RV Tire Maintenance and Fatal Mistakes
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Maintaining your RV tires should be one of the highest priorities when living life on the road or just travelling for the weekend. RVs are heavy vehicles that can easily get out of control if a tires blows out. There are other potential fatalities lurking in poor management of your RV tires. Make sure to follow the advice in this video to stay safe!
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The biggest reason for tire blow outs on RV's or campers is the age of the tire. Most RV's sit more then drive, so even though it may have lots of tread on it, most likely, the tires are getting old. Also, old tires have trouble with speed. You should keep it at 55mph or slower if you have old tires. I wouldn't worry to much about the inside tire. The crown of the road doesn't make much difference, especially for vehicles that don't get driven that much. The main thing when running duels is tire pressure. Before any road trip, check your tires. If you've been sitting a while, check your tire pressure. Having the weight of the vehicle on your tires for extended periods isn't a problem. They might be a little rough when starting a road trip (especially if its cold) but that will go away when they warm up a little from driving.
I have 18 tires to worry about now. I drive about 8000 miles a month. The biggest thing is tire pressure, then age. In my case, I ware them out in about 2 years, so age isn't a problem. lol
I bought my RV in Montana, drove it to California, and put on about another 1000 miles on it when I had a tire blow out. After the second tire blew out, I replaced them all. I drove it every day going someplace. Sometimes cross state lines.
Everything I'm telling you is from personal experience. I'm a firm believer in quality tires. Never settle for cheep or recaps. Oh, and stick to Made In USA tires. Non USA tires are hit and miss when it comes to quality.
Just my two cents worth from my 1M + miles driven.
What's going on here, I'm Roger Dickinson and didn't do the prior post.Anyway, low pressure is the #1 cause of blowouts and there are a couple of offshore brands that are fine.Nothing wrong with recaps on the drives but go to new on the steers.
@Ok Then - My understanding is that they should be replaced every 3 to 5 years, and to err on the side of caution, one should replace every 3 years if possible.
Don't ever lose that smile, your a pleasure to listen to.
+down under thanks
Thank you,,i'm a new owner and I was about to put my gas tank in the bottom ,,right next to the tires and I didn't even think about that ,,,so I really appreciate you info. Keep smiling and be safe.
+Rodrigo Cat Good save. Happy and safe travels!
Nice presentation. My dad has owned his tire, retread, alignment store over 50 years and I'm the guy who goes out, crawls under, jacks up replaces tires when they blow out on the road. That particular brand which starts with a G was original equipment new to the vehicle and was just a horribly designed tire prone to failure... tread separation or delamination. Where the tread just lifts causing failure usually in hot weather. Air pressure monitors can give you piece of mind but can be a headache when centrifugal force of the tire wheel assembly loosens and causes air loss. I would skip the air pressure monitors and stay with Michelin, Bridgestone or BF Goodrich tires. Check regularly by thumping them with a bar or hammer like truckers do. If they sound differently you'll know one is low on air or has a nail. You are a special person, great dancer and I wish you all the best.
Great advice! Thank you :)
Many truck tires are retreads which are notorious for separating. On a semi with 18 wheels it's not as big of a deal as it is with an RV that only as 6 tires. Loosing a front tire at highway speeds can be extremely dangerous. Excellent advice on the tires. This is a very important subject for RVers to understand and stay on top of. When it comes to tires invest in the best. It could save your life or that of another driver.
Thanks Rick, good advice too.
Pippi, I just stumbled on a few of your RV videos and I just want to say "great job!" for taking the time to educate yourself about RV issues like tire care, roof maintenance, etc. These are complicated machines and you are doing yourself a big favor by taking the time to really figure things out right. Good job! :)
Thanks!
Every RV owner needs to see this video. Excellent video. Thank you, I learned more about tires.
This is the best in-a-nutshell information on RV tires I am aware of. I was too poor to buy new tires, so I got good used ones that were worn, yet only a few years old for a fraction of the cost of new. I am more concerned with the time the tires will be 'good' rather than tread wear. From my research, sitting one place, the moisture in the air in the tire infiltrates the casing, and rusts weakens the steel belt. My used tires came off a three quarter ton pick up that was a daily driver, so the tires only experienced light duty. I believe it is better to do this, than run around with tires that appear to be good, yet are older than 7 years.
Thanks Jorn, it'd good info to spread :)
This is why tire monitors are worth the money. You can see pressures and temperatures.
