RV Tire Age, Care & Replacement

[@steelcurtain57]

I just changed out my 5 year old Goodyears last week. The reason was that just having purchased the rig last year, I had no idea how well the tires had been maintained for their first 4 years of life. Even though I may have tossed 6 good tires, I hope to have better peace of mind knowing that I will be riding on tires that I have maintained. I also found a great deal a set of 6 Coopers from an independent tire shop out the door for $1287.00. Of course we have 19.5 's, much different than your big boys. The date code shows that these tires are fresh, only 2 1/2 months from production. Thanks for the informative video, and happy camping guys!

[@Davegvg3576]

Always nice being turned on to a new product that may actully help contain these costs. From a fellow RV'er - Thanks for the tip.

[@tfb86]

I'm glad I saw this 10 year replacement video. I do the recommendations.

[@USAFAFRet11]

Excellent video - reminds me of my FedEx days when I was driving a box truck, I maintained my tires, most drivers only got 6 months of use out of them, I managed to go 14-16 months, averaging 400 miles a day.- I am enjoying your videos, I am researching for my up coming full-time RV. Maintenance whether its the tires, chassis or engine, is a must do. It all boils down to you get what what you pay for, and in some cases, what you don't do. Thanks again guys for exxcellent videos.

[@RVgeeks]

+David “USAFAFRet11” W Thanks David! Taking good care of equipment is indeed key. Best of luck in your transition to full-timing. It's a great way to live. We thought we'd be out here for 2 or 3 years until we found some great new place to settle down. That was over 12 years ago, and we're still rolling. :)

[@beboboymann3823]

RV tire covers? Make you own. Go to home improvement store and get some 3/4" PVC pipe and 1/2" galvanized pipe. Cut PVC sections long enuff to extend a couple inches beyond the wheel well openings front and rear. Cut the galvanized pipe in sections to match the length of the PVC sections. Get wifey involved.....have her sew a hem top and bottom in some canvas purchased from a fabric store with canvas width to match the pipe and height to reach from top of wheel well to the ground. Basically you are constructing a curtain. The hem should allow the PVC and galvanized pipe sections to slide in easily just like a curtain rod in a curtain. Decide on how you would like to mount your new wheel well curtains. I picked up suction cups from the home improvement store and they hold the curtain in place just fine. Why galvanized pipe? I install galvanized in the bottom hem and it is heavy enuff to keep the curtain in place with galvanized lying on the ground. Another option is to extend the galvanized 1" longer than the curtain on each end then a hole can be drilled thru the galvanized so that a metal tent stake can be pushed thru the hole to anchor the bottom pipe. Works better in windy areas. You will discover when rolled up that these wheel covers take up very little space in the storage hold. If your RV has metal sides, it might be possible to sew in magnets at the top seam of the curtain. Want to get fancy? Take you curtains to an embroidery shop and get you RV brand name or your name, or whatever embroidered on each of your curtains. And you can pull the pipe out and wash them.Cost? Less than $10 per wheel. Hope this helps.

[@RVgeeks]

Great DIY tip! Love it! Thanks for sharing. :)

[@gidgetscores]

I like this idea, and as I'm the crafty one in the family, I would be doing all the work (my husband likes motors, not curtains) including the embroidery... but I question the UV protection from canvas. The tire covers in the video look like a thick rubber with a fleece-like lining. Will canvas offer enough protection? If so, I'm all about $10 tire "curtains!"

[@wonderwanderandplay1757]

Hi we just got a bus that is a 2001 and you guys are helping us learn a lot about it .

[@RVgeeks]

Congratulations! Glad we can help a bit. Safe travels.

[@scottwall4669]

I wish I was dumpster diving the day you retired those Beyoots!!! I would have gone 20 years!!!! Last week in quartzite I visited a wanderlodge with original 1976 Michelins. They look great still. Cassie the owner drives green beast very slow and avoids the interstate highways.
As discussed with Pippi and the Wynns, I tried to squeeze a few extra miles out of my original trailer tires. After a blow out shredded the wheel well I learned about the date. My 2007 Pacific coachworks trailer was new with 2002 tires. The builder gets deals on bulk quantities of old tires that are still considered new because they are not mounted.
Same with RV world when they have a clearance on Goodyear Marathons. New and cheap, they have been warehoused for several years. Air conditioning eats at rubber, so does sunlight and nobody knows where your tires sat for half a decade.
Concur with Cooper, great tires at great prices. I have 3 off road vehicles, all with Cooper. (07 Dodge Diesel, 06 Jeep wrangler, 87 Toy Hilux)
When in storage for over a week I lift the trailer off the ground with the outrigger jacks. I do not know if it is safe to store a big coach with Hydro jacks down to relieve pressure.
Concur 100 percent with RV Geeks. Dont mess around if you drive over 35 MPH. If driving from Payson Az to Quartzite Az at 30 MPH no problem! Replace those tires and follow manufacturer specs!!!

[@kathydavis37]

Thanks so much for the feed back. Happy New Year and safe travels😊

[@smacdiesel]

Great informational video once again! As tire protectants go, it amazes me how almost all tire care products are petroleum based. I'ver been watching a lot of the Chemical Guys videos, they agree with you how destructive those products are to tires.

