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Ask Joel:
RV Questions
By Joel Raeber
A website reader asked Joel:
Q.:
The tires on my class C are 8 years old, 35,000 miles on them. They look
good, no cracks and have good tread on them. I keep them covered when
not in use and use Armoral (original) to keep them looking good; plus, I think Armoral helps to protect from cracking.
Still I am told that tires should be changed after 7 years. We use our RV at least once a month and more throughout the year. Because of no idle time, do you think the tire life could be longer?
Joel.:
There are many factors to consider in judging if it's time to replace your
RV tires. Variables include: mileage, how often they are used each year, and
how you store the vehicle. It is not uncommon to see RV tires with low
mileage and plenty of tread that are ruined by ozone and UV rays. (Ozone in
the air and UV rays cause tires to dry rot, especially the sidewalls.)
If you inspected the tires and didn't find any cracks, I would still have them
checked by a professional, just to be sure. I replace my RV tires every four
years. Theoretically, if you do not drive many miles per year on your RV
tires and store the vehicle out of the sun, your tires will last longer.
Many RV owners like to use Armoral or other products to keep their tires
looking good and also to help prevent weathering and dry rot. I have not found
that these products add much to tire life, and in fact, most manufacturers
don't recommend using them. Using soap, water, and a good brush will keep
the sidewall clean and the whitewall looking bright.
Even if your tires look good, they are probably past the warranty age, for
example Goodyear's warranty is 4-5 years depending on the tire. So, ask
yourself: Would I prefer to change the tires now, or risk a blow out on the
interstate at 65 mph?
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