exactly
yes indeedie===was my 1st purchase
Informative job Pippi. I just returned from a trip, starting in Houston, TX and going round trip to the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S. Dakota. I tried to check and double check as much as time allowed, but it turned out to be a "Murphy's Law" episode. I took my diesel toy hauler rig out of town 2 weeks before as a test run, for all except a load with 2 Harleys in the garage compartment. All went smooth. On the actual fully loaded trip, I got as far as Amarillo and had a blowout . You are right, the rear axle - passenger side ( inside tire) went out with a BANG ! It was in the upper 90's, driving for the better part of the day. Fortunately, I pre-trained on tire replacement, had a compact compressor, breaker bar with heavy duty socket, 2 ton floor jack, and a change of clothes. I got to it, since I would have lost at least 4 hours waiting for roadside rescue. My buddy said he was amazed at what I did. Once done, I drove to the next closest town and bedded down for the night in the parking lot of a truck tire warehouse. Bought a set of 4 new tires, mounted, and rough balanced, and headed to Colorado. Next day as crap would happen, I started having fuel issues, couldn't go over 65 MPH without bogging down. Had to finish the trip doing 60 MPH. We did ride our HOGS through the sites, Devils Tower , Rushmore, and Badlands. Made it home safe and now have done plenty of homework, ordering new fuel filters, 2 new meats for the front axle, and wheel balancing rings. My work is cut out for me, but my rig lost its virginity, and I learned plenty of lessons. Carry extras, filter, fan belt, water, fuel canister, spare, and TOOLS. Do you want to join us for the next adventure ? The CRAFTSMAN369....... JK
We had some trouble on our trip down to Florida this year... One of the valve stems was leaking on an inside tire, we stopped several times to check it, while in Florida we could not find anyone that had a jack that could lift an RV... So long story short we went to a place called.... Business plug.... "Tire King" we was not able to get in for several days.. Scary huh? The day we finally was able to get in was the day we was leaving, the repair was not to expensive, they were awesome. I am such a worrier that just this piece of mind made the trip home more relaxing..
You've done some good research.
Many don't realize that tires can sit for a period of time, sometimes years, and some states have no "requirement" for how old of a tire you can be sold. Owning performance cars, thus using good performance tires, you must pay attention to these things. With an RV however, due to the nature of use, often they may sit for periods of time, and "regular use" is actually helping tire life.
The jacks being extended does help, however the intermittent use will reduce the life due to "heat cycling".
The tire manufacturer is always the best place to go for recommendations, and in ANY application, it is really recommended to replace in no more than 7 years from what I've read in many places, especially re-treads, and these may need replace sooner on limited use.
I agree re-threads are a horror..I have been next to a big rig when their tire de laminated and it was so dangerous.Not to mention how many times I almost drove over a tire shred laying in the road.One of the reasons I no longer drive my RV at night after dark.Good advice Pippi as always.Most people are clueless about tire dangers and I am glad you are Doing these videos. Thanks.
Thanks Jimmy. Good tip about driving at night :)
How Tire can be serious hazard if not taken care of, in this video you explained all the necessary details in a very clear way, especially DoT specifications. Thanks for that. This is one of the best informative video.
Oh man!! An exploding tire can cause incredible damage. I had the right rear tire explode on a car I once owned. The force was so great that it took out the rear quarter glass and wedged the passenger door shut. Never opened again. Good stuff Pippi. Thanks.
Holy cow. Be careful!
Thanks Pipi, I watched your tire video today and after seeing the damage it can do I decided to gat new tires on out 99 motorhome. The tires were 8 years old. I got new tires and good thing I did. We found a big split on one tire that looks like it was about to go. Big thanks I think you saved us a big repair bill or worse!
Yay, I'm so happy to hear this and glad you guys are safe on the roads now! :D
When I had my blowout in my 2000 Bounder 36s Motorhome, it was the inside right rear tire. Never knew that was the most vunerable tire. Thanks for that info. I am getting ready to go on the road again after being in one place for two years. Definitely checking all systems and all tires.
Best of luck Doris! Happy trails :)
Hi Pippi, Thanks for putting this info out there, it is much needed. A couple of comments on some of your suggestions. If the tires on the same axel have different weights on them (axel end) always inflate both tires to the weight of the heavest tire, NEVER inflate tires on the same axel at different pressures. Also, the Max psi on the manufactures sticker or the Federal Data Plate indicates MAX psi at MAX load, that is why it is so important to weight the coach and inflate to the weight of the coach. I loved your discription of why the inside passenger tire will wear or blow first. If you notice the max psi of a dual dual tire is less than that of a single tire even if the tires are the same. That is because of the reason you gave, as well as instances wher one dual goes over a pot hole and the other doesen't hence carrying all the weight. You can see this info and all the manufactures tire inflation tables on my website www.rvweigh.com Keep up the good work.
Thanks Stephen
Thanks for your wisdom in regards of tire accident prevention on RVs. It gave me insight on this matter. Keep it up. Blessings
Thanks, Pippi, for another very informative video.
I actually learned a few new things. My tires only
have 10,000 miles on them but I know I have to
replace them since they're on a 2007 Winnebago.
Someone suggested having tire pressure monitors
installed. They are well worth the minor expense.
Yes, those might be a good investment :)
We just got all new tires. Was well worth it. Discount Tire, great warranty.
I had to replace 4 out of 6 tires on my RV just after purchasing it due to the age of the tires. I also found that the max tire load exceeded the max axle load on the front axle. After shifting weight to the rear and doing everything else I could think of, I had to remove the over cab drop down bunk in order to get the axle load within safe specs-just barely though. It's a design flaw to be aware of, I think. Thanks Pippi for another great video with lots of good info! You're awesome!
