RV Tire Care: A Few Tips
I love commercials. In just 60 seconds they tell a story, offer a solution, and sell a product Talk about the ultimate in sales efficiency!
Michelin Tires has one out now that is especially charming. Their mascot (a character made from tires) stands confidently by the side of the road in all his rotund glory. The scene is stormy and, as motorists pass by slipping and sliding along the road, he tosses new tires at their cars.
Magically, their car is equipped with new tires! Now in control of their vehicles, the sun breaks through and they drive away smiling. The tag line appears over the sunset -"There's a lot riding on your tires".
There's nothing more frustrating than to have your RV trip grind to a halt with a flat tire. You call road service, spend an hour or more on the side of the road, and may have to lay out a chunk of your travel budget for a new tire. Where's the Michelin Tire Man when you need him?!
If it's a puncture from road debris that has interrupted your trip, you just have to curse your bad luck and move on. But many flat tires can be prevented with a simple practice of IMR - Inspect, Maintain, and Replace.
Inspect:
Make a habit of inspecting your tires, especially before and during a road trip. Look at the wear pattern, check for tread depth, and look for foreign objects like nails, screws, or scrap metal lodged in the tire's tread or sidewall. This debris can work its way through the tire and cause a slow leak or, worse, a blowout. Uneven wear on the tire can cause vibration while driving. And diminished tread depth reduces the tire's grip on the road.
Maintain:
Tire maintenance is not difficult, but it does take a schedule. Get them rotated at regular intervals to more evenly distribute the wear pattern. Have them aligned and balanced too. Keeping the tires aligned and balanced makes driving easier, preventing the characteristic "pull" to one side or the other.
And don't forget to monitor the tire pressure. This simple practice can save the day! A slow leak is more easily detected if you are checking tire pressure frequently. Low tire pressure could also result in higher temperatures within the tire that could cause a blowout. It can also cause premature wear of the tread.
Replace:
You know to replace a tire when the tread is worn or if you have a puncture that cannot be repaired. But you should also pay attention to the age of your tires. Every tire has a manufacture date stamped on the sidewall. That date starts the clock ticking on the tire's lifespan.
Some experts recommend replacing tires every five to seven years, while some manufacturers claim a longer lifespan. Since RVs tend to have fewer miles per year of driving, the tread can look just fine even as the tire nears its life expectancy. But looks can be deceiving. Even if they appear to be fine, dry rot can destroy the integrity of the tire and cause catastrophic failure while driving. When tires are nearing their lifespan, get them replaced -especially if you are preparing for a long trip.
This simple IMR formula should help to keep your RV's tires trip-ready. You can't always prevent a puncture, but you can prevent low tire pressure and uneven wear with regular inspection and maintenance. There is a lot riding on your RV's tires - both in terms of safety and in terms of enjoyment. Keep your RV on the road and rolling along by taking care of those tires!