RV Tire Care - Should I replace?

Result of a Tire Blow Out.. Note: Tire Age was 4 years old.

●    Tires; A big expense when needed and they are one of the vital life lines of an RV. First if you replace, NEVER install a recap on a motor coach or pull behind, Recaps are commonly used on Semi trailers and on Semi Trailers is where they should remain. ( My Personal Opinion ). During your inspection, you should look for dry rot, uneven wear, cupping and unusual bulges. (always view both sides of the tire). If any of these are evident, I recommend replacing to prevent not only a flat while on the road, but a tire failure can result in extensive damage to the body of your coach and in some cases rip off brake lines, wiring, and can even cause an explosion due to the propane tanks on some coaches located just in front of the rear wheels. Consult a certified tire tech on this issue. During replacement of a bad tire, always replace both tires that are in the duel position, this will assure even tire wear and longer lasting service. Last thing, always check tire pressure, keep a gauge handy and check often to assure proper inflation. Inflate to recommended specs of your tires. This saves fuel and assures long lasting tire wear.
●    Tires, Should I replace?..View the date of your tires found on most tires closest to the rim in an OVAL indentation with numbers. The date formula is normally "Weeks + last 2" of the year produced (example 3879 = 38th week of 1979). Always document how old they are. I recommend 5 Years Maximum life span before replacement. RV's that sit for long periods can shorten the life of your tires. Sunlight, extreme cold and extended open air flow can rot your tires even if tread is good. Always visually check your tires and look for cracking, splitting or unusual bulges. If in doubt, consult in a tire center.

• One thing you should note, if you don’t already know, if you own a diesel pusher or like kind coach, realize that most Tractor Trailers use the same type tires as your coach. The reason I mention this is that when replacing tires, a truck stop may be your more affordable alternative for affordable tire purchases and usually most all with a tire shop will have your tires in stock. For on the road purchases I would recommend the T/A Travel Center's or Petro Travel Center's. (www.tatravelcenters.com & www.petrotruckstops.com). These both usually handle all brands and offer competitive pricing. Both web sites have location directories for easy look up of the nearest shop.

●    Tire prices should only run you between $325-450 maximum each and if you are given prices higher, you may want to further your search. I recommend Michelin, Bridgestone, Toyo or Goodyear.
●    Summary: Check your tires for uneven wear, tire pressure, unusual bumps or bulges, cupping and cracking.
●    If cupping or uneven tire wear is a result of your problem, have your alignment checked and always have tie rods, spring bushings, shocks and bearings checked. It could save you a lot of money in the long run and even save your life.

The above comments are my personal opinions and you should not substitute the contents of this article as a professional opinion nor should any of the information be used or conducted without proper technical experience.
Use information at your own risk. For More Information on Tire Care or Other RV related material, visit buymyrvnow.com where RV Classifieds are always FREE.
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