+clyde alspaugh Wow, they don't always make it all logical don't they. Thanks for watching and sharing
I was sitting here listening to Pippi talking and I drifted off into a day dream of me sitting on the couch in the rv listening to her explaining to me about tires while she was making me lunch. :)
Always check tire pressure. To low and the tire heats up and detonates.
Watch for tread separation too. Learn the signs.
We roll with AAA premier insurance with trailer/MC/boat coverage.
Use it once over 200 miles towing and it pays for itself for the next 10 years.
We used it twice last year and our stuff is new.
hiya hun, I have been watching vids for years leading up to my getting my tiny motorhome, ( I wanted to be prepared for all the renovations but your vids have taught me so much more than all of the others put together. The say, " How to" but they dont actually show us how. Your vids are perfect. Especially love this one on what to look for on tyre safety. Thank you so much, love from sher in England :)
You bet, Sher. I'm happy to hear it. Happy trails! :D
Great Video and Suggestions! As you and other folks have pointed out some good reasons for tire failure are the Tire Pressure. I use a Tire Monitor similar to most modern cars. This lets me KNOW the tire pressure, but more importantly the tire TEMPERATURE. When the tires get up around 120° and beyond. As they do in a Texas summer. You run the risk of blow outs. The tire temp. can reach the critical 120° number in just 100 miles. These tire monitors are so sensitive. That just by looking at the temp. difference between left and right sides. You can tell which side of the RV the sun is shining on. As you move down the road. I highly recommend getting a set for any RV.
THIS VIDEO addresses one of the most important thing about living ON THE ROAD . . how to save your life.
Moral of the story #1 fender well reinforcement (roll cage with liner) and #2 slow down.
45 mph instead of 65 will add 13 hours to a 2,000 mile trip and reduce chance of fatality greatly. How much time is life worth?
PS : When people see an larger vehicle moving slower they generally quickly adjust rather than honking, yelling, etc if it is another "car/light truck" that's going slow.
Driving 20 mph under the flow of traffic will cause backups and possibly accidents. By becoming a road hazard you are simply offloading your risk onto innocent strangers behind you.
Markle2k
I disagree, See original comment.
[[ When people see an larger vehicle moving slower they generally quickly adjust rather than honking, yelling, etc if it is another "car/light truck" that's going slow. ]]
Also, everyone assumes their own risk when they use the public road.
Everyone on the road can be a hazard so attempting to draw a distinction about who or what creates a hazard is very subjective.
When the conduct you engage in is legal -- others on the road have accepted that risk by being on the road.
Everyone has the same right to use the road if they are using the road lawfully.
***** I'm basing my statement on actual studies by actual traffic engineers. Speed differential is the killer. It's like the old saying,"it's not the fall that'll kill you, it's the sudden stop at the end". You are advocating a 30 percent velocity differential between you and everyone else.
And as I stated, even if your personal risk is reduced by that 30 feet of chassis behind you despite being a collision hazard, you are increasing the risk to everyone behind you. It's not "everyone assuming their own risk". It's you deliberately choosing to elevate the risk of your fellow travelers.
You may wish to absolve yourself of this debtor risk, but it doesn't change the reality.
And speaking of lawfully, it is illegal in many localities to drive significantly slower than traffic on limited-access roadways.
Markle2k I still disagree :-0)
RE:[[ “Speed differential is the killer.” ]]
Exactly the reason to drive SLOWER. And
I am not saying that speed differential is not a factor in risk (quite the opposite).
The question is WHOSE risk and WHOSE responsibility.
EVERYONE creates risk to OTHERS by merely making an appearance on the road.
OTHERS on the road implicitly(by law) ACCEPT that risk onto themselves.
The only risk that not accepted is that of illegal behavior causing actual harm.
RE: [[ “It's you deliberately choosing to elevate the risk of your fellow travelers.” ]]
That’s a red herring. That’s like saying that by choosing to use the road at all, you are choosing to elevate the risk of your fellow travelers.
There are many similar examples I could give to show the absurd logic of that claim.
RE: “You may wish to absolve yourself of this debtor risk, but it doesn't change the reality.”
non sequitur. See above.
RE: [[ “And speaking of lawfully, it is illegal in many localities to drive significantly slower than traffic on limited-access roadways.” ]]
I am not advocating driving less than the legal minimum.
But most interstates (the norm for long distance travel) usually have a minimum set at 40.
***** You have a bad habit of blaming others for the consequences of your own actions. Forcing everyone else to conform to your own standards regardless of the facts makes your username look oxymoronic.
Holly cow! Boy you couldn't ask for a better visual as that RV. Too bad for the guy, I hope he can recover from the damage.
I recommend getting a truckers tire air gauge. they are longer and great to use on duallies. You can get them at T/A, Petro, Flying J, Pilot, Loves, and mom and pop truck stops as well.
Wowzer amount of information! I had no idea how much damage a blown tire causes. Looks like it pays to keep propane tanks well away from tires.
+Lana Hallock And furthermore keep your tires healthy and maintained.
