Knowing How Long Do RV Tires Last?

Tires are one of the most important parts of a recreational vehicle (RV). How long do RV tires last? Your motorhome tires might be performing well for many years, but there is an age limit for them. Understating the average lifespan of RV tires and the conditions that deteriorate them is important. After all, you don’t want them to give up and leave you stranded in a remote place.

Most people don’t think of changing the tires until there are signs of physical damage or they are showing some troubles. Yes, new tires for RVs are expensive. However, worn-out tires can cause bigger damage that can add up to those expenses.

How Long Do RV Tires Last?

The answer is – five to seven years. Some tires can last longer, given that you have taken proper care of them and avoided dangerous driving conditions. However, they can deteriorate even faster than that, depending on weather conditions and your driving habits.

You can easily check the age of the tires. All of them come with a date code, which is a series of numbers starting with the word ‘DOT’. The last four digits of that code indicate the manufacturing week and year. The code can be found on the tire’s sidewall. Some tires could have it on the inside, so you have to crawl under the RV to see the code.

The tires of a motorhome are the parts that carry out all the load – the vehicle itself, all cargo, and the passengers. So, if you don’t take proper care or replace them at the right time, they are likely to blow out, which could be dangerous when you are driving at high speeds.

So, how long do RV tires last if you calculate the duration of life in terms of miles? The rule of thumb is to replace them after every 8,000 or 10,000 miles. There might be some people who have driven the trailer more than 20,000 or 30,000 miles with replacement, but these are purely exceptions.

Read the manufacturer’s manual to know how many miles the tires have on them. This is the best practice when you are buying used campers. Some tire manufacturing brands like Michelin produce good-quality tires but they also last for a certain period.

So, you know how long do RV tires last but that lifespan could be cut short due to these factors:

Frequency of use

Some people use their travel trailer for occasional road trips and vacations while some practically live in it. That difference in usage frequency affects the lifespan of tires. When you are using the camper day in and out, the tires will wear off a year earlier than the ones used once or twice in a month.

Also, poor upkeep and ignoring small repair needs reduce the lifetime of tires.

Weather conditions

Weather states matter in affecting the health of tires, the engine, and other parts of a vehicle. For example, driving in Minnesota’s International Falls (officially trademarked as Icebox of the Nation) will not be similar to the experience of running a camper in sunny, warm Bay Area in California.

Harsh weather including extreme heat and cold causes wearing off the tire’s sidewall and exterior rubber parts at a much quicker rate.

Overloading

Another reason for tire failure is overloading the trailer. Every camper has a certain capacity for carrying cargo. If you load it more than the recommended weight limit, it affects the tires and the engine.

Using Wrong Tire Types

Yes, it could be a reason too. ST or special trailer tires are the products that you should use for your camper. These are particularly designed for carrying extra weight. Non-ST tires like the ones used in trucks and passenger vehicles are not able to handle that kind of load.

Low-quality tires

Anything having a poor quality is not going to last long enough. So, if you settle for the cheaper, lower-quality alternatives to the trailer’s original tires, you may have to change them before the due time.

How Often Should I Change My Tires?

How long do RV tires last? You already get the answer. Are you still confused about their replacement time?

It should be easy math, right? You will change the tires after 5 to 6 years or 8,000 to 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. But you cannot just wait for those years or miles because tires can wear out before that period.

The best practice is to check their conditions at regular periods. Cracks on the sidewalls and treads are visible to the naked eye. It is also a good practice to consult a mechanic once in a while to check the conditions of the tires.