Whether you’re about to go camping for the first time this year or the hundredth time, it’s still just as exciting! While we’re all ready to get back on the road, there’s a long list of to-do’s when it comes to the perfect trip. From packing all your gear to planning your favorite activities, there's a lot to prepare and look forward to. But your trip is just as important as your destination, so your motorhome’s safety should be at the top of your list.
How long do RV tires last? How can I tell when it’s time to replace them? We will answer these and any other questions you have about replacing RV tires so that you can relax and enjoy the adventures ahead!
- How Do I Know My RV Tires Need Replacing? - How Do You Maintain and Preserve RV Tires? - How Do You Choose an RV Tire? What Makes a Good Trailer Tire? - RV & Trailer Tire Recommendations - Where Can I Get My RV Serviced?
There are three main things that will tell you if your RV tires need replacing: Damage, wear, and age.
Damaged tires are the most obvious sign that your tire needs replacing. You’ll want to frequently check your tires for bulges, cuts, debris (like nails or screws) lodged in the tread, anything lodged between dual tires, and other irregularities.
NOTE: Signs of tire damage may not show up immediately after an incident (like running over a large piece of debris). Damage may end up presenting itself later. So it’s important that all tires be checked, especially inside duals.
While you may not use your RV enough to wear down your tires, lack of use over time makes dry rot damage more probable.
Dry rot is the cracking along the tire’s sidewall that can result from excessive sun exposure, heat, and low inflation. However, all of these issues can be prevented with proper storage and care.
In addition, RV owners can combat dry rot by cleaning the tires before storage with a mild, water-based cleaner, and following up with more cleaning the longer the tires are stored.
The next thing to consider when deciding whether it’s time to replace your RV tires is how long you’ve had them. The average motorhome tire life expectancy is five to seven years.
If your tires are within or beyond that window, you should consider replacing them.
NOTE: Tires age even more quickly if they’re not regularly used! Even if your tires have only made a few trips over the past 5-7 years, they are most likely “aged out” and should be replaced.
If your tires are not five years old yet, but you are noticing wear, it’s possible that they may need to be replaced. In addition to keeping an eye on your tire’s wear, make sure you are also checking the tread. If your tires lose their tread or wear unevenly, you could be putting yourself in a dangerous situation by continuing to drive on them.
The minimum tread depth to replace your RV tires is 4/32nd in the front and 2/32nd in the rear. However, due to the weight and cost of RV/trailers, most owners opt to replace their tires sooner. If you’re not what your tread depths are, stop by your local Wonderland Tire!
It’s no surprise that poorly made tires and aged tires are more likely to blowout. However, there are other factors contributing to tire failure, like underinflation, overloading, excessive heat, unseen tire damage, uneven distribution of weight, and more.
The biggest cause of RV tire blowouts is underinflation. When tires aren’t properly inflated, the side of the tire will flex under the stress of driving and generate excessive heat. That heat is what leads to most tire blowouts.
To lower the risk of a blowout, buy reliable tires, use the following maintenance list below, and have your RV tires serviced and inspected by professionals.
If you will be on the road for an extended trip, you may want to preemptively change your RV tires. This not only gives you peace of mind but ensures that you won’t have to interrupt your trip or change your tires in an unfamiliar place.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Your RV is a huge investment that you don’t want to put at risk. In addition to causing damage to your RV, you could also be putting yourself and your family at risk by delaying your tire replacement.
If you have any doubts about the readiness of your RV tires, get them checked by a professional.
We recommend that you check up on your RV tires periodically throughout the year, whether it's camping season or not. Maintaining your RV tires includes:
- Checking your RV tire’s pressure - Your RV tires’ pressure can’t be checked by eyeballing it. Make sure to get them checked professionally or by using a tire pressure gauge before any trips. - Rotating and balancing your RV tires - These services extend your tires’ life by slowing tread wear, preventing uneven wear patterns, and ensuring your ride is free of vibration and tire-related stress. - Maintaining safe driving habits - It’s important to avoid driving over potholes and road debris. And to prevent further damage to your tires, avoid running up on the curb when parking and driving on tires that are underinflated. While the damage may not be visible, these things can ruin an RV tire. - Avoiding tire overload - To further maintain your tires, don’t overload them when using your motorhome. Overloading can cause a handful of issues including premature tire wear, tire blowouts, overheated brakes, and more.
