How to make your RV tires last as long as possible

I recently ran across this question on a Class A forum regarding tire age:

I just had our 2019 Pace Arrow 36U in the shop and was told that I had to plan on replacing my tires at end of year as they have a 2018 manufacture date and they are only good for 7 years – regardless of mileage. Fairly new to this and seemed odd, but what do I know…. The rig only has about 30,000 miles on it, tires look fine, plenty of tread, etc. But the last thing I would want is a blowout.

My answer was:

The simple answer is 10 years Max. This is published in a number of tire company Data Books.

BUT I believe you really want to know when it might be advisable to replace your tires, which is not the same as a “limit”.

Different types of tires

Also, in case we have owners of towables reading this post, they need to realize that their ST-type tires are not the same as LT or TBR (Truck, Bus Radials), as found on almost all Class A Motorhomes.

So, I’ll stick with TBR-type tires, which are normally on 19.5 or 22.5 size wheels, for this discussion.

I have heard engineers from more than one tire company that make TBR tires say that the tires should be good for the first 5 to 7 years. You can confirm this by checking for the warranted time limit. It should be obvious that if a tire company is willing to warrant their tires for x years, then they should be good at least that long.

BUT this obviously means that tires that have been damaged by cut, puncture or impact are probably not covered. To know this you obviously must READ the warranty information provided by the tire company.

Steps to take to prolong the life of RV tires

Now, since you obviously would like to get as much “life” out of your tires as is reasonably possible, there are a few steps you MUST take.

1. Proper inflation. Keep the tire properly inflated ALL THE TIME. A TBR can have internal structural damage, even if not driving, if it loses most or all of its air. Monitoring the tire pressure when traveling is accomplished with the use of a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that has been properly programmed. It also means you have confirmed the MINIMUM inflation required to support the actual load on each tire. Simply checking the inflation at a fuel stop can easily miss a loss of air that happens while driving or even a loss due to a stuck valve core after you used a hand gauge to check your pressure.

By properly programmed, I mean the low pressure warning level is no lower than the MINIMUM cold psi required to support the measured load—not 10% or 25% below that minimum, which is the pre-set warning on some TPMS. You also need to confirm at least once a year that the TPMS is functioning as expected. The TPMS is a complex item and you have at least 6 sensors, and maybe 10, and it only takes the failure of one sensor to result in a failed tire.

2. Learn the load on each tire. At lease once, learn the actual load on each tire position with the RV at its heaviest expected weight. This is often called “4 corner weight”. You can seldom get these numbers at a truck stop platform scale. I know that CAT Scale does not want RV owners to try and get the loads by driving off center as this can mess up the scale calibration.

You will need to get 4 corner weights from companies such as FMCA Convention, Escapees, or RVSafety.com (RV Safety Education Foundation, or RVSEF). If you can’t get to one of their locations but can find a building supply of gravel pit sales place with scales, you can use check this page for forms to help you with the calculations. Goodyear has information regarding weighing your RV. The individual load on each tire is important as some RVs have been found to have their load out of balance side to side by 1,000 to 1,500 pounds.

3. Know minimum inflation needed. You should know the MINIMUM inflation needed by consulting the Load & Inflation tables published by the major tire companies. All tire companies use the same numbers, so even if you can’t find the table for your brand of tires you can use the tables from Goodyear or Bridgestone, etc. Simply go to the corporate website and search for Load Inflation tables. Your cold inflation should be set to the table MINIMUM plus at least 5 psi margin.

You should also use a digital gauge to ensure you are reading the psi correctly. In my testing of gauges, I have found that 10% to 20% of “Stick” gauges are off by at least 5 psi (some were 12 psi off). I have also found that even expensive dial gauges can be correct but are not easy to read.

4. When to check inflation. Check inflation with the tires “COLD”. This does not mean to some laboratory temperature, but simply when the tire has not been driven on or was not in direct sunlight for the previous 2 to 3 hours. This is why it has been suggested for years that you check the psi the morning of each travel day. Depending on when you check the pressure and how you are parked, you may need to check inflation the evening before you travel. Direct sunlight can warm tires by 10°F to 30°F, which will give an incorrect reading.

NOTE: Once checked and set, and if you have a TPMS, you will soon learn that you do not need to get down with a hand gauge. I simply shut my TPMS off when I park at night. In the morning I get up, turn the TPMS monitor on, and by the time I have made my coffee I have new readings from each sensor.

5. PSI readings. Do not get hung up with psi readings that are not exactly the psi from your hand gauge as most TPM sensors are only accurate to +/- 2%. TPMS are designed to monitor psi CHANGE.

Tires should be good for the length of their warranty

If you follow the above and at least once a year get down on the ground with a flashlight and do a close visual inspection of your tires, and NEVER get a low pressure warning from your TPMS, your tires should be good for the length of their warranty. When you get to the 5 to 7 years age, you should go to a dealer of the brand tires you run and ask them to do a close inspection. You may want to get new tires for the critical front position if there is any question.

A complete annual inspection of the interior would be best. However, that may cost more than it is worth to get an extra year of tire use.

Temperature has major impact on tire life

Finally. If you spend most of your time along the Southern tier (AZ, TX, FL, etc.), your tire life will be a lot lower than if you spend your time in Canada, for example, as temperature has a MAJOR effect on tire life. I have covered the science and details of temperature and tire aging on my RVTireSafety blog.

Roger Marble

Check out my Blog www.RVTireSafety.Net

Read more from Roger Marble on RVtravel.com.

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