[@GKJurrens]

Well, we pick up our new (to us) 2005 4304 right after Thanksgiving. Its been stored in an air conditioned garage for two years, and I know there'll be "storage gremlins" to be exorcised, not the least of which are tires that are under inflated because his garage compressor "takes too long to fill them". Yeah, I know. After I spend an hour or so with his little compressor, I'll be heading to the truck stop down the street on pick-up day (I don't yet own one of those great looking Viair compressors - on my wish list!).
Six tires are three+ years old, but the two on the tag axle are almost nine years old (all Bridgestone R250F 295/80R22.5). All looked really good to my inexperienced eye, but the oldest ones were found to have dry rot down at the bottom of the troughs BETWEEN the treads (invisible to my inexperienced eye) by a professional RV inspector ("replace ASAP & definitely before you tow ANYthing", he said). Got it. Appointment's already made. From there, directly to the alignment shop & engine service.
YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT - IF YOU'RE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G., YOU GOTTA DEPEND ON T.R.U.S.T.E.D. PROFESSIONALS TO ADVISE YOU !
These tires were cared for precisely as you outlined (per previous fairly conscientious owner) EXCEPT it is obvious that he didn't pay routine close attention to tire pressure as you proscribed. The coach's service records (I've devoured every syllable) show that he had "handling problems" on more than one occasion, and the only thing the shop found was "tire pressures were all off". So your maintenance plan sounds right on - can't minimize the importance of ANY of your points. He still got almost nine years out of these two oldest tires, although he did have a history of air loss in one or more of the six he replaced three years ago (they would have been just six years old at the time). .
Looks like lots of comments on cost of Michelins. I've learned that while my new Bridgestones will be about $600 a piece best price, gotta include the federal tire tax, mount & dismount costs (at 140 pounds each & pretty specialized equipment), sales tax, etc. etc. two tires will cost me about $1400. Still cheap enough insurance as that is the ONLY contact between my expensive rig/priceless human cargo and the cold hard slab. So I suck it up, right?
This video is an excellent summary & is my new tire maintenance playbook. Only thing missing is a rotation strategy, but like you said, if you replace all eight tires at once, this is far less important.
One question: during your annual inspections, do you recommend a dis-mount inspection (e.g., inner duals on the drive axle are nearly invisible)? Since I will have six "older" tires and two "new" tires, I plan to keep my best rubber on the front--buy two new tires and rotate back one axle & inward (on dual drive axle) on same side every other year so that I get a dismount inspection on all tires every other year (~$30/tire but good "insurance"). As a result, no tire will be older than seven years old. If inspections prove the tires solid, I may expand that interval to every three years (oldest tires then eight years). This is like a religious discussion, right? ;-)
By the way, I buy 303 protectant by the gallon ($$!), and use that to refill my quart spray bottle. Awesome product that I've used on my boat for decades! I put it on anything that's plastic (not clear), vinyl or "rubber".
Thanks guys! Awesome videos.
Gene
www.BigRigRoads.wordpress.com

[@RVgeeks]

+gjurrens1 Congrats on your '05 4304. Best year & floorplan on the market! ;-) Sounds like you're being very meticulous and have the right idea about caring for your tires.

[@ericcurrence8477]

Holy Crap!!! $8000!!!! For that price I need my tires to last 20 years.

[@RVgeeks]

So do we! We're not looking forward to it, and eating a lot of mac & cheese while we save up! lol

[@TroyFoxxin]

RVgeeks Mac and cheese? thats Ramen noodles and walmart parking on my book if i was with a 8k bill. I been taking the repairs on my old rig slow at a time so i can still eat well. because my health can't take the hit. but i maybe at some of a advantage. my rig is a older class c, and 6 tires. im happy they're still good. already putting money into the brakes trying to get them in order.

[@brianduprey4693]

Thank you for all you do.

[@yambor44]

Thumbs up! Great, great, great video! Thank you.

[@RVgeeks]

Glad you like it! Thanks. :)

[@terryrussell5392]

thanks guys for the tips on the tires, I have only had my rv for 1 1/2 mons now and I do have em covered, but I was thinking on cleaning once a month to keep em up to par.

[@RVgeeks]

+Terry Russell Excellent Terry! Great to hear. 😊

[@carolineedmistoncooki3fair631]

Was just headed down to the tire store, will now check my own tires for the date, and maybe get another year out of them. THANKS!!

[@RVgeeks]

Just be sure to take all factors into consideration.... age, manufacturer's recommendations, care, use, etc. If there is the slightest doubt, have them professionally inspected!

[@carolineedmistoncooki3fair631]

RVgeeks Absolutely, just glad to have more info in my pocket. It is a vintage 1957 Aljo, did not have a spare tire at all, so will go and get a rim, have them check the existing tires, and then either get one tire for the new rim, or get two new ones for the trailer and put one of the older ones as the spare. Checked the age of the tires and they are less than 5 years, but not much. I do take good care of them and they look great, but will have the pros double check. Thanks for all your wonderful videos!

[@johnleebass]

This was a great video; very informative, and your RV is beautiful. Thanks for the great info and production.

[@MrMarkCaudill]

Great video, very well done and information we all need to know.

[@higg1966]

Great video, I found out about the tire date after my first blowout.

[@RVgeeks]

Yup. That DOT date is SO important.

[@arconnelly5365]

That’s a nice mountain aire, I also have a 2004 motorhome.

[@RVgeeks]

Ours is actually an ‘05, which we bought new.

[@arconnelly5365]

@@RVgeeks I have a 2004 Safari Zanzibar 40813

[@comet1996]

this is a great video with great advice. I am even going to start using aerospace 303 on my everyday cars.

[@RVgeeks]

We use it on our toad's tires and on the clear plastic Diamond Shield mask on the RV. Great stuff.

