Tire Care

Please keep in mind when reading our tips, that due to liabilities, Mobuilt RV Repair, is not liable for any damages that may occur by following any tips listed. Please remember these are only suggestions. Following these RV tips is at your own risk. Thank you for understanding.

Tire Care
Your motor home's tires are important for the proper handling and safety - and they represent a sizable financial investment. These are all very good reasons to make sure your tires are properly maintained.
TIRE INFLATION
	Tire inflation pressure should be checked monthly, at the beginning of each trip, and daily during vehicle use. When checking a tire's pressure use a double-headed inflation gauge designed to measure up to 120 pounds per square inch (psi) in 2 psi increments. Tire pressure should only be checked when the tire is cold. This is because friction caused by the tire rolling on the road surface generates heat. This heat transfers through the tire and warms the air held in the tire. The resulting expansion of the air causes a corollary increase of the pressure within the tire. A pressure reading taken from a warm tire could lead to a dangerous under-inflation condition. There are specific maintenance practices that will help prevent premature tire wear. Among these are: -Wheel alignment -Tire rotation -Inspection
PROPER ALIGNMENT
	Proper wheel alignment can mean the difference between a full service life from your tire and an early trip to the tire store. Wheel alignment is the angular relationship between the vehicle's wheels, suspension and the ground. The tires on a properly aligned vehicle's roll along with minimal drag, while a poorly aligned vehicle's tires are quickly damaged by the dragging, cupping, scuffing and slipping actions that are indicative of misalignment. Each motor home manufactured by Winnebago, Damon, Fleetwood Industries is aligned before leaving the factory. Once the vehicle is purchased and the owner had loaded the motor home with cargo, it is recommended that the vehicle be aligned. This is because the addition of weight from the loaded belongings can affect the angular relationships between the vehicle's front wheels, suspension and the ground. In effect, this alters the alignment. Note that front wheel alignment is a maintenance function and is NOT covered by the new-vehicle warranty. Front wheel alignment should be checked by and alignment specialist whenever abnormal tire wear is noted or at any time a degradation of ride or handling is perceived.
TIRE ROTATION
	Regular tire rotations helps promote uniform wear between all tires, thereby ensuring maximum tire life. Consult your vehicle chassis owner Manuel for the recommended rotation method and frequency.
VISUAL INSPECTION
	Another practice which will help prevent tire wear is frequent visual inspection. By inspecting a tire each time you check its pressure, you will catch the earliest signs of wear and your service professional can correct the condition before more serious tire damage occurs.
	FIXING FLATS
	Tires that have been slightly damaged, such as a nail puncture, may be repaired by a tire service professional. This is provided that the puncture is 1/4" or less in diameter and is not located in the sidewall of the tire. Punctures should be permanently repaired with a combination patch and plug. The use of only a plug, or the use of a tube in a tubeless tire, are not suitable repairs. Caution: Aerosol inflaters are not intended to permanently repair a tire. Many aerosol inflaters contain highly flammable substances such as propane or butane. The presence of these materials in a tire can pose a hazard to any person servicing such a tire. You MUST inform your tire service professional of the use of an aerosol inflater prior to service of the tire.
	TIME FOR A CHANGE?
	Even with the best care and maintenance, tires will eventually reach the end of their service life and will have to be replaced. There are several conditions which would require tire replacement: -Bulges -Cuts -Irregular or excessive tread wear -Tread worn to 1/16" depth in two or more adjacent grooves -Tead wear bars or indicators If you suspect any of these conditions exist, contact your tire service professional for an assessment. Finally, when it is time to replace your tires, always use a tire of the same size, type and rating. In a meantime, a little extra care and maintenance will help you get the very best from your tires. May you have a great summer and camping season.
	Lug nuts on RVs: Be sure to use a torque wrench to tighten them periodically. Tighten them to about 85 pounds.
	Dual Tires: Be certain that both tires, if not the same type, are within one fourth inch (diameter) of each other at maximum inflation. Otherwise they will wear unevenly.
	Fifth Wheel owners: Don't over extend the landing gear. If you do, it will bend. Use blocks to build up the space below them. If you use caster wheels in the back of an RV to protect against the long overhang, rubber wheels will last about a day. Use steel!