Not another tire inflation question! Back to basics…

Sometimes I feel like a broken record when I offer what seems like the same advice week after week. Maybe the readers of RV Travel are better informed than the folks that post to internet forums on brand “ABC” or “XYZ” RVs. I do not understand why people almost never do a search on the topic before they post their question, such as regarding tire inflation. The other problem is that very few provide the most basic information on their RV which would allow a detailed answer appropriate for their specific RV.

Tires on Class A motorhomes are not identical to the tires on a 15-foot pop-up camper. Yes, the tires have rubber and need inflation, but there is a lot more information and knowledge required if you want a correct, detailed answer or want to avoid tire problems in the future.

If you are reading this post, you have taken the first step in making your time with your RV more enjoyable. You can expect fewer problems if you review and follow the advice offered in the “Maintenance & Repair Archives“. There are more than 2,300 posts covering the various mechanical and plumbing systems in your RV. Also, there are more than 2,000 posts on RV Tire Safety, including those that remind you to put air in your tires and do not overload or over-speed your tires.

I can summarize the information on tires in a few sentences.

1. Read your certification label.

This label is required by federal law. I have covered both the location and minimum information that is required to be on the label. You should have a picture of this important information. This pertains especially to trailer owners as I have seen more than one RV with the label missing or completely faded.

2. Get your RV weighed. Yes, this is a challenge for some. But I find it hard to believe that you have never driven on an interstate and passed a truck stop that has a scale. There a number of posts on the ideal measurement, but AT A MINIMUM, learn the weight on each individual axle. This weight information is important and should be provided if you ever want to know the minimum inflation for your tires.

3. Proper inflation. I have more than 100 posts on proper inflation between my blog www.RVTireSafety.net and the RVtravel.com maintenance column, so there is no excuse for not being able to learn what your RV’s minimum inflation should be.

4. TPMS. These Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems are considered so important by the U.S. Department of Transportation that they are mandated on all new cars and trucks with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 10,000 pounds or more for the last 20 years. The largest car and tire recall ever was because people didn’t know or refused to follow instructions on inflating their tires to the required level. RVs are not covered by this Federal Law but IMO that is not an excuse for not having a properly programmed system on your RV. Getting a single warning of a puncture or slow leak can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars for repairs, not to mention potential damage to vehicles in the vicinity and possible injuries or worse to you, your vehicle’s occupants, and others around you.

5. Tire age. I have posted how to inspect your tires for possible internal failures and provided information on how to know the age of your tires and when you should replace them, along with the clear stated maximum age of 10 years since manufacturer.

That’s it. You can either follow these five items or you can read various RV forums where people with little or no solid tire knowledge make dozens and dozens of posts asking the same questions on tire inflation and get the same incorrect or only partially correct answers.

Roger Marble

Check out my Blog www.RVTireSafety.Net

Read more from Roger Marble on RVtravel.com.

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