Tires are what allow us to move our RV from one place to another. Tire failure is one thing that can happen to an RV that puts our lives at risk. There are two things we can do to minimize that risk.
First, is proper selection and application. Choosing the right tires for our motorhome, fifth wheel or trailer is easy. We use the tires installed by the RV manufacturer. However, while the tires may be adequate, they may not provide a sufficient margin of safety if the RV is loaded to the maximum GVWR. To know if your tires are the right ones for your RV, it’s important to compare the fully loaded weight of your RV to the weight rating of the tires. Most manufacturers have these charts on their websites. Most of us don’t weigh everything that we load into our RVs, so having tires with a higher weight rating may be really cheap insurance.
Second, is maintenance; keeping your RV tires inflated to the proper pressure is the most important thing you can do to ensure their long life. Follow the guidelines in your RV owner’s manual, if you have one. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, get one. Most RVs manufactured within the last 10 years will have a placard somewhere inside the RV listing the GVWR. The maximum pressure allowed for a tire is embossed on the sidewall. That’s the maximum pressure when the tire is cold. It’s okay for it to be over that by as much as 10 psi if the tire pressure is checked while hot. Running a tire in an over-pressurized condition will cause uneven tread wear. Running a tire in an under-pressurized condition will also cause uneven tread wear and can cause damage to the tire sidewalls. Keep in mind that a tire can lose pressure, and as little as five psi can make a difference in the load-carrying capacity of a tire. So it’s especially important to check your tire pressure before taking your rig on that trip.
Next month, we’ll talk about when tires need to be replaced, as well as the “care and feeding” of tires.
Be safe on the road and enjoy the RV life.
Final Touch Coach Works is located at 28532 Livingston Avenue in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-775-8375 or visit www.FinalTouch-USA.com .