A lot rides on the well-being of your tires, not the least of which, your own well-being and that of all who share the road with you. Tires are the unsung heroes of road safety and vehicle performance. As the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, their maintenance is paramount for ensuring safety, efficiency, and longevity. Yet, tire care is often overlooked or underestimated by many drivers. Understanding the importance of tire maintenance can significantly enhance driving experiences and prevent potentially dangerous and life-threatening situations on the road. Below, I will go through three tips for proper tire maintenance to help extend their life, and hopefully protect yours, as tire blowouts are dangerous and can cause devastating damage.
Tip 1– Cover those tires: I’ve seen so many people leave their shiny new rigs, with shiny new tires, to boil away in the sun that it is truly heartbreaking. The sun, and its UV in particular, is the ultimate destroyer of all things. UV radiation, emitted by the sun, is a potent force that can wreak havoc on various materials, including rubber. Tires, predominantly composed of rubber compounds, are susceptible to UV degradation, particularly in regions with intense sunlight exposure or for vehicles frequently parked outdoors. The effects of UV damage on tires manifest in several ways, each posing unique risks to safety and performance.
Tire manufacturers have spent great sums of money researching the best additives to include in their tire-making compounds to help protect from UV damage, while keeping tires operating at peak performance. But no amount of additives will overcome the brutal attack imposed by the constant assault of UV that a typical stationary RV tire receives. Even more so than your car, which at least moves on occasion, an RV’s use-case generally involves a modest amount of driving followed by extended periods of no movement. During that time, the sun is beating on those tires from a constant angle, all day, every day. And unless you park-hop from fancy-park to fancy-park, chances are your rig is not parked on concrete but on soft-earth materials like dirt, grass, or even gravel. These surfaces degrade tires even faster, by allowing for higher moisture buildup, increasing the wear on your tires and reducing their lifespan.
This is why I always advise that you cover all tires on your RV, no matter what type of vehicle you have (motorhome, fifth-wheel, trailer, van, bus, or monster-truck!). And if you keep an RV stationary for months at a time, consider parking it on a more solid surface (not directly on grass, dirt, etc). Tires are tasked with carrying thousands of pounds of weight, under extreme temperatures and at high rates of speed. The more you can aid in preserving their designed structure and constituents the better.
Tire covers vary in size, materials, and longevity. Look for covers that properly match the size for your tires, allowing for full coverage of the tire while hugging it firmly and is attached in such a way as to survive strong winds. You don’t want to lose your cool new covers as the wind will find a way to launch them and send you on a fruitless, if not comical, recovery snipe hunt. And while gold-plated, super-platinum, giga-rated tire covers are generally unnecessary here, do look for ones that claim a certain level of UV and moisture protection, as they will be the first line of defense against weather and the sun’s damaging effects. Most UV treated vinyl or polyurethane covers with a soft material backing are sufficient and should provide several years of use. I do consider covers sacrificial consumables but saving a few bucks now on covers you’ll need to replace in a year or two is not a cost effective (not to mention wasteful) use of resources.
Tip 2– Check tire pressure: Tire pressure is another often overlooked, but critically important factor, in tire maintenance. Improperly inflated tires compromise vehicle stability, traction, and braking performance, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in adverse weather conditions. Even a few pounds of under-inflation can cause a tire to overheat under stress, and coupled with the additional factors above, even burst. Many people feel checking their tires “every once in a while” is fine. And while that may (or may not) be OK for your car, that is NOT OK for an RV. As already stated, an RV tire is subjected to much more stress than the average automobile, with significant amounts of weight, heat, and strain. Moreover, underinflated tires have a detrimental effect on vehicle performance and fuel efficiency. When tires are not properly inflated, they create more rolling resistance, causing the engine to work harder to propel the vehicle forward. This not only decreases fuel efficiency but also accelerates tire wear and increases mechanical stress on other vehicle components, such as the suspension and braking systems. Over time, the cumulative effects of under-inflation can lead to decreased vehicle performance, higher maintenance costs, and reduced overall lifespan.
Ever noticed how (good) truck drivers will often take a mallet or stick and walk around their vehicle hitting each tire a few times? They do that to (in a very rudimentary way) check their inflation level. The theory being a properly filled tire will have a certain resonance, and if all the tires sound the same, save for one or two, then the driver knows they’ve got a problem with those specific tires. Quaint as that is, a truck driver might “get away” with that as a test since they’re constantly on the move and have a maintenance schedule that far exceeds that of most RVs. They’ll go through more tires in a year, then some folks will see during the entire lifecycle of their vehicle.
The rest of us, however, will want to use a tire pressure gauge to measure the actual inflation pressure at least once a month, and before each trip. Refer to the tire manufacturer’s recommendations for the correct cold-fill tire pressure and stick to it. Remember, even a few pounds can make a big difference. But that seems like a lot of work to me, and I will most likely forget to do so as we pack up and eagerly head to a new site. This is why I always advise RVers invest in a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). A TPMS is a very handy gadget that has sensors, each attached to individual tire valve-stems, and a central console that receives air pressure and temperature data from the sensors. The central console tracks each tire, in real time, and reports if any tire is under/over inflated before departure, and if a tire is losing pressure or running hot during a drive. A device like this can alert a driver before an annoying situation turns into a life-threatening one.
There are many types of aftermarket TMPSes and honestly I think most are basically the same. For ease and convenience, you will want sensors that mount on the valve stem (vs inside the tire). Sensors that allow for “flow through” have a fill-valve that offers a bit more convenience when it’s time to top off a tire, but I’ve found them more fragile than ones that require removal to fill. Again, I would not buy the absolute cheapest model, but look for a reasonably priced one that is easy to configure, gives you an easy-to-read display, can be operated without being plugged in, uses user-replaceable batteries in the sensors, and has mounting options that match what’s available in your vehicle.
Tip 3– Condition those tires: Doing the above will go a long way in keeping your tires safe and healthy. But no matter how diligent you are about it, tires age, as all things do, no matter what. That aging is often accelerated by dirty tires. Yes, dirt is bad for tires. It may well be a badge of honor for some off-roading enthusiasts, but dirt and grime and general detritus on your tires will allow pockets of moisture to form causing not only uneven aging but also facilitating rot. Moisture can accelerate rubber degradation and corrosion of metal components within the tire. Tire rot (caused by excessive moisture building in and around the tire) is a cancer to tires and can sometimes go unseen until it’s too late.
This is why I always recommend RVers keep their tires reasonably clean, and to apply a tire protectant on a regular schedule. UV damage can cause discoloration and fading of tire surfaces. While this may seem purely cosmetic, discoloration often indicates underlying chemical changes in the rubber compounds. UV radiation breaks down the molecular bonds within the rubber, causing it to become brittle and less flexible. Discolored or faded tires are not only less aesthetically pleasing but also more susceptible to punctures, abrasions, and other forms of damage. This is not about vanity or trying to have the shiniest tires on the block, it’s about restoring (some of) the plasticizers and UV protectants that help keep your tires healthy.
I avoid “Shiny Tire, Armor Nothing” products, that actually cause more problems than they ever fix. All you need is a mild soap solution (I use diluted Dawn dish soap) to clean off the dirt, rinse it clean, and allow it to dry. Then apply a proper tire protectant, as instructed. A product I’ve had great luck with is 303 Products Protectant. This is not intended as simply a vanity dressing but is formulated to penetrate the tire surface and extend the UV protection there, while helping keep the tire supple and flexible. Bonus tip: I also use it on the tire covers themselves, to help extend their life. It’s also quite useful on any plastic, vinyl, or rubber exposed to the sun. I must admit I’m not as good about reapplying this regularly as I should, but this stuff simply works well, and is stone-simple to apply and maintain.
Finally—Replace those tires: While this is not a tip per se, and is a bit more controversial and thus why I don’t list it as absolutely necessary, it is important. Even with the above, tires will get old, rot, and eventually fail. This is simply a fact. The primary factor is to reasonably reduce the risk and likelihood of that happening, as much as possible, over the usable life of a tire. This is why tires have a date-code stamped on them. This is the date the tire was manufactured and there to inform the driver of the finite lifespan these marvelous and often underappreciated objects have. Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing your tires within 7-10 years, no matter how much wear is actually on the tread. Tires degrade over time, regardless of tread wear, due to factors such as exposure to sunlight, ozone, and temperature fluctuations. Certain types of tires, such as spare tires or those used infrequently, may need replacement even sooner due to accelerated aging. While a dry-rotted, cracking, and worn tire might seem to be obvious, sometimes the age of a tire causes problems that are not visible at the surface.
(c) UTires.com
While I might accept a longer service period out of tires I’ve purchased and maintained myself, I would NOT accept that from an RV I purchase used. When we got our rig, the tires installed on it were ~8 years old and honestly looked “really good”. But one of the first things I did when we acquired it was to replace all six (very expensive) tires, immediately. Why? Because I had zero idea how these tires were actually maintained. They may look OK, but not knowing how they were maintained, where they kept, how they were stored, etc., etc. added way too many variables for me to risk rolling on them. While operating a 25,000# missile at high speeds, the last thing I ever want to happen is to lose any tire doing so, and least of all one of the front steer-tires. Purchasing new tires was a costly add-on to the cost of the vehicle, but I consider it quite cheap insurance for peace of mind over an essential piece of equipment.
(c)
Conclusion: Tires are often unsung heroes of the road. Most people underestimate their needs and undervalue their importance –until the worst happens. In a car, a blowout might be a mere nuisance to your day (although, I argue that even in a car a blowout is a big f’n deal), but in an RV it is often quite dangerous, with catastrophic results for both you and the people who share the road with you. I urge you to spend a few minutes inspecting your tires before your next trip, and to implement a regular maintenance routine that allows you to keep them healthy, safe, and performing well. Always make sure they’re kept at their specified cold-fill pressure and routinely inspect tires for cuts, bulges, cracks, or other signs of damage that may compromise safety or performance. While UV damage may be an invisible threat, its consequences are tangible and far-reaching. Taking proactive steps to protect tires from UV radiation is essential for ensuring a smooth and safe journey on the road.