Great Video! You are right about which tire may blowout first. The only blowout in the 23 yrs we have been driving Class A motorhomes was July 6, 2015 and it WAS THE REAR INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE.
Hopefully no more for another 23 years! :D
I've had 6 or 7 blowouts. Only one was the right rear inside. Please explain.
Had another one Sep 30 2016 (New Tires only 2,030 miles on tires) again Pass rear inside - took tire G670 245/70R to Ocala Goodyear Commercial tire & they sent it to Goodyear in Ga - Was able to get an adjustment and got new tire for $165 total price. Possible tire separation but frustrating that it's only happened twice and same location - again nothing for 23yrs then 2 years in a row.
Great vid Pippi. I purchased the wireless EEZ TIRE PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE MONITORING SYSTEM for around $360 with eight tire monitors (3/4 ton truck w/tandem TT). I quickly got tired of blowouts wrecking my wheel wells, fenders, etc. Won't ride without 'em.
Nice, thanks for sharing!
When I put new tires on my rig, the tire shop simply inflated them to the maximum rated PSI. I weighed my rig and adjusted the inflation to slightly over the manufacturer's recommendations for the weight on each axle. I get a bit smoother ride that way while being sure that they aren't under inflated.
Why do people down vote these kind of informative and good videos?
6 people have probably had tires blow up in their faces. :)
Pippi, You are a living doll. your presentation is precious. But listen sugar, after you get set up give yourself a moment to compose yourself and gain more control over breathing. this will make your presentation even more spectacular..!
I had that very tire you spoke about blow out on my rig last December on my way to Florida from Nashville, TN. I was lucky it didn't blow apart it just had a side wall failure and instantly went flat. It stayed intact. Now I've been replacing them a couple at a time as I can afford them...Hopefully have all new by the fall. Thanks for all you do out here. Definitely appreciate your insight...and you're cute as a button too... :-)
Enjoyed the video. Very important topic. Just FYI the tire pressure listed on the side of the tire is not a recommendation for inflation. It is the max pressure that tire is designed to hold. Manufacturers are supposed to place a sticker or placard somewhere on the vehicle detailing the recommended pressure based on what they created and its needs. Older vehicles may not have it, but in automobiles it is usually found in the drivers door jamb. I'm not sure where it is located on RVs.
Hey Portland,
Manufacturers "suggest" 10 years and toss them all - including the possibly unused spare! Rotate your tires, record the inflation of each to note possible trends, keep them protected from the sun with both a tire UV spray AND covers when practical, and lastly AVOID traveling (when possible) during the hottest parts of the day!
You "nailed" the tires~ lol.
>>>>>>>>Another very helpful winning video!!!
Read my tip below somewhere about a pad.
I kept those note pads with the tire pressures to keep track of those 18 tires I was sticking everyday! I do the same with my 6 but you and your 4, 6 or 10 tires on your rigs need to have their history handy for your own records.That way when sitting in the shop I can show him the history of the tire for the expert to fix and figure out why it loses air which isn't always through the stem and a question??? How many of you have a stem tool for tightening the valve inside the stem? Don't have one? Big Blue store in the bicycle section or auto section! $0.75 US can save you up to that $300 large car tire!
Maintenance on tires is not just stick it and ride! Next to checking the windshield fluid, drivers forget the most important thing on their ride! The things needed for it to roll on! That silly engine isn't that important as put the transmission in neutral and it'll roll! LOL!
Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!
Thanks! :D
Thanks for the tips! :D
a quick check thru the days travel - when you stop for fuel or a break slip your open hand between the duals .You should feel equal heat on both sides of your hand (warm not hot) The low tire will be warmer. The importance of "thumping" your tires(with a bar or hammer and listen for the same"ring" sounding from each tire ) during the PTI will save you a crappy day
Great tips, thanks!
good video. We saw a lot of blow outs yesterday on I 40 between Arizona and California. Check your tires people.
Yes...and rarely fatal.
Great video! When tires sit with weight on them for any length of time they develop a flat spot. The flat spot will work itself out on the road but you may damage the cords inside the tire or blow it out before this happens. Do your tires a favor and jack the vehicle up to keep the weight off of the tires. If you don’t do that at the very least move the RV/trailer just far enough to put the flat spots on top of the tires for at least 24 hours before you start your trip. Never buy tires made in China. Move valuables and dangerous items away from the storage areas near tires.Good luck!
Excellent tips, wish I'd acquired this knowledge last month before I bought all new tires.
Good info, thanks. Not sure about RVs, but a lot of big rigs use re-treads on their drive tires. Those need to be monitored even more carefully for proper inflation. You see pieces of them all over the Interstates.
Bounder is what you have and my Mom wanted...Pop and Mom ended up getting a 35 foot Dolphin back in 1987....still sort of rolling along...Ya needs tires !...Thanks...
The tires on my class a are the original tires from 1978. It's a 28,000 mile time capsule. I will be buying new tires before I drive it anywhere. Thanks for the informative videos, I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experiences as a full-timer.
High 5's from Jeremy and Jayce.