At Wonderland Tire, we provide these services for your RV and trailer tires, as well as a wide range of recreational vehicle tires!
While your motorhome is being stored away for the season, it still requires care. In the months that you aren’t using it, it should be stored in dry, cool conditions out of direct sunlight. Being exposed to excessive sunlight leads to cracking, dry rot, and other deterioration of the tires’ treads and sidewalls. To slow UV related damage, protective tire covers can be used.
You should also check your tire pressures around once a month while in storage, especially because that pressure can be lost in colder months.
Every RV is different. This means you’ll want to look at your owner’s manual to determine what tire to choose based on your vehicle’s size, weight, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, speed ratings, and more.
NOTE: You might not want to mindlessly replace your motorhome’s tires with the same brand and model of tire as your current ones, because they might not provide a sufficient margin of safety when loaded to the maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
When choosing an RV tire, it’s important to look for one that can sustain its weight. Your recreational vehicle has its own weight (which varies by model) plus the passengers and all of the equipment and luggage you’re taking along. All added weight should be accounted for and factor into your tire choice. Overloaded tires are a huge safety risk and are one of the top causes of tire blowouts.
With that in mind, three important factors to consider when you’re buying new RV tires are tire type, tire weight rating, and size.
A good trailer tire should be able to withstand high heat levels. They should also be able to handle speed changes, changing road conditions, and heavy loads. Most trailer or ST (Special Trailer) tires have thick construction as well as a high-speed rating.
There are two types of trailer tires: Radial and Diagonal bias tires.
Radial tires have rubber-coated steel cables which run perpendicularly across the tire. These tires perform better over long distances as they can withstand high heat and have better fuel efficiency. They have a tread life of around 40,000 miles.
A radial tire’s ability to provide a softer ride makes it the best option for RV drivers who want to take longer trips or plan to use their RVs more often. However, they’re often more expensive.
Diagonal bias tires heave nylon textile cords layered in a crossing pattern at 30-degree angles. This makes their sidewalls stronger and capable of handling more significant weight loads than radial tires. These tires perform well over shorter distances as well as off-road. Diagonal bias tires have a tread life of around 12,000 miles.
In other words, a bias tire is better at handling the pressure of heavier loads, but you’ll need to replace it more often than a radial. Many RV owners who tow large fifth wheels or trailers have bias tires, especially those who take shorter trips or adventures on rough back roads.
The tire weight rating and size often go hand in hand. When choosing RV tires, it’s best to check your RV’s owner's manual beforehand. It will tell you the recommended tire size for your particular recreational vehicle.
It’s important that you follow this guideline because the tires you buy have to be able to properly handle the weight you’re going to carry. And if you buy a tire that isn’t rated for the weight you’re going to be putting on it, it’s not only going to wear out faster, it also has a greater chance of blowing out.
Class A motorhome OEM placards are usually near the driver’s seat and will guide you on which tires you will need. They can support between 15k and 30k pounds and fit a 40-foot RV.
Class C motorhome tires can support between 10k and 12k pounds and fit a 20-30 foot RV.
Class B is the smallest class of motorhome tires. They can support between 6k and 8k pounds and fit RVs that are between 17 and 19 feet long.
Our recommendation would be the Carlisle Radial Trail HD. This radial tire is “designed with a unique tread pattern that wears evenly over time.”
Tire highlights include:
- Can withstand high heat - Puncture resistant - Low rolling resistance
This tire is good for boats, cargo, horse and livestock, RV, towable utility, and specialty trailers.
Our recommendation would be the Goodyear Endurance Trailer Tire. This tire is built using Durawall® technology and scuff guard sidewall protection which allows it to withstand wear and resist punctures. This means it tends to have a longer lifespan.
Wonderland Tire has 10 locations across Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana to service your RV tire needs. Our expert technicians can help you with Class A motorhome tire services, Class B motorhome tire services, and Class C motorhome tire services, as well as finding the proper RV and trailer tires.
If you are looking for RV tire services in Northern Michigan, West Michigan, the Chicago area, or Northern Indiana, Wonderland Tire can help you with same-day service.
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