How to prevent premature RV tire failure

Overloading your RV is likely the leading cause of tire failure. Poor weight distribution and using all of the storage space offered on today's recreational vehicles result in tire overloads.

The only way to learn if your RV is too heavy or loaded improperly is to have the it weighed on platform scales while fully loaded. Load it with everything you plan to take on a trip including passengers, cargo, fuel, full fresh water and propane tanks. If you tow something behind the RV take it to the scales, too. It's possible to weigh the RV and not exceed the GVWR, GAWR or GCWR, but still exceed the tire ratings. This is why you must weigh each axle end separately to determine if tire ratings are exceeded and if the loaded weight is properly distributed.

Under inflated tires run a close second to overloading as a leading cause of tire failure. The load rating for a tire is only accurate if the tire is properly inflated. Under inflated tires cause extreme heat build up that leads to tire failure. The appearance of the tire may look normal but the internal damage can cause the tire to fail without warning.

Tires can lose up to two pounds of air pressure per month. If you don't check your tires for three or four months they could be seriously under inflated.

Ideally you should check tire inflation every day you move or drive your RV and adjust if necesssary. If you can't get into the habit of doing it on a daily basis, then at least check all tires weekly at a minimum when you're traveling.

Always check tires when they are cold, before moving the RV. Invest in an accurate inflation pressure gauge. Check all tires and adjust pressure according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Do no exceed the maximum pressure ratings found on the tires sidewall. Never check inflation pressure when the tires are hot: you will get a higher-pressure reading and if you let some air out they will be under inflated when they are cold. If you have dual wheels, add extension hoses to the valve stems to make checking tire pressure easier. A word of caution, if you add extension hoses you must replace the rubber valve stems with all steel valve stems. The added weight of the extension hoses can cause rubber stems to leak air resulting in under inflation.

OZONE IN THE AIR and UV rays from the sun shorten the life of your tires. It is not uncommon to see RV tires with low mileage and plenty of tread ruined by the damaging effects of ozone and UV rays. Ozone causes tires to dry rot and deteriorate. UV rays from the sun make it happen quicker. This is especially true of the tires sidewall. Inspect your tires for cracks in the sidewalls. If you notice any damage have them inspected by a professional. Two ways to protect your tires from these elements are to keep them covered to block out the sunlight when not in use. For long-term storage, remove the tires and store them in a cool dry place away from the sunlight. I also recommend that you place something like a piece of wood between the ground and the tires. Be sure that whatever you use is larger then the footprint of the tire.

The age of your tires is another factor that contributes to tire failure. I learned this the hard way. I bought an early model Jeep CJ7 to tow behind our motorhome. After completely restoring the vehicle we were ready to try it out. The tires appeared in excellent condition. There were no signs of damage from the sun and little tread wear. We towed the Jeep from North Carolina to Florida and from there to Colorado and back to North Carolina with no problems. Shortly after that we towed it to Pennsylvania. A couple hundred miles into the trip a front tire blew out, damaging the inner fender, shock absorber and below the door. I replaced the tire with the spare and within another 100 miles the spare blew out resulting in more damage. After buying a new tire, we took the Jeep to a tire store to have the other tires replaced. The technician explained that the tires were nine years old and even though they looked in good shape they could not handle the stress put on them. He explained that all tires manufactured in the United States have a DOT number. The number on my tires was on the inside sidewalls. The last three or four digits in the number identify how old the tire is. Older tires used three digits. The first two identify the week of the year that the tire was built and the third identifies the year. Newer tires use four digits. So 3202 is the 32nd week of the year, and 02 is the year 2002. If you question the age of your tires, especially on a used RV, and you can't find the DOT number have them inspected by a qualified tire center.

Have you ever neglected rotate your tires and then one day suddenly notice that the front ones are worn out while the rear one look fine? Even out the wear, and extend the life of your tires by having the tires on your vehicle rotated on a regular basis.