[@comet1996]

RVgeeks great idea....thanks guys

[@0HARE]

Thanks for all the great technical information.

[@BillGorman]

I bought my 2000 Winnebago a year ago when it was 13 years old, it had new tires on the front and OEM Michelins on the back, Lost left inside on second day out and right inside third day out. They were dead at 13, so I wouldn't go more than 10 years. I got new Toyo 14 ply, was $860 for each pair.

[@RVgeeks]

13 years is definitely too old! Can you tell us what you think of your Toyo tires so far? We're considering that brand. Thanks Bill!

[@BillGorman]

I like them, held up good even when landing after getting airborne on the interstate in Jackson, Mississippi. Was doing less than the speed limit and road was so uneven the Winnebago flew and did pretty good.

[@RVgeeks]

Bill Gorman Thanks Bill! We'll add your comments to our mounting research on new tires.

[@christianedwards451]

I moved into an rv for college, a 2004 fleetwood storm class A… I just replaced all my tires

[@paulhermsen6159]

i had a set of goodyears last me 12 years i bought a new rv and took care of them and got 43k miles over 12 years before i replaced them with new take good care of your tires and they will take good care of you. btw the only reason i replced them with new goodyears was because i got a hole in the sidewall after running over something and wanted new all the way around

[@RVgeeks]

+Paul Hermsen Way to go Paul! Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and good maintenance practices and you can avoid wasting perfectly usable tires. While ours were extremely well cared for and appeared to be in great shape, we replaced at 10 years because Michelin states that that is the safe limit of their usable life. If we'd had a blow-out after that, besides the danger of the blow-out, we might have been denied an insurance claim for failing to maintain our equipment in accordance with manufacturers requirements.

[@paulhermsen6159]

as i said the only reason i replaced them was one of the rear tires got a hole in the sidewalls and it had to be replaced i had them checked be a local goodyear retailer every year for the last 6 years and he kept telling me they was as good as new (with wear) till i got the hole, and they replaced the tires also.

[@RVgeeks]

+Paul Hermsen Professional annual inspection after a certain age is important. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for maximum lifespan.

[@asphaltadventurer]

Especially those who buy used RV's with midlife tires like me, you have no idea if they were abused the first 5, 6, or 7 years. Mine were all 6-7 yrs old, good tread, but the fronts were replaced with inferior tires of a lower weight rating. Adding up all the max loads for each tire doesn't even get me to the gross vehicle weight rating. Be sure to check this if buying used or new. People make mistakes. That's like playing roulette with your life on the highway at 55-65. No thanks. I'm having all my tires replaced, then begin following the advice in the video to hopefully get 10 yrs from the tires SAFELY.

[@RVgeeks]

Yup.... if you don’t know the tires’ history, discretion is the wise move.

[@lionhart2728]

thnk you

[@bobl.8211]

Thank you for another clear and helpful video. We've had wheel covers in the past that were an absolute pain to put in place and remove. They also got dirty immediately since they wrapped around the tire. Can you tell me where you got the wheel covers shown in the video? They look fast and easy to put in place.
Thanks,
Bob

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Bob. Our tire covers were made by MCD, but I am very sorry to report that they were discontinued several years ago. MCD also made our windshield screens, but has discontinued them as well. They have put all of their focus on making day/night window shades for many of the major RV manufacturers. We contacted them recently to see about getting a replacement track for one of our wheel wells, but they are completely out of stock and will no longer be making them either. They supposedly own the patent or trademark on the design and we’re pretty sure that nobody else makes anything like it. Very sad, as we really love them and don’t know what we’ll do when they finally wear out. If I hear anything about another company making them, I'll post it right up! And you please do the same. - Peter

[@ioccatonyz1]

Those are some really good looking 10 year old tires. Are they still on your rig? I would not have changed them. I was looking for good tire preservation information as I came across this video. Same information that I have always known and it is well presented here. The 303 Aerospace Protectant is the kind of tip I was looking for since those old tires are so well preserved. I own 30 differant tires that are under 10 years old but have much tread and will exceed the 10 year mark. Anyone that would expect new tire performance from a aged tire is demanding more than can be delivered. Discarding aged tires because of less than new performance is an expense few can afford. With that in mind I would not plan a cross country drive on aged tires. With the tire shown in this video I would drive them to the tread wear gauge on short trips (about a 1 or 2 day drive). I have watched a few videos warning about the dangers of tires aged over 6 years as if they are no good to use at all. Caution is the key as a set of tires reach their life expectancy. No kind of inspection can guarantee a tire won't fail, seems to be a conflict of interest if that decision is a professional opinion of someone that sales tires. I just hope no laws are passed that place an expiration date on tires that force the mandatory replacement by a designated date...

[@RVgeeks]

+Tony Iocca These tires were replaced this year at the 10-year mark, since Michelin specifies that 10 years is the max, and as much as we like to save money, we don't want to tempt fate. A tire can blow out on a 1 or 2 day trip (or a 10 mile trip) just as easily as on a cross-country trip. We got about all we could out of these tires. They served us well, but it was finally time to replace them. 10 years is good use and we're happy to have gotten that, although it was not by accident. Taking good care of them paid off.

[@ioccatonyz1]

+RVgeeks Your video is an inspiration to tire care. Those tire covers with the 303 did well together.

[@vegasdavetv]

I'm pretty sure no one on the Web offers the rvers better all around coverage than the geeks do

[@latourhighendaudio]

excellent video !

[@RVwithTito]

Preach! Momma always said "if you take good care of your things, they'll last longer". But still...that's some pricey rubber. Will you get an alignment with the new tires or is it unnecessary?

