BigJim45
Luv'n Life
Copied from RVTravel.com
What is your take on this?
RVing Tip of the Day
The crisis of RV tire quality
by Steve Savage, Mobility RV Service
If you haven't had an RV tire blowout on your trailer or fifth wheel yet, the betting man says you will soon.
Scanning RV Internet forums, it doesn't take long to see tire failures are costly and, unfortunately, all too frequent. The naysayers proclaim with proper air pressure and good maintenance none of this would be happening. If that were the case, why does it seem to be commonplace with towable rigs, but not nearly so common in automobiles and pickup trucks, despite the fact that cars and trucks dramatically outnumber RVs?
Easy, you say. Most if not all RV tires come from suppliers based outside of the United States and are made to a different standard (Special Trailer, or ST) than tires made for light trucks (LT). Trailer tires should be built with stiffer sidewalls and operate at higher air pressure than those found on trucks. In my opinion, it's not the standard to which the tires are built, nor is it due to the fact many RVs sit outside for months at a time, neglected. Many cars and trucks sit outside for the same amount of time or longer and are just as severely neglected.
Here's my two bits' worth: The problem with RV tires rests on the shoulders of RV manufacturers and RV owners. The RV industry markets trailer wheels on the components that are designed to move them off dealer lots — the things that people pay attention to — and tires are just not on the list. Like the carpet on the floor of most RVs, which is usually the cheapest, shortest-lived product in the carpet catalog. For tires, it's the same — the cheapest tires mounted under those shiny new RVs.
Take a look at the tires on your rig and read the label. Ask yourself: Who the heck makes these? Because 99 times out of 100, I bet you never heard of the brand name gracing that sidewall. If there is any truth to "you get what you pay for," you sure must not be paying much for most RV tires.
How is this the consumer's fault? Simple. The majority of buyers don't properly educate themselves before making that first purchase. They buy a floor plan or a color scheme and ignore more basic construction features. How many buyers ask to inspect the roof of the rig they're contemplating buying? How many ask to weigh the new "love of their life" before they buy it to see if the weight stickers are accurate? Did you lie on that mattress before you dragged it to the campground? The same holds true with the tires under that camper. Until buyers start paying attention to them, manufacturers won't either.
"So what? I'll hardly put any miles on my new trailer anyway. Why should I care what tires are under it?" My response? Every week during the camping season I get calls requesting tire service from families broken down on the Interstate. These calls often come at night or on the weekend, times when stores are closed and most people are in bed. You get the picture. Neither I, nor dozens of technicians like me, have an assortment of every tire and wheel size made at our disposal. That means when you break down and need a tire, you are likely broken down for hours and in some cases days, not minutes! Tire failures disrupt long-planned vacations, family reunions and you-name-its. So, first of all, tire failures have a human cost.
Second, blowouts have a financial cost that often goes way beyond the cost of a tire or a tire and wheel. When your RV tire blows, the sidewall unravels and takes with it trim, sidewall, floor, water lines, wiring, propane lines, or whatever is in its path. I have seen more than one camper lose up to eight feet of floor, a foot wide, above the tire that failed. Yes, it all can be repaired, but it sure is an inconvenience having to deal with repair centers and insurance adjusters. Again, this is the kind of thing that cuts into that long-awaited trip to Disney or Aunt Fanny’s Fun Factory.
What to do? First, stop buying RVs with tires that would serve better as trash can liners. What tires are junk? Look at what's on the rig. If it's new, almost certainly the tires are the cheapest thing the manufacturer could find when it rolled down the line. If it's a used rig, see if the name is one you recognize. Chances are good it won't be, so you should probably assume the tires will have to be replaced. But if you are simply going to park it in a campground someplace and leave, then you won't need to replace the tires until you move it.
You could be daring and negotiate the price of new tires into the selling price. Imagine what would happen if everyone buying a new trailer told the dealer replacing the tires was part of the conditions of the sale. If that happened a thousand times, it would create a revolution in RV tires.
I can't name by brand the bad tires — there are so many. We run Maxxis on our towables because the tire salesmen swear they're better. They sure are more expensive. Are they perfect? Hardly, but so far, they have not left me sweating on the Interstate changing a flat. Another thing: Every RVer should carry a spare, no exceptions. And when you replace your tires, jump up a rating from a C to a D, or from a D to an E. You'll get more carrying capacity. Keep 'em aired up to the maximum pressure shown on the tire sidewall and stay safe in your travels.
What is your take on this?
RVing Tip of the Day
The crisis of RV tire quality
by Steve Savage, Mobility RV Service
If you haven't had an RV tire blowout on your trailer or fifth wheel yet, the betting man says you will soon.
Scanning RV Internet forums, it doesn't take long to see tire failures are costly and, unfortunately, all too frequent. The naysayers proclaim with proper air pressure and good maintenance none of this would be happening. If that were the case, why does it seem to be commonplace with towable rigs, but not nearly so common in automobiles and pickup trucks, despite the fact that cars and trucks dramatically outnumber RVs?
Easy, you say. Most if not all RV tires come from suppliers based outside of the United States and are made to a different standard (Special Trailer, or ST) than tires made for light trucks (LT). Trailer tires should be built with stiffer sidewalls and operate at higher air pressure than those found on trucks. In my opinion, it's not the standard to which the tires are built, nor is it due to the fact many RVs sit outside for months at a time, neglected. Many cars and trucks sit outside for the same amount of time or longer and are just as severely neglected.
Here's my two bits' worth: The problem with RV tires rests on the shoulders of RV manufacturers and RV owners. The RV industry markets trailer wheels on the components that are designed to move them off dealer lots — the things that people pay attention to — and tires are just not on the list. Like the carpet on the floor of most RVs, which is usually the cheapest, shortest-lived product in the carpet catalog. For tires, it's the same — the cheapest tires mounted under those shiny new RVs.
Take a look at the tires on your rig and read the label. Ask yourself: Who the heck makes these? Because 99 times out of 100, I bet you never heard of the brand name gracing that sidewall. If there is any truth to "you get what you pay for," you sure must not be paying much for most RV tires.
How is this the consumer's fault? Simple. The majority of buyers don't properly educate themselves before making that first purchase. They buy a floor plan or a color scheme and ignore more basic construction features. How many buyers ask to inspect the roof of the rig they're contemplating buying? How many ask to weigh the new "love of their life" before they buy it to see if the weight stickers are accurate? Did you lie on that mattress before you dragged it to the campground? The same holds true with the tires under that camper. Until buyers start paying attention to them, manufacturers won't either.
"So what? I'll hardly put any miles on my new trailer anyway. Why should I care what tires are under it?" My response? Every week during the camping season I get calls requesting tire service from families broken down on the Interstate. These calls often come at night or on the weekend, times when stores are closed and most people are in bed. You get the picture. Neither I, nor dozens of technicians like me, have an assortment of every tire and wheel size made at our disposal. That means when you break down and need a tire, you are likely broken down for hours and in some cases days, not minutes! Tire failures disrupt long-planned vacations, family reunions and you-name-its. So, first of all, tire failures have a human cost.
Second, blowouts have a financial cost that often goes way beyond the cost of a tire or a tire and wheel. When your RV tire blows, the sidewall unravels and takes with it trim, sidewall, floor, water lines, wiring, propane lines, or whatever is in its path. I have seen more than one camper lose up to eight feet of floor, a foot wide, above the tire that failed. Yes, it all can be repaired, but it sure is an inconvenience having to deal with repair centers and insurance adjusters. Again, this is the kind of thing that cuts into that long-awaited trip to Disney or Aunt Fanny’s Fun Factory.
What to do? First, stop buying RVs with tires that would serve better as trash can liners. What tires are junk? Look at what's on the rig. If it's new, almost certainly the tires are the cheapest thing the manufacturer could find when it rolled down the line. If it's a used rig, see if the name is one you recognize. Chances are good it won't be, so you should probably assume the tires will have to be replaced. But if you are simply going to park it in a campground someplace and leave, then you won't need to replace the tires until you move it.
You could be daring and negotiate the price of new tires into the selling price. Imagine what would happen if everyone buying a new trailer told the dealer replacing the tires was part of the conditions of the sale. If that happened a thousand times, it would create a revolution in RV tires.
I can't name by brand the bad tires — there are so many. We run Maxxis on our towables because the tire salesmen swear they're better. They sure are more expensive. Are they perfect? Hardly, but so far, they have not left me sweating on the Interstate changing a flat. Another thing: Every RVer should carry a spare, no exceptions. And when you replace your tires, jump up a rating from a C to a D, or from a D to an E. You'll get more carrying capacity. Keep 'em aired up to the maximum pressure shown on the tire sidewall and stay safe in your travels.
