Tire care and maintenance are very important for your safety. Some of the most frequent questions I get are about tires. There are many opinions on tires and safety, I am going to share my experiences. I am not an expert on the subject, this is just my routine.
Before each trip, I check several things with my tires.
Tire inspection – I perform a visual inspection for any defects, imperfections, sidewall bubbles, tread conditions, or anything that looks out of the ordinary. While you are looking around at the tires, take this time to also inspect the underbelly of the rig.
Tire inflation – Check the PSI of each tire when cold, and don’t forget the tow vehicle and spare.
Lug-Nuts – Check lug-nuts for proper torque settings. I use a torque wrench to check that my lugs are properly tightened.
Tire Protection – Keep them out of the sun when not in service. Using tire covers when your trailer is parked at campsites or not in service can help your tire life.
Curbs – We have all probably done it, cutting a corner too sharp and running over the curb. You may not see anything at the time, but internal belt damage can occur, leading to blowout later. At times it might not be avoidable. Our home has square curbs, and we cannot get out of our RV drive without having the tires go over the curb.
Driving Speeds – Driving at high speeds can cause tire breakdown, keep speeds within the range of what the tire manufacture specifies. Many trailer tires have a max speed of 62-65 MPH.
While Traveling Tire Inspection – At each stop for gas or a break, I perform a visual inspection for any defects, imperfections, sidewall bubble, tread condition, or anything that looks out of the ordinary. I also use an infrared thermometer to check the temperature.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System – During travel I monitor my tires with the EEZTire system for pressure and temperature. See my post on the TPMS from EEZTire.