By Chris Dougherty
Certified RV technician
Folks often ask what they should do to their RV tires for the winter season. Here’s a primer.
The ultimate? Remove the wheels and tires and put them in a climate-controlled environment. Yeah, right. Not going to happen, most likely, but there are some things you can do that are almost as good.
1. Keep the tires off the dirt. You don’t want them sitting in water and mud. I have used the Lynx Levelers for years and am very happy with them. They allow water to run off and keep air around most of the tire.
2. Tires should be fully inflated.
3. Take as much weight off the tires as you can. Put the unit up on heavy-duty jack stands if you can (and if it’s safe to do so.)
4. Cover the tires with the appropriate-size tire cover. You can find a selection on Amazon.
5. Tires should be clean, but avoid tire dressings.
I have been asked about motorhomes and the hydraulic system holding the coach up for the winter, and the answer is “no.” Subjecting the system to constant pressure like that for months on end causes wear and could lead to eventual component failure. Obviously, if you’re using the unit, then fine, go ahead; and if something breaks, that’s just the cost of doing business, as they say. But to wear these components just for storage is counterintuitive. Heavy-duty jack stands are a good alternative, or park the tires on the Lynx blocks or something else that keeps them well up off the dirt, make sure they’re fully inflated and cover them with a tire cover.
Where can you get the heavy-duty jack stands? Amazon or Harbor Freight are good options. Make sure they can hold the weight of your particular coach.
