In Part 1 of the importance of RV tire maintenance, I discussed air pressure based on actual RV loading and regular visual inspection of your RV tires. In Part 2, I covered tire pressure monitor systems, what to do with RV tires that are stored or sit static for months during full-time RV living or storage, DOT codes on tires and a discussion of when to replace RV tires.
In Part 3 of this series, I will address tire dressings, possible causes of abnormal tire wear and selecting replacement tires for your RV.
Applying RV tire dressings
There are many opinions about what and what not to apply when it comes to tire dressings. Most people seem to like to have their RV tires shine. Sure, it looks good, but most of the products people apply (including RV dealerships) only attract dust and dirt.
I have done lots of research on this topic. I had Michelin XRV tires on my Freightliner medium-duty truck. I checked with Michelin, and they sold a product that was water-based and contained no petroleum distillates or alcohol. These seem to be the two big offending ingredients in tire dressing products.
The product Michelin used to put their name on was called 3-in-1 Tire Shine. I bought a few bottles, and it did a good job of keeping the tires black, but not shiny. It was a water-based UV protector. For some reason, they stopped marketing it.
When I needed more of that product and found out that Michelin no longer sold it, I got a tire dealer to tell me that 303 Aerospace protectant was a close formulation to the Tire Shine.
I am a believer of applying something to tires to aid in the UV protection. I used the Michelin Tire Shine and then the 303 protectants on my Michelin tires for six years. Those tires had no sidewall checking and looked as good as the day I bought them when I traded the truck. The tired could probably have been used for a few more years, according to the Michelin tire specialists.
When my current Michelin and Chinese trailer tires start to get that brownish color to them, I apply the 303 protectant, and it brings back the black color to the sidewalls. They do not have a shiny finish to them, just a deep black color. And it does last for a while. I usually clean and apply this product to my tires once a month. We do move our RV frequently, so that does help my RV tires last longer due to tire heating and flexing.
Abnormal tire wear
If maintained with the correct tire pressure for the measured load, RV tires should wear normally with even tread wear. Of course, tire rotation (if recommended by the RV manufacturer) can also help to assure even wear.
If abnormalities start to show up in your RV tires' wear pattern, it might be necessary to check with the motorhome chassis manufacturer for alignment specs that could assist a certified tire dealership in correcting possible issues.
A feathered wear pattern on the front tires typically indicates misalignment (toe-in or toe-out). Sometimes a radial tire will not have this wear pattern unless the toe condition is severe. Instead of the feathered edge wear, the tire will be worn on the inside or outside shoulder, which could be confused with camber wear.
On a three-axle RV, a skewed rear axle and tag could cause feathered edge wear on one shoulder of one front tire and feathered edge on the opposite shoulder of the other front tire. To correctly diagnose a tire wear condition, the motorhome should have the alignment checked at all wheel positions.
Camber wear, also known as edge wear, shows up on the inside or outside shoulders of the tread. Wear on the inside edge of both tires may be due to negative camber or toe-out, a misalignment. If only one tire shows edge wear, check for worn kingpin bushings, bent or worn steering components or excessive positive camber. For solid beam axles, excessive camber can result from axle overload.
If correct pressure and proper alignment are both continually maintained, tire rotation may never be needed. However, in other cases, tire rotation may be needed to help even out wear patterns caused by alignment, under inflation, or free-rolling wear problems.
Selecting replacement RV tires
The most important decision an RV owner can make is the replacement of tires when they are beyond their useful life. This can be because of the tires' age or that the tread is worn. Remember, the National Transportation and Safety Board recently stated tires that are six years old should be replaced.
The best way to replace your RV's tires is to match the RV tires it came with. The original RV tires are matched for load rating, tire diameter, speed rating and the width of the tire. A major consideration for dual axles is the tire width. If an incorrect tire is chosen, the dual tire spacing could cause the tires to kiss during travel. This could weaken the tire sidewall over time.
Also, choosing a tire with a higher load rating and increased tire pressure might sound like a good idea. But is the rim the tire will be mounted on able to handle the increased pressure? It is best to consult a professional when making changes to the specs of your RV's tires.
In conclusion, please don't neglect your RV's tires. A little regular maintenance and checking of tire pressure before travel can assure that you will not be delayed reaching your destination due to a tire-related issue.
