How to Avoid Tire Blowouts

Try these best care and maintenance practices for smooth, uninterrupted travels.

by

Words by Mike Skoropad

There’s always the chance of a glitch or two to deal with while on the road whether it’s a system malfunctioning, broken component or damaged gear. The one problem, however, that can stop your RV in its tracks is a blown tire, regardless of where or when it happens.

Tire care is one of the most important tasks of RVing. It’s also one of the most overlooked until you find yourself swapping the spare along the side of a highway. Sometimes a blown tire is inevitable due to unexpected wear over time but it can often be avoided. Here are a few tire maintenance best practices to do before and during your trip to ensure safe and trouble-free travels.

Tire Maintenance Before a Trip

Prevent Dryness and Tire Rot

Tires are designed to be run regularly. In the event months go by without using your RV, they can become susceptible to dry rot, which causes the rubber to become hard and brittle, making them more susceptible to blowouts.

One of the main causes of dry rot is direct sunlight as UV rays can wear some of the resins in the rubber that holds moisture. So it’s best to keep your RV indoors and out of direct sunlight when not in use, which can slow down the deterioration of the tires if they sit for long periods. If you have to keep your RV outdoors, be sure to cover the tires with an opaque, waterproof cover to shield them from direct sunlight and also prevent oxidation from moisture.

Know the Age of Your Tires

The type of rubber that tires are made of will naturally deteriorate over time, regardless of how frequently or infrequently they are in use. It’s important to know that you should never drive on RV tires that you have been running for six years or longer. You can determine how old your tires are by looking at the details on the sidewall and they will need to be replaced if they exceed the six-year mark. Also be sure to purchase the same make, style and size that originally came with your RV.

Monitor your RV’s Load Weight

All vehicles on the road have a variety of designated weight ratings to withstand the risk of damage to the tires (among other factors). Although RVs are designed to carry heavier loads than other vehicles, all have a safe load weight to abide by.

The maximum load weight your RV can carry can be found in your RV’s owner’s manual and one of the figures you want to determine is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This indicates the maximum weight your RV can carry safely and includes the weight of the vehicle and everything in it.

If you’re unsure whether your RV is under the GVWR, simply visit a truck weigh station as a safety measure. Travelling a short distance to a weigh station will not likely damage your tires but the added stress will accumulate over longer trips. In the event your RV tips the scales over the GVWR, it’s time to determine what you really need to bring along and what you don’t.

It’s important to remember there are two other weight limits to consider if you’re towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel, including Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCW), which should not be exceeded. Both of these ratings can be found in your RV owner’s manual.

  • Gross Trailer Weight (GTW): This refers to the maximum weight that your trailer alone can be (including everything in it) before you risk doing damage to your tires.
  • Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCW): This refers to the maximum weight of your vehicle and trailer. Note: this is not necessarily the same as the GVWR and GTW ratings combined.

Maintaining Your Tires During a Trip

Commonly Check PSi

Underinflation is the leading cause of tire blowouts. So before you leave for your trip, inflate your tires to the specified PSi as recommended by the manufacturer(s). In the event you’re travelling for more than one week at a time, you’ll want to commonly check the PSi. Tires typically lose two PSi of pressure approximately every 1,600 km (1,000 mi), which translates to losing 25 percent of PSi after driving approximately 6,400 km (4,000 mi) for longer trips.

Although many new RVs are available with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), it’s still a good idea to purchase a gauge and determine the PSi manually approximately every 3,000 km (2,000 mi) since some punctures (that can cause a slow leak) can’t be detected by the TPS for a few days, which can result in a blown tire. Tire pressure gauges can be purchased for less than $10 at most auto parts stores.

The only time you may want to consider driving with underinflated tires is when you’re driving off-road in rural areas for extended periods. This will provide a little more bite on uneven, rough or slippery surfaces and even protect the suspension when going over unexpected bumps. It’s suggested to deflate your tires down 20 percent under their recommended PSi.

If you commonly underinflate your tires off-road, perhaps consider a specific set with a 10 or 12 ply. Although they are very durable to handle tough conditions, they shouldn’t be used for driving long distances on highways.

Be Cautious of Hot Weather

Tire blowouts can happen in all kinds of conditions, and it's especially important to be mindful of extremely hot temperatures. An increase in temperature can cause the tire pressure to increase over a long period, which in turn, can lead to a tire blowout. There are two ways to prevent this including:

  • Take regular 30-minute breaks every three hours of driving on the highway to let your tires cool.
  • Use low-rolling-resistance tires, which create less heat when travelling at high speeds. Remember, low rolling resistance tires are not suitable for driving on unpaved terrain, including grass.

Proper tire care and maintenance are essential to help prevent tire blowouts and adhering to these best practices will not only decrease the chance of tire damage but increase your enjoyment and hassle-free trips.

Article courtesy of Mike Skoropad, the co-founder and CEO of tire retailer United Tires. Founded in Chicago, Illinois, United Tires have been selling high-quality new and used tires online and in-store since 2011. For more information visit www.utires.com

Enjoy the Benefits of www.boondockerwelcome.com

This article was originally published on www.boondockerswelcome.com. A subsidiary of Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome is a community of RVers who allow RV guests to stay on their property. A great way to meet other enthusiasts, Boondockers Welcome has more than 2,900 hosts across Canada and the U.S.

Becoming a member means enjoying:

  • Unlimited stays at 2900+ locations across North America.
  • The luxury of hookups as 70 percent of hosts offer power (some may charge a fee).
  • Stays up to five nights.
  • The chance to learn about the best places to visit from local RVers.
  • Meeting fellow RVers.

For more information visit www.boondockerwelcome.com