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Front Tire

Rv Tires: It Is Where The Rubber Meets The Road!

It's not the RV tire we ride on... it's the pocket of air inside... it holds us up and gets us down the road.

What is the science behind our RV tires?  Why is it that these tires suffer from sidewall cracking, and rot?  Is there anything we can do to prevent this premature degrading of our RV tires?  Why is it that we do not suffer the same issues with the tires we put on our automobiles… the ones that we drive every day?  When we understand the answers to these questions, I believe we will then get better service life out of our RV tires.

I am thinking that the solution to the above questions has to do with two things