You bet, thanks for tuning in :)
WOW!...You definitely need to change those, you won't get far on them that is an accident waiting to happen. The rubber is probably dry as the Sahara desert and ready to blow any second. I would even be scared to kick those tires, that they might blow my face off. lol
Any tire past 6 years old should be replaced.
+Secret Benny I totally agree and they are on the top of my list of things to replace. I had to get the outside sealed up first, I live in Washington. I actually drove the RV 60 miles on surface streets to get it home when I originally purchased it. That was 25 mph, hazard lights on and my wife fallowing behind me in here car. It was intense I tell you. I made a few videos of the ole girl. If your into vintage stuff you should take a look at my channel.
Jayce and Jeremy's Adventures.
Yeah thanks i love vintage stuff. I'll definitely check out your video's and subscribe. I am just glad you made it alright driving 60 miles on those tires, but i guess at 25mph not much would happen if it did blow except maybe scare the crap out of you or anyone close. Just be really careful if you plan on adding air to those old tires, because it might really blow your face off. Stay safe out there my friend.
1. Always brand tires for rotation when newly installed. An arrow is great. 2. Never change the direction of a tire rotation when you repair or rotate tires. It will result in belt shift and cause blowouts like in the video. 3. Never buy used commercial tires as they have a poor history and may be installed in the wrong rotation. 4. Never, ever buy commercial retreads.All this info may save your life. I have many years of heavy equipment experience.
Thanks for the superb info!!
"Never change the direction of a tire rotation when you repair or rotate tires. It will result in belt shift and cause blowouts like in the video."
False.
This was really informative and not something I would have really thought of. I'm wanting to buy an rv (not sure if short A, B or C class) when my disability is finally approved. I really appreciate the helpful tips from you and a couple of other full timers. Thank you and stay safe! God bless you!
Class Bs are vans and most you can't stand fully upright in, unless your short. Class Cs are harder to get into the drivers seat from the inside. Class As are all flat. Don't know what your disability is but you might want to consider those points. Best of luck! :D
I had problems with 19.5 on the front always kept pressure at max as I was close to weight limit, finally went to 225/70-19.5 not as tall more expensive much higher weight limit and never had problems again!!
Great advice, thanks!
Story to share:
We were going South bound thru Nashville Tenn and at a bridge crossing there was a metal L bracket the state had purposely mounted on the bridge on each end for the expansion, when my back 4 tires on my bounder hit the bar- it blew all 4 tires. The tow truck driver said that bridge keeps him busy with RVS hitting that bridge metal piece. My air bags were low on air and my tires was maxed for traveling and I ended up paying tow driver $50 each for wore out tires, stayed all night in truck stop parking lot and then the next am going to a dealer and purchasing all new tires. At the garage in Nashville they also was familiar with that bridge and metal raised piece that kept them busy changing tires on campers and Rv's. I've never had 4 flats at once and what a rip off from tow truck driver selling wore out tires. It cost me $700 for tow driver to change all 4 tires and was just a temporary fix till the next am.
+Richard New Holy cow! Sorry to hear
It's easy to check tire pressure on the front tires, but rear duels are a pain so I installed "Crossfires" connects the 2 rear tires together, simple color window Red is too low, black too high, and yellow just right...I love them no guessing, factory set to a certain PSI mine are 100# if 1 tire should lose air it is automatically isolated
thanks for the info tires are probably top two of important things on your vehicle, I'm going to check my dates tonight!
+MANTIS325 Good luck with them. Thanks for watching :)
Good reminders are always welcome. Thank you.
Tire Industry Association has the correct information needed for this subject.
Love your videos! One thing I noticed about your video. Most, if not all RV's aren't designed to handle a blowout as indicated by all the collateral damage caused by the blowout. They use steel cages when they inflate these tires. Maybe a steel cage can be built around the wheel well to at least minimize the damage (of course it comes with added cost and weight). Even though you maintain your tires religiously, road hazards can toss a wrench into the maintenance plan.
Easy fix is at the manufactures.
Steel plate in the wheel well works and is not that heavy to worry about.
Look at a lot of commercial trailers. If the front kingpin plate does not cover the whole front of the trailer you'll see many with a steel plate fixed above where the drive tires are in case one blows. It won't damage the joists or under carriage.
I'm thinking of doing this on our Minnie as Honey , poor RV, had the same damage under the LRO tire. It either blew or picked up some road trash and it put a very nice hole into the floor of the rig under the reefer area. I found some rot after the flood but had seen the damage earlier when inspecting her.
Road debris and tire blowouts can do a lot of damage both structurally and cosmetically and both cost lots of money to fix, so sticking your tires is always "worth the time!"
Even when it's a ROYAL PITA to do everyday before driving! At least you get to know each tire on a personal basics! :)
Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!
Based on the cages in tire test labs you are looking at 500# or more to contain tire failure and provide support for each cage. 4 position = 2000#
Thanks for the information used to determine the manufacture date - I knew it was 'somewhere'
Heat related tire failures due to low tire pressure are the result of the heat generated because of the increased flexing of the tire tread and sidewall. The reduced gas mileage (i.e. increased energy consumption) directly corresponds to the increased energy/heat being imparted into the tire tread and sidewall. The rate at which the heat is generated increases roughly with the square of the speed.
