One of the most important, and often most neglected, components on your RV are the RV tires. Supporting the entire load of your rig, ensuring your tires and their air that’s in them are ready for the road is essential. In this video, our resident RV expert shares what to be aware of when it comes to RV tires.
RV Tire Care Tips
- Tires lose pressure when in storage loosing up to two pounds of air pressure per month
- Only check the tire pressure when the tires are cold – even driving a mile can cause the air inside the tires to heat and expand giving you a false reading
- Tires that aren’t being used can actually age faster because additives meant to help protect the rubber from weather cracking and sun damage aren’t being released
- All tires have a load range that you should be aware of – generally these are indicated on the side of the tire
- Trailer tires experience significant lateral (side-to-side) loads due to sway and as such it is recommended to inflate the tires to the pressure indicated on the sidewall to provide optimum load carrying capacity
- Tire manufacturers also offer load and inflation tables which offer a more technical method for determining proper inflation pressure via weighing the RV
- Inspect your tires for any wear or cracks in the sidewalls before each trip
- Check the tread to inspect for signs of uneven wear – this can be an early indicator of alignment issues
- Inspect the tread depth and keep an eye on tread wear indicators that appear when it’s time to start shopping for new tires
KOA’s resident RV expert, Mark Polk, and his wife Dawn started RV Education 101 in 1999. Since that time RV Education 101 has helped educate millions of RV owners and RV enthusiasts on how to properly and safely use and maintain their RV. Mark’s favorite past times are RVing in their 35-foot Type A motorhome, and restoring vintage RVs, classic cars and trucks. For more information on how to learn about RVs the easy way, visit RV Education 101. Be sure to check out their RV Online Training Site too!
