
Kwik Fit, we stock a wide range of trailer tyres for different trailer types.
Our centres may not have your specific trailer tyre available on the shelf, so
we recommend contacting your nearest centre beforehand to let them know your
requirements and tyre size. Our team can then order the most suitable tyres for
your trailer from our warehouse for fitting at a time that is convenient for
you.
Want to know why ADAS calibration is important for vehicle safety & performance? Read our blog to learn more about the impacts of not calibrating your ADAS.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
{MODALTITLE}
{MODALBODY}
Select Tyre Size
Front Tyre Size
Rear Tyre Size
We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
We have identified the tyre size(s) that may fit your {VEHICLE}. Please select your front tyre size and rear tyre size below before clicking 'Continue'.
Filter Your Results
You have selected:
To continue with your booking, please select your appointment time from the list below.
Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
Appointment time:
This is the only appointment time available on this day. To continue with your booking, please select "Reserve Your Appointment" below.
Please note:
Centres do not open until 10:00 on bank holidays. If choosing an earlier appointment time on a bank holiday, please bring your vehicle to centre at 10:00 rather than the time shown.