P.S. Don't buy retreads or used tires unless you can determine that they are NOT retreads. They are MUCH more prone to experience catastrophic tread separation.
great clip, having just got a class a, we want our tires to be tip top shape as we do our traveling around, thanks for all the great videos.
Glad to hear, safe and happy trails!
Hi Pippa, great job on this topic. Here is a scary fact that I found out about, that caused a fatal crash. When I was a british police officer I had the unenviable task of attending a coroners court to do with this car crash, which sadly the lady, who had just got married that day, died. They were on their way to airport when the crash happened on the motorway. Long story short, scientific analysis showed there was water between the tyre and braid, which boiled and made the tyre explode. The ingress was due to a tiny split in the tyre, which in fairness was probably not detectable.
Oh shucks, that's tragic.
It's also wise to invest in a tire pressure monitoring system. It can alert you of problems with elevated temperature and pressure warnings...
Great advice, thanks!
Thank you for a educational video and an important reminder.
It may sound obvious, but tyres are the only point of contact you have with the road. Those few square inches of contact affect your braking and steering - very important.
I would stress the importance of checking the air pressure on a regular basis.
5 years MAXIMUM for the age of tires! 3 years is ideal. Dry rot and the molecular breakdown of the tire's construction are the lead causes of tire failures, next to under inflation. DO NOT buy re-tread's! Let the commercial trucks use those, so buy new! It's not worth risking your RV, tow vehicle, or trailers with substandard tires. Also, stay away from bargain Chinese made tires. They have poor quality control and failures with them, even new, are common. Be safe everyone!
Thanks for the advice!
Tommy, Wondering on the source of your "5 year max". and what makes 3 year tire performance ideal? What do you know that others in the tire industry don't?
Liability and default for laws & regulations of fed/state agencies 6 year max on ALL vehicles (any vehicle on any state road or fed highway).
A good Lawyer will always investigate when an accident occurs. If you are found to have tires 3 years or older & your accident involves moving-traveling vehicle while injuries/damages are sustained, be prepared for a lengthy investigation with the good possibility of "at fault".
!!!! Please check you tires (general public)!!! you can easily identify your age by google search or video you tube search. dry rot, cracks, age, alignment and installed , inflated properly.
There are SO MANY dealerships and shops that choose to not educate their customers in the rv/travel industry. I hear about it daily in conversations that "no body told us, or wow! I wish i had known". It makes me very upset that dealers and shops don't try and educate their customers... Instead they consistently choose to just offer trade in value to upsale them into a new coach or trailer( once the unit has deteriorated in value & neglect).
Many people think trailers and coaches (mechanically and especially cosmetic/structural ) are a "turn key, mostly maintainence free"!
***They are absolutely NOT***
I do my best to try and educate every customer on ways to help care for and protect their investments into the rv/trailer life.
If dealers and shops don't start doing this as a mandatory practice, there will continue to be more and more people choosing to get out of the "traveling" past time and culture. For me educating the customer is crucial so they don't get taken advantage of at many of the facilities across the country.
Happy trails to everyone and Pippi. I enjoy your videos to educate people from the ground up. Good job! If anyone ever needs a hand i am in west palm beach ( I am willing to help when i can. I am a private garage/shop that rebuilds total loss units. I am Not open to the public)
He is right. Tires age and rubber cracks and dries out. If your tires show cracks, replace them regardless of age.
Wonder if Tommy has told Michelin just how wrong they are when they advise a 10 year max life for RV tires.
The tip about the rear inside passenger side tire bearing the most weight makes perfect sense.... Duh! Wish I'd thought of that.
It is said that filling with nitrogen reduces oxidation inside the tire, giving longer life. However, that requires regular trips to the shop to top them off, so I prefer to carry my own pump to regularly maintain proper pressure and that means good old fashioned air.
As I own and service oilfeild 18 wheelers I am only too familiar with commercial tires and the problems you will encounter. I have tried used tires and tires from China all with bad results. I was shoeing these trucks up with Michelins which were great but kinda pricey. After trying many brands, lately I have had good service and good mileage out of the Bridgestone R225. They have become very popular for the service and life. The only problem is they have shot up in price. I guess it goes by the old saying "you get what you pay for". Additionally, I brand mine for rotation with a piece of angle iron shaped like an arrow that I welded to a cheap large screwdriver so I would never install them backwards. Blown tires on commercial vehicles result in too much damage to the wiring, body &paint, and chassis components. Too many truck drivers have told me if you want to see your life pass before your eyes, then you want to have a blowout on the front of your rig. Any truck tire can have a blowout even a new one. I think the best advice I could give to you is talk to some OTR drivers about their results and try to buy the best tire you can afford. I can not attest to the life of a tire that RV'ers use when they leave them parked for years which is a bad idea anyway. That is another subject. Hope this was a little helpful.