[@RVgeeks]

Part of planning where to purchase new tires is lining up a reputable RV alignment shop as close by as possible. The longer we roll those expensive news tires without assuring an optimal alignment risks shortening their life. If possible, we'll go directly from the tire shop to the alignment shop, or find a place that does both. All part of managing tire health from day one.

[@RVwithTito]

Good to hear. Apparently it's hard to find a reputable alignment shop skilled with RVs. I'm glad to have found one.

[@RVgeeks]

RVwithTito Not sure if they're hard to find.... except for us full-timers who never seem to be in the same place twice when any particular type of specialized service comes due. ;-)

[@morganrussman]

While I'm not saying that I disagree that proper tire inflation is important, one should take into account of air expansion when the tires heat up during use when you go down the road, or just on a normal summer day. Plus, something that wasn't mentioned in the video was people going too fast, people often tend to go 75/80 mph down the highway, when most camper/rv tires are only meant to go maximum of 55/60 mph going down the highway. Why I mention 'mph' when I mention speed is so people who see this comment that use metric, know that I'm using the U.S. measuring system, not say maybe metric or something.

[@mikemurrayaudio]

Thanks, great advice

[@spudth]

I have to say GREAT VIDEO! I do have to say too.....Are you a robot? LOL!

[@RVgeeks]

Thank you! And I swear I’m real!! 😂 Check out our newer videos and I’m in ‘em!! 😁

[@jponyboyace]

Make sure u have a TPMS!!!

[@Tchristman100]

Michelin has 10 year casing.

[@meyaenyo2593]

Wait my RV tires are almost 13 years :O but they look brand new!

[@RVgeeks]

Almost certainly unsafe.

[@brucetoney2594]

Great info... thanks

[@greengarth]

Just watched your video and was impressed of how through you are. Thank you for making the video. One question, the wheels skirts you have are they factory or did you add them, really like how they go on and look.

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks so much for your kind comments, Garth. Unfortunately, our wheel/tire covers are no longer made. They're MCD brand, but were discontinued many years ago. Actually, they look cooler than they work. They do take enough time to put into place, and then remove & stow, that it tends to make us use them less often, since it's a lot of work for a very short stay. We rarely bother to set them up for anything less than at least a 4 or 5 day stay, meaning that the tires aren't covered as much as they really should be. They are getting very old, and we have a lead on a new cover design that promises to be more easily deployable... and less expensive. As soon as we have more information, and have actually gotten our hands on a set to test them, we'll surely make a video about them if they live up to our expectations. Stay tuned!

[@xeiong10]

Hey there John and Pete I am considering purchasing a TPMS for my 30' Winnebago A-class unit. Just interested to get some feedback on the pro's/con's. We are not full timers like yourselves but I am always concerned especially if we are going up the Coquihalla into the BC interior or on Hwy 3 into the Kootney's . Big fan keep up the great work!!!

[@RVgeeks]

Hey William! We're definitely fans/proponents of TPMS systems. It's a very good idea to be keeping an eye on your RV & towed car (if you have one) tires while you're driving. If you got a flat on a tire on the towed... you'd likely not know until you started seeing smoke/flames in the rearview mirror or backup camera. And if an inner dual wheel had an issue, it could be flat without you knowing it... which now puts its mated tire in danger of blowing, since it's carrying the weight of two tires! Other pros are that it's just a matter of turning your TPMS unit on to check tire pressures before heading out for the day, too. So you don't need to manually check every tire. The only real cons would be the price (and that comes down every year with more and more competitors on the market), and the potential for a misfitting tire sensor to cause a slow leak (which you would now know because of the TPMS). Honestly, we think it's one of the best investments for peace of mind while on the road.

[@kathystevetrooperblanck609]

Where do you find a corner weigh. I have seen CAT scales at the Petr's but they weigh axels and I am guessing that you could put more weight on one side or the other.
Another topic I remember my parents removing the tires from their trailer when they parked it for any length of time (months). My mother even wrote an article for "trailer topics" about tire care.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Steve. You're absolutely right that the best you can expect from a truckstop is axle weights (and sometimes only the entire rig weight). Corner weights need to be done by a place that's equipped with the type of individual scales that can handle that. A good place to look is the RVSEF (RV Safety & Education Foundation): www.rvsafety.com/
Taking much or all of the weight off the tires during storage is certainly beneficial if possible. We jack up our RV when we're away from it for a while, taking a lot of the weight off the tires. Removing the wheels & tires completely shouldn't be necessary as long as you remove most of the weight from them.

[@Chief726]

Great video! Can you share with me the manufacturer and type of tire coversyou've had for more than 12 years?

[@RVgeeks]

+Gip Giper sorry to report that those MCD tire covers haven't been made in years. Ours are getting long in the tooth and we don't know what we'll do when they finally wear out. 😟

[@johnbutler2231]

Currently, our trailer is stored in a shaded area unless we are camping maybe 30 days per year, should we use tire covers

[@RVgeeks]

Hi John! Shading doesn't entirely bock UV. If you were using your rig a lot, taking it out regularly, we might say that the bother of installing and removing covers every time you go out would possibly make it not worth the trouble (we generally leave our tires uncovered when we're in one spot for only a couple of days, just to avoid the effort of installing then removing them for such a short time). But tire covers aren't nearly as expensive as tires, and covering them helps prolong their lifespan, even for short periods and even in the shade. We'd suggest that if you're only using your rig 30 days a year, the cost and effort to cover them is worth it. If you park it and plan to go right back out in a few days, maybe not. But the more you keep them covered, the longer they'll last.

