When you’re driving an RV, safety is paramount. Such a big vehicle requires extra double-checking to ensure that everything runs properly – including their tires.
RV tires may look similar to regular tires, but they follow different rules. Changing your tires at regular intervals is essential to keep them safe and working properly. Keep reading to learn about how long different kinds of RV tires last.
How Long Do RV Tires Last?
Generally, RV tires last about six years (or around 8,000 to 12,000 miles) before they need to be replaced. However, you should keep an eye on tread level, replacing the tires when their tread falls below your area’s legal limit. Furthermore, all tires should be changed after ten years, no matter their physical condition, including spare tires.
Different tires last for differing periods, though. Keep reading to figure out how long your RV’s tires might last.
How Many Miles Can RV Tires Last?
In many cases, it depends on the lifespan of the tires. For quality tires, you can expect them to last for about 8,000 to 12,000 miles.
While that is shorter than the average miles for a normal car tire, RVs are much larger and are often driven much less.
In other words, tires go through a lot trying to carry an RV around.
With that said, each manufacturer creates their tires a bit differently. Therefore, it largely depends on the tire you purchase. Often, the price matches the quality of the tire, though this isn’t always the case.
When purchasing a tire, ask about the maximum recorded miles for that type of tire.
Usually, you shouldn’t conflate the number of miles with the number of years the tires will last. After all, it depends on how much driving you do.
How Long Do Class A RV Tires Last?
Generally, most class A tires will need to be replaced every six years, assuming that you’re using them at an average rate. However, yours may need to be replaced sooner if you drive more.
Usually, class A tires that are regularly used will lose tread before other problems start to develop. Once a tire’s tread level is below the legal limit in your area, you’ll need to replace them.
With that said, tires that aren’t used very often may not undergo much tread loss. Even if the tires appear to be completely okay, you should replace them at least every ten years, including the spare tire.
At this point, the rubber is often so old that it can pose a problem. Plus, the aging process can cause defects that are difficult to see with the naked eye but can potentially cause all sorts of issues.
Of course, you should keep an eye on the tires for defects, such as cracks. Typically, these defects develop as a normal part of aging. However, they are a sign that the tire is getting too old to be used.
How Long Do Class C RV Tires Last?
Generally, Class C tires have the same longevity as other RV tires. In most cases, your tire will wear down their tread before they become old.
If you regularly drive with them, then you generally don’t need to worry about the age of the tire. Just watch the tread level and change them when you hit your local legal tread limit.
However, if you don’t drive on the tires very much, then you should at least replace them when they hit ten years old – even if they otherwise look fine. At this age, the rubber has disintegrated to the point that it is no longer safe to drive on.
In other words, the tire may look fine, but it is more susceptible to blowouts and similar issues.
Of course, if you notice any defects on the tire, you should replace them right away. As you might imagine, tires with cracks and bubbles are often not safe to drive around.
How Often Should You Replace RV Tires?
RV tires should primarily be replaced when the tread level becomes low. There are various ways to test this, such as the quarter method.
Once your tires reach this tread level, they should be replaced. For RVs that are driven a lot, the tread level will be your primary gauge as to when you should purchase new tires.
However, for RVs that aren’t regularly driven, there are other things that you need to keep in mind.
Firstly, all RV tires should typically be replaced before they are ten years old. Even if the tire seems perfectly fine, the rubber is likely degraded at this age, which makes the tire unsafe.
Secondly, you need to keep an eye on the air pressure. If it begins to drop at an unusually high rate, such as 2 to 4 PSI a month, then it is likely time to replace the tires.
On average, most RV tires only last for three to six years. While the maximum lifespan is ten years, most don’t reach this age in the least.
Do You Rotate Tires On An RV?
You should rotate the tires on your RV just like you would on any other vehicle. With the proper rotation routine, you will help your tires last their full lifespan by encouraging even wear.
Generally, you should rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. However, again, this largely depends on the tires. Occasionally, tires will need to be rotated even more than this.
How Long Do Michelin RV Tires Last?
According to Michelin, their tires can last for a maximum of 10 years. After that, it is recommended that the tire be replaced even if it looks serviceable. If you follow this rule, you would also need to replace spare tires every ten years.
With that said, Michelin only warranties a lifespan of seven years, assuming the tread is still useable. Because of this, many people decide to replace their tires after this warranty is up.
In many cases, replacing the tire after seven years is the safest option. After all, the chance of the tire failing goes up significantly the older it gets.
Michelin also recommends that you get the tires inspected every year after they reach five years. Generally, small defects in the tire can be hard for the average user to see, especially when they develop slowly as the tire ages.
However, if you regularly use the tire, then the tread will likely wear down before you hit the seven-year marker.
Furthermore, you should keep up with the inflation pressure and visual condition. If you notice changes in these values, then it may be time to remove the tire from service.
Of course, you should keep up with the tread level as well. In many cases, states have legal tread limits.
If you want to know more, you can also check our posts on how long do SUV tires last, how long do tires last in storage, and how long do all-season tires last.
Conclusion
RV tires last varying lengths depending on the brand and type of tire. Generally, you can expect tires to last about six years. However, it depends on how much you drive on them.
If you drive on your tires a lot, you’ll likely wear down the tread before they reach their maximum lifespan.
No matter the condition of the tire, you’ll need to replace all RV tires before they reach ten years old.