Thanks for the input! :D
The best tip Pippi is to buy good quality tyres , not saying your mate is on the cheap , they could have been on the van when it was bought , another top tip is to just keep looking at them , that's what us truckers do ;-)
thanks for this warning Pippi.
i just replaced all 4 tires on my Class C 6/15/2001 on the back axle, dulles.
the tire you were talking about, left rear inside was showing the steel belts and the other inside was spot bald.
and replaced all 4 because the new and old ones would not of matched up.
Good to hear, you're definitely better off now! Safe travels :)
I noticed your bounder is a gas engine. My bounder has a Cummins rear diesel with a Allison 6speed. Excellent video on tires Pippi. Heading to Sturgis soon so I will have all the tires checked.I had to replace 1 bin as the previous owner had a blow out. love your videos and your demeanor smiling always. Go Pippi!
+Arturo Meuniot Nice, Cumming and Allison 😄
Great information for us were gpoing to buy a used RV and actually need all the information we can get and this tire information is good to know, thanks for sharing.
God Bless
Britt& Brenda From Texas
+Britt Priddy Good luck with it and happy trails!
Been there and done that. Happened on I-40 Arizona. Right side drives blew out and took out one storage comp. broke propane lines in that wheel well.
Thanks, some really good tips. I had a tire blow out once and I never want that to happen again. It did $10,000 in damage.
You also have to be aware of tire shops. Some like to over inflate tires so that it tears the threads under the metal wire. Your tire will bubble and create displacement in a wobble and can explode. Watch when you get your tires rotated and balanced as well.
After watching I totally agree with the previous comment
Had new tires installed just before a 5000 mile trip 2000 miles in we blew a right rear. when we got to the repair shop we found out that our new tires were 7 years old so check your date's.
What brand were they?
An AMS is a must on any RV !. It could save your RV from major damage or your life.
True story; In June of 2008 on I-25 just south of Casper Wyoming , in a construction zone, on a down hill grade ( of course ) the left front tire blew out on axle number one . The resulting impact of the rubber from the tire took out the lower bottom of the 5th wheel trailer to include the bottom sheet metal ( mine was an older rig) , all of the septic drain plumbing , and unbeknownst to me at the time of the tire replacement, also took out the electrical wires for the electric brakes and the axel behind it ( axel number two ) . The more immediate impact that got my direct attention , was that the steering got very forceful to the affected side ,and had it not been for my slow speed ( about 55mph) we would have laid the entire thing over. The effects of UV light , while parked in a RV site for any extended time, has a lot of effect on the rubber as well. There's also a lot to be said for the wheel bearing and brake maintenance that the owner can do as well. Proper planning prevents pee poor performance.
Excellent advice, specific examples, and very informative. Thank you. I've had an 1-wheeler's tire blow out as I passed the truck, and I thought a bomb had gone off. Scared the devil out of me, but I was lucky that I was able to pull away before the tire shredded and went flying. Very scary and very dangerous.
Glad you're ok, yikes!
Have you considered using nitrogen as opposed to air?
It has numerous advantages over air.
I've had good results in my passenger car and my local mass transit uses it in their buses.
Gimmick.
YOU ARE SO KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH YOUR INFORMATIVE VIDEOS.
Thanks Pippi...I didn't know about the year numbers on tires, that was every informative. Thanks
+Rob Woodward I'm so glad to hear it, thanks for watching ☺️
you should really check everytime you go a run and at least every two three days even around local areas , you will get far better fuel miles, and your RV will brake more safely , and handle better nice to see you pippi. 😆
Thanks for the tips!
Good job, I enjoy your videos. Just want to say it is OK to use notes for details that need to be precise. You are good at adlibbing though, keep it up! Maintaining your tires is an easy way to prevent a preventable mishap.
I think "Exploded" was a bit of a stretch. Not saying it wouldn't(sparks will happen from the tank, the cords of the tires, etc.), but the compression of the propane will have it burn less-than-efficiently, and therefore, not necessarily explode.
That sucks for your friend, Im glad nobody got hurt, for sure.
I drove on retreads for years, but always had them "trued", a process of cutting off the humps after they are mounted. Believe it or not, cutting off some tread makes the tires last more miles.
Also, any time a vehicle will not be used for a month, I jack and block it with the tires visibly off the ground.
You can get around jacking it up by parking on gravel.
Under-inflated tires are the big killer. The added friction of the carcass and tread components flexing too much from being mashed on the road while under-inflated builds up too much heat which kills rubber and leads to tread separation.
Very informative, not many helping with tire's. Thx pipi
Arbitrary numbers are just rough guides. Tire life depends on how you maintain them. Being fanatical about pressure? Jacked up when stored? Covered from sun? Etc.
In Canada you can pay extra for curbside warranty any chunks taken out of them due to hitting curbs are also covered no matter who is at fault, I would imagine elsewhere give that option too
Huh, interesting. hanks for sharing.
something to consider some cheap tires are retreads and have been resurfaced with heat stuck on layers of wrapped rubber that is kiln heated in a press to produce threads , these types of tires are more common to unravel and fly apart, so when buying tires ask first if they are retreads you are looking at
good video ... check them often and replace them before they are a problem. don't buy low quality tires
Thanks Pippi I always want information on tires. I realize how important tires are, but the amour of people who do not maintain their tires is a real nightmare.