[@billvalls6062]

who makes the tire covers that are shown in the video?

[@RVgeeks]

Those were made by MCD, but have long since been discontinued. Our new SnapRing Tire Savers are MUCH better though! ua-cam.com/video/M3QgN83XjSM/v-deo.html

[@kathydavis37]

To you have to rotate your tires? I have had trouble with by rear dully tire extenders with one tire minder being broken off completely. The tire dealer said his advice would be to remove the tire extender completely on the dully tires.

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Kathy. The only reason we've heard of for rotating tires on an RV is if there's been an uneven wear situation. And if that's happened, you'd want to first determine what the cause for the uneven wear was... so you could correct it. For most RVs, the tires need to be replaced due to age, before they'd reach a wear level that required them to be rotated. And from the sound of things with your dually... it sounds like the tire extender is not being properly supported. So with your Tire Minder TPMS sensor installed, it's causing too much movement and flexing, resulting in it breaking off. We'd suggest looking into an alternative type of tire extender... and see if there's a way to secure it so that the weight of the TPMS sensor doesn't fatigue it and cause it to fail.

[@davenstorm7271]

​@@RVgeeks Just found this video! I have a class C my tires look real good will turn 5 years old in September so I guess I'm still good right ? Also if your tires was $8,000 that many years ago , My Goodness how much would them same 8 tires cost now ?

[@jameskrueger4015]

Where did you get your tire covers on your Mountain Air. Can not find any like that. Just purchased a Newmar Dutch Star. Thanks

[@RVgeeks]

+James Krueger Sorry James. They were discontinued years ago. 😞

[@dorusrudisill2162]

Chemical Name
Water
85.5%

Polydimethyl Siloxane ( silicone )
12%
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),alpha-(2-propylheptyl)-
omega hydroxy
1.4%

Nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether
1%
Polyethylene glycol
0.05%
Dinonylphenol ethoxylate
0.05%

[@eddiemharris9351]

Where did you get the wheel covers and do you put the boards under every tire while parked?

[@RVgeeks]

+Eddie M Harris Sorry, Eddie, but our tire covers were discontinued years ago by MCD and we've never been able to find anything else like them.
The only time tires need a barrier underneath them is when the RV is stored long-term on asphalt, grass or dirt. Short periods don't require it and neither does concrete (the best surface to park on).

[@DefMusic79]

What do you use to scrub the outside of your rv with? I Detail/clean tour buses and not to happy with what they buy. They get the job done don't get me wrong

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Jeffrey! We use a soft bristle wash brush on an extension pole, and any typical car wash soap that we pick up in Costco or Wal-Mart. The manufacturers of some newer RV paint finishes specify that only lambswool should be used to prevent micro surface scratches, but our almost-13-year-old rig has been washed with a soft brush all this time, and still seems to be in pretty good shape.

[@RvroundtableResources]

Another great video that we are sharing with our community at www.rvroundtable.com. I am always having people ask this question. What about the comment that I hear about tires "rotting" from the inside out where you can't see them?

[@RVgeeks]

Thanks for the comment and for sharing this out! Regarding questions about tires rotting from the inside.... the video was also posted on an RV owner’s club discussion forum, and the following comment there not only reflected our own experience, but the last sentence directly address the topic of deterioration from the inside, posted by a former tire professional:
“If one takes good care of your tires, as outlined in this video, 5 years is about the half-way point in a RV tires life. I used to work tires for a living. Several different shops in fact. I have developed my opinions based on what I saw instead of what I imagine could go wrong. I can state equivocally that the number one cause of premature tire failure (not counting road damage) is running them under pressure. Hands down. Nothing else even comes close. If a tire is treated with respect, 10 years is very doable. If they are routinely exposed to sunlight, then that number shrinks considerably. As in the video, I am a religious user of 303 Aerospace Protectant on my tires (and my vinyl awning). It flat works. Given the incredible propensity for Americans to sue companies when things go wrong with a product, and given the huge exposure that product liability cases present in the media (AKA GM right now) that the tire companies are themselves saying 10 years is doable, then that speaks volumes about their confidence in their products lasting that long with proper care and inspection. One last thing: In all of my years tearing down tires, I never once saw a tire that was deteriorated on the inside, without the outside looking far worse. Tire degradation definitely starts on the outside and works in.”
Thanks to Mark for the great comment!

[@RvroundtableResources]

RVgeeks That's great info. Thanks again.

[@hawaiianboy1743]

Where did you get those tire covers? Please let me know and thanks!!

[@RVgeeks]

Those have long since been discontinued, but the good news is we’re trying out new ones we like much better so far! Stay tuned for an upcoming video about them real soon!

[@tfb86]

On my first motorhome I drove on old tires and some pieces of hard rubber came off the first time tires hit a curb.

[@RVgeeks]

Older tires definitely need to be inspected before they can be considered safe to operate.

[@jackcoughlin8943]

Good Morning Guys, Could you provide info on your tire covers? They look pretty easy to use, can you confirm? Thanks so much for all your videos. I'm making my way thru all of them - yea, I have no life. LOL And yes, I am a subscriber. Thanks again, Jack

[@RVgeeks]

+Jack Coughlin Good morning Jack! Thanks for the nice comment. Sorry to report that MCD discontinued these awesome covers years ago, and no others like them are to be found at this point. :(

[@randyschwartz1369]

Michelin tires have a bad reputation as being too expensive and having a soft compound, which gives you great handling in bad weather, but wear very fast...
I just had 8 Cooper Tires installed for $2,000 since I intend to change them every 6-7 years this is a better choice....don't let the tire guys over sell you My tire size is 245-70 X 19.5

[@RVgeeks]

+Randy Schwartz Unfortunately, our motorhome wears 295/80R22.5, which is not all that common a size. We only found a few brands of tire available in that size, so our options were limited. Since our experience with the Michelins that came from the factory was stellar (10 full years, with excellent performance the entire time, wet or dry), we replaced them with the same thing again. The ride is really great and we didn't want to risk being dissatisfied with it, since we already knew to expect a great ride from the Michelins. The ride turned out to be even better of course, since the slow aging and hardening of the runner meant that brand new tires of the exact same brand provided a really great improvement. We're super happy with them. Like having a new RV all over again. And we'll care for them the same meticulous way that led to them lasting so long, and of course subject them to the same inspections as the old set to be sure they're up to it, especially when they get to 5+ years.

[@prouddk9824]

Thanks for the information. What brand are your tire covers?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Pamela. Sorry to report that our tire covers we’re discontinued years ago. But we just picked up a new type that we’re testing and will report on in a new video soon.

[@prouddk9824]

@@RVgeeks looking forward to that. Thanks you guys are awesome...

[@cjkelly1]

What brand of tire cover do you use (in this video) and do you have a video for the installation of said covers?

[@RVgeeks]

Charles J Kelly Hi Charles. We get this question quite often. MCD Innovations is the company who made our wheel covers (10 years ago), but they have focused their business on manufacturing roller shades and no longer make wheel covers. It's a real shame, because we LOVE ours... and they're beginning to show their age and might need to be replaced in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, we haven't found anything else out there like them. Sorry!

[@cjkelly1]

RVgeeks
Thank you for the quick reply. I agree "It's a real shame" they do not make these any longer as the fit, function, material and clearance from the ground appear to be just want I am looking for. Thank you, Charlie

[@patrickpeterman4890]

HEY THERE, PATRICK.P HERE- I WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE YOUR FEELINGS ON INCREASING THE "STEER TIRES " ON A 2003 HOLIDAY RAMBLER- IT HAS 2 SETS OF DUALS TIRE SIZE 245/70R/19.5- I WISH TO PLACE A LARGER TIRE "STAYING IN THE CURRENT 19.5 RIM? ANY FEEDBACK APPRECIATED; ALL TIRES ARE 245/70R/19.5- THIS SIZE IS ALSO BECOMING HARD TO FIND AT A REASONALE COST!!!

[@RVgeeks]

It's all about wheel well clearance. If you have the space, both when turning the wheels all the way left or right, and when air bags are dumped, you can go up to the next size. You also need to have your ride height checked/set immediately after making this change. We were unable to do that. We wanted to go from 295 up to 305, but when we dump the air bags, the front tires already touch the wheel wells, so no extra space is available.

[@patrickpeterman4890]

YOU GUY,S ARE AWESOM I ALWAYS REFER TO YOUR VIDEO,S FOR ANY PROBLEM I MAY BE HAVING; GOD BLESS, BE WELL!! PATRICK.P

[@johnycash8291]

We are in commercial tire business and responded more than 750 RV tire emergencies last year. Most tires needs to be replaced within 7 years. Whatever you do, tires will get old. Materials that hold tire will be old. Steel cord may be rusty inside also. Tire may look good but actually it is a ticking bomb. Putting cover or spraying chemicals may look like it is working but it is waste of money. Tire failures cost thousands of damages to your RV. Also this is very important, take off extension hoses from your inner and outer tires and put a valve cap directly to valve stems.. That extension hoses will start leaking and cause run flats. See a pro commercial tire dealer to assist taking off this dangerous extensions. We have hundreds of great looking junk RV tires. Half is blown out due to being old. Other half is run flat due to extension hose leak.

[@RVgeeks]

"Tire Emergencies" surely include things like getting a flat from running over something, and happen to both new tires and old. Who are you to decide that 7 is the magic number? Why not 6, or 5, or 4? Isn't it brand new tire safer than a 4-year old tire? With all due respect to your being in the tire business, how is it you're more qualified than Michelin to say what the maximum lifespan of their tires are. They say 10 years with appropriate care and inspection, so why should we pitch them after 7? We made it clear that we aren't telling anyone that they should automatically go 10 years. We simply said not to respond to arbitrary knee-jerk numbers.... like "7"... without knowing more than some guy said so in a scary tone ("ticking time bomb" for example). Especially when that person is someone who stands to profit off everyone throwing away perfectly good tires. I would bet a lot of the people's "tire emergencies" that weren't caused by striking foreign objects were caused by lack of proper care, maintenance and inspection, which is exactly what we're advocating here.

[@johnycash8291]

Dude we are talking about real life experience here. We do x-ray scrap tires. Chemical do separate after certain years. Rust will enter steel cord and destroy casing. Don't give wrong info to people. They may get hurt. You are just talking about your tires here and what you heard on internet. We are talking about thousand of commercial tire experience. We've been in business years and witness many accidents that people lost their life. I don't have anything to gain here. Not trying to sell tires also. Just a friendly advice. If people want to take chances. it will be their decision. I do advise people to change their tire every 5 to 7 years. I wouldn't put myself and my family in danger over few thousands dollars.

[@RVgeeks]

Johny Cash Specifications from Michelin are not something I "heard on the internet". Nobody knows more about tires than the manufacturer, and if they say that 10 years is the maximum life of a tire, then anyone else coming up with a random number like "7" doesn't override that. The info we gave here is sound.... inspect, maintain, and above all, follow manufacturer's instructions. Our tires will cost about $8,000 to replace all 8 of them. That may be no big deal to some, but throwing away 30% to 50% of that by replacing at 5 to 7 years if it's not needed means a lot to many people. Annual inspection by a professional after 5 years is what's called for by Michelin, with replacement only if needed. The idea that I would spend double on tires by replacing perfectly good ones at only 5 years when they pass inspection with flying colors is wasteful and unnecessary. If their condition warrants replacement, fine. But that's what the annual inspection is to determine. I appreciate your advice, but people shouldn't be scared into a knee-jerk waste of money and resources. Learning how to use, maintain and monitor tires is key. Ours lasted so long because we monitor tire pressure and have never once run them low, inspect them often for signs of chassis alignment problems, keep them clean and protected from UV as much as possible, and pay for a professional inspection every year. We made it clear that they didn't last 10 years by accident, and that not all tires will. But they might if you take good care of them.

[@johnycash8291]

Michelin has very small commercial market in US. Therefore it doesn't really matter what Michelin says. Michelin rules are for Michelin tires only. Most top brands limits warranty within few years and those tires outlasts Michelin tires 2 to 1. Most RV people never go back with Michelin anyway. It is over priced and not quality for the price. Michelin has the weakest sidewall. You can get name brand tires 8 for around $4K. most sizes 295/75/22.5 and up. Even off brand tires as low as $2500 for a set. So I wouldn't take a chance on causing 5K plus damages and possible accident for few dollars. I mean emergency visit will cost you more then $5K. If you can afford a RV, you can definitely afford few thousand dollars. At the end your loved ones riding on it.

[@RVgeeks]

Johny Cash Exactly! As we said... Michelin rules are for Michelin, Goodyear rules for Goodyear, etc. Listen to your manufacturer! Our ride on Michelins is awesome but the way! :)

[@W6RIPRadioAdventures]

Thumbs up #500

[@laurenmartin4263]

Hello! We need to replace our RV tires and had questions about balancing. First, did you balance all eight tires, or just the front tires? Second, what method of balancing do you recommend- spin balance? Ceramic beads? Equal powder?
Many thanks!!
Lauren

[@RVgeeks]

+Lauren Martin Hi Lauren. The place we went to recommended only balancing the fronts, so that's what we did. They also spin-balanced them... which has worked fine for us. We've read a lot about the other methods (beads, powder, etc), but don't have any experience with them to have an opinion. For us, we just haven't had any issues with spin-balancing/ride to warrant looking into the alternatives. Hope that helps!
P.S. - if you're looking at Michelin tires for your replacement, it would be worth it to join FMCA to get their discount!

[@theknaryagency4013]

What brand of tire covers do you use?

[@RVgeeks]

+The Knary Agency Unfortunately the MCD brand tire covers we have were discontinued many years ago, and we have never found any others like them. Ours are wearing out and we have finally gotten a lead on a new product that's due out in the next few months. It won't be exactly like the ones we have, but promises to be better than anything else we've seen. Stay tuned, as will be sure to report back when we have further details.

[@rileysmith9843]

What model is your RV? And what’s its tire size?

[@RVgeeks]

We have a 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire, and the tires are 295/80R 22.5

[@rileysmith9843]

RVgeeks Gotcha. Because I have a motor home and follow any and all advice in this video. I even have cars that sit around, and I follow similar steps, except they’re tailored to passenger cars/light trucks.

[@dawnm9298]

Where can you get your tires inspected?

[@RVgeeks]

Dawn M At a reputable tire shop that is equipped to handle RVs.

[@raypeel5173]

What type of wheel covers are you using, they really classy

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Ray! Those covers were made by MCD, but they have long since been discontinued. We are actively researching replacements, as ours are in pretty poor shape after all these years. While they look cool, they are pretty expensive and a bit of a nuisance to take on and off, leading to use them less often then we should, such as during very short stays. The new ones we’re looking at promise to be much easier to install and remove, meaning what we’ll use them more often. Of course we’ll have a video once we finish researching testing. Stay tuned!

[@coreysaxe3902]

RVgeeks any luck on finding replacements. I need some for my allegro bus. I really don’t like the ones that jus go over the tire. I want to cover the whole opening!🤷🏻‍♂️✌️

[@RVgeeks]

Nothing concrete yet, but our secret source says 2019 will be the year! We are as sorry as you are for the wait, because we’re eager for something new. We’re not sure exactly how these new covers will be designed though. They may not cover the entire wheel well. We’re waiting for details. If you can wait, we will give a full report if these live up to the promise.

[@coreysaxe3902]

RVgeeks thanks! Hopefully I can wait!🤣

[@buddylight2191]

I replace mine when I know they are totally worn out.

[@2Truth4Liberty]

After a blow out does a bunch of damage to your rig, you'll realize why replacing even good tires can save money in the long run.

[@enterprise59]

Sorry I disagree with the 10 year rule. It goes against almost all other RV'ers experience and videos. It goes against what most RV dealers say as well. I'd rather pay the money for tires every 6 years then pay for damage or loss of life.
We've had experience with a blow out on a class C we bought from a toy hauler dealer who talked like he was an RV GOD. It was our first motor home. We had no idea about tire age, care for RV tires or anything, and he never said a thing. He did tell us the tread was great on the tires, and they (Michelin) were rated for 70k miles. The unit was an 06, had 51k miles on it used as a rental.
The tires on the rear were made in 04 to 06. We blew an inside duel, caused over 3k of damage on a major highway and stuck for 4 hours waiting on a tire change, and we only owned the rig for 4 months.
That one experience caused me NOT to trust "tire manufactures". Heres the link to our damage. ua-cam.com/video/VJr9X7pyBBI/v-deo.html

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry to hear about your experience, but you've actually validated exactly what we said here. If you had seen it prior to your blow-out, it probably wouldn't have happened because you would have known not to believe the salesman.
We never said anything about a "10 year rule" and specifically said that tires don't automatically last any certain time period, other than the limit set by the manufacturer. You mentioned you don't trust the manufacturer, but who knows more about tires than they do, and has a more vested interest in having them work well for you? Since they also have a vested interest in selling you more tires, why doesn't Michelin say "replace every 6 years?" It's because their research and experience has shown that the guys who say "replace every 6 years" are picking an arbitrary number that's not based on facts for all tires. SOME tires or tire brands might need to be replaced after 6 years, but not all.
One of the things that we mentioned as being important in our decision to run to the max time allowed by Michelin is that we were the only owners of them, and had total knowledge of their history: never run under pressure, never overloaded, never hit into curbs, professionally inspected, protected from sun whenever possible, etc. Rental rigs in particular have probably had their tires abused in so many ways that if we were to buy a used rental rig, we'd probably make tire replacement a condition of the purchase no matter how old they were. I would imagine that the way they were treated, by novice RVers on a daily basis, had a lot to do with their poor condition. You're already gaining enough knowledge about RVing to take far better care of your new tires than any renter ever could!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Safe travels, and best of luck on the road.

[@garymuse4662]

Where did you purchase your tire covers?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Gary. We got our tire covers back in 2005 when we bought our RV. They are actually made by MCD Innovations... but, unfortunately, they aren't making them any more. Which is a shame... since ours are getting old and could really use replacing. We have a lead on a new set of tire covers that are in the works... but no details yet on when they'll be available.

[@tesiaroution9813]

How do u know what rv right for u

[@RVgeeks]

+Tesia Roution Very individual choice. We'd suggest going to an RV show and asking lots of questions, both of the vendors there and especially of other people who already RV. Full-time vs part-time is a big factor. Plus we always recommend buying the smallest RV you think you can be comfortable in.

[@SachiWI]

holy crap 8 grand?

[@RVgeeks]

Sachi WI Yah. :( Tires have become incredibly expensive over the years, since they're a petroleum product.

[@chownful]

+RVgeeks Yeah and even though oil is cheap now(and has been for almost a year) you still don't see much, if any, savings.

[@pookatim]

Do RV tires ever get rotated?

[@RVgeeks]

Pook Atim Not that we're aware of (we've never done it or had it recommended to us). But just to be sure, this might be a question to post on the forums at irv2.com.

[@mrbakerskatz]

Where I went to school there was 10 tires on that RV, why would you buy 8 tires for $8000.? running bad steer tires just seems suicidal to me !!

[@RVgeeks]

2 front wheels + 4 drive wheels + 2 tag wheels = 8. If you watched the video, you surely saw that none of our tires are "bad" as confirmed by professional inspection and the manufacturer's own guidelines.

[@mrbakerskatz]

RVgeeks My apologies ,I was thinking Both rears were tandems.I should have known that.

[@RVgeeks]

mrbakerskatz No worries. Wish it only added up to 6. lol

[@ussweeneyd]

I guess if you live mobile full time you can offset this sticker shock against property taxes etc.

[@RVgeeks]

True, Todd. Getting full-time use helps offset the expense. But you can also buy used to reduce the initial cost. And there are less-expensive RVs out there.

[@lattermanstudio]

8 tires on that thing? or is it 6 and two spares??? ..... just wondering.....

[@RVgeeks]

Large RVs rarely come with any spare tire at all, probably to save weight, cost and lawsuits from people who get killed when one falls on them while trying to change their own tire. lol

[@lattermanstudio]

LOL..... like duh.... I have 8 on mine.... brain fart about the "6"..... but yea - I actually do have a space in the rear basement on my Rexhall. I am fortunate to have smaller/less expensive tires on my beast..... $8k... whoohoo... that smarts!! :)

[@jdmccartney1]

Z

[@michaeljones8079]

They saw you coming on those tires. $320.00 per tire is more realistic. These are just truck tires.

[@RVgeeks]

Sorry Michael. These are not truck tires. The rubber is formulated with more UV protectant because they last for many more years due to the fewer annual miles put on them. We shopped the hell out of these, and know exactly what they cost. $320 isn’t anywhere near the realm of reality for Michelin XZA2 Energy 295/80R 22.5s.

[@michaeljones8079]

@@RVgeeks okay you know more than I on RV tires. I didn't know that truck tires are different. We got ten years out of some of the tires we ran on the low mileage rigs too so there is my confusion. Over thirty years on the road driving trucks...

[@michaeljones8079]

@@RVgeeks are you able to run light truck tires on motorhomes?

[@RVgeeks]

Hi Michael. As far as we know, as long as the tires have the load-carrying capacity, and of course are the correct size, you should be able to use truck tires on many RVs. But RV tires generally have a more compliant sidewall to make for a better ride, , and possibly a quieter tread design as well, so truck tires might not be desirable.

[@michaeljones8079]

@@RVgeeks Thank you for putting your knowledge and experience out there. I am going to retire in just a few years and will look for a high end coach that is a few years old. We are learning alot from you!