Many things can impact the lifespan of your RV tires including:
- how often you drive your RV
- how long you store it
- the type of climate you live in
- what types of cleaning products you use on your tires
You may have heard that you should replace your RV tires after several years even if you haven’t used your RV much.
But that statement has a lot of tribal knowledge in it, because even Goodyear doesn’t give a specific time frame for replacing their RV tires.
In addition, Michelin says,
It is impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their calendar age alone.
With a little know-how and proper care, you may be able to safely extend the lifespan of your tires out to a decade.
How to Get Maximum Life From Your RV Tires
In order to make your RV tires last as long as possible, it’s important to consider the following:
- don’t store your RV for longer than six months at a time
- use your RV as frequently as possible
- don’t excessively wash your tires or use alcohol or petroleum-based cleaners
- ensure your tires are always properly inflated – even when your RV is in storage
If you follow these four guidelines, your tires will likely avoid an early death.
Eventually though, you’re going to need to replace your RV tires. To determine when, measure the following two items.
Tread Depth
A tire’s tread is the raised outer portion of a tire that makes contact with the road. It’s this surface that’s responsible for gripping the pavement, allowing you to steer and safely drive without sliding off the road.
If a tread on one of your RV tires is less than 6/32″ deep, you’ll probably need to replace it. Take your RV to the shop and have the suspect tire checked.
Size of Cracks
Sidewall cracking on RV tires is both normal and expected. It happens on ALL brands of tires, so don’t believe anybody if they tell you differently.
You should look to replace your tires if cracks in the sidewall are greater than 2/32″ deep.
Watch this video to see how TheRVgeeks successfully used the original set of RV tires on their motorhome for almost ten years.
httpv://youtu.be/X7scHIvjyBk
Additional Resources:
Goodyear RV Tire and Care Guide
Michelin RV Tire Care Guide
Sources: Goodyear RV Tires, Michelin RV Tires, and TheRVgeeks