A lot of RV ers do run to heavy , ultra light is my preachin . Lil tip , park RV on level ground , from behind look at each side of dualys , the tires should be no where close to each other at the ground , if they are close ( or rubbing ) each other expect a large boom . Once while fueling a 6 wheel dump ( under a canopy ) both R. rear blew at the same time , you should hav seen folks run for cover
hi
im a RV Camper also. just got back intp Fla from Fla/cali Rountrip.
.RV is 19ft Refurb 1984
Dodge High Top FullConverstion
bought from "Calk the Bus" who was RVer living neat Mobile. i had downsized fom 30 ft
thohght you were cute....nice Bikinni Pic kn the Bahamas Cruise
Maybe they have it im not for sure..but maybe there is a temp sensor that can be mounted to the wheel that sends a signal to a gauge in the cab that will notify the driver when a tire or wheel is exceeding a particular temp incase a tire is over heating or there are brakes sticking. Possibly avoiding something like this happening.
Yes, there is something for this. :)
New cars/ trucks have tire censors...don't wait check weekly..
just bought a used 92 hornet didn't make it the seventy five home. Lost the recap then 15 miles later lost the rest of the tire..(right inside rear tire). No major damage we stopped at the closest tire store replaced all four tires in the back.
I had a tire explode but it was an inner tire on my winnebego. The low tire didn't blow the properly inflated tire went because when you get a low tire all the weight is transferred to the good tire. I had to replace the tire on the interstate in Wisconsin. I had no damage to the rv.
Your right. The bottom line is maintain the correct inflation, don't overload the rv, and, know when to replace your tires.
Well, shoot, it's 10:00 pm, dark thirty, but now I HAVE to go out and check my tires, because you got me wondering! (I'm afraid to looksy!). Ugh...just as I feared...one (at least) is EIGHT...and I'm hauling horses....this is going to get "spensive"....
Replace the tire when the tread depth gets to 4/32". Shop for a tire with a newer manufacture date, as the rubber will be newer and less worn out. Use nitrogen (green valve stem cap) to fill the tire as there is less PSI fluctuation then.
usually due to low tire pressure. It caused the tire to overheat.
Have been a tire tech for many, many, years and finally retired, Pippi....All very good advice sweetie and always stay safe out there to....Blow Outs, yesssss, can be so very dangerous or even deadly especially RV or Big Rig Tires...
You look awesome Captn... :-)
Thanks Dana :)
Hi, I saw your comment so I thought you might know the answer to this. I checked my tires on my car and one was down to 25psi. ::sigh:: I know! I should have never let it get that low. :( But am wondering do you know if I damaged the tire? They are only about 6 months old and I bought really good quality tires so they cost a lot. Thanks!
Hello Angela, In reply to your question, I doubt that you have done any damage to the inner sidewalls at 25psi much lower than that and yes possibly,the inner lining on the inside of the sidewalls could begin to de-laminate possibly,leading to a possibility of failure, especially if they are the very low sidewall, profile, size, tires, on your car...For your own piece of mind,Angela, I would take the car down to where you purchased the tires if possible? And ask them if they would dismount the tire and inspect it inside and carefully, for you...A good tire shop should not charge you for a safety inspection, or at the very least not charge you too much for that peace of mind...In most cases they can mark the tire properly to the rim and not even need to re-balance the assembly....Appreciate the question and wishing you good luck that it is okay and you will be okay and fine with it...
Thank you!
Your welcome !
Good Information Age, sun, I work on Rv and Semi shop for 20 years scary what you see sometimes.
I bet, thanks.
We had the exact same thing happen to us in 109 degree weather. It was a huge mess to clean up and took out our kitchen and water tanks.
Ooof sorry to hear. Glad you guys were ok.
just spent 2k replacing the tires on mine but i found one was from the time it was sold it looked good till they took it off the inside was flaking and i was told it would of blown anytime as the tire was thin from the flaking inside, due to the fact it was on the front i could of been involved in a bad accident.
please everybody even though it looks good outside it could be bad inside, have them checked by a tire tec. every year they are over 5 years old....thanks and great vidio Pippi.
Great advice, thanks!
I just put 6 new tires on my Tioga class C. I bought it in March. One tire was blown out and in the kitchen. The right front tire was shredded and ready to blow! Then one of the back inside tires was bulging. Scary that we drove it home 50 miles like that. Now I just need to get the water pump hooked up and propane and maybe I can go out!
Get that bulging tire off your rig! It WILL blow. Extremely dangerous!!!!
+Satellite_Guy that's why I put all New tires on it. The bulging one was an old one.
Exercise the round black air holding things! At least pull it up enough to rotate it a few times then back it up and do it again. NOT the best fix but it will work the rubber some so it won't develop that flat spot.
+rolloverriderpgr yep
Here we go!
Exercise those tires!!!
Pippi? You make me work way to early and even before coffee is done! Thanks with a ;) & a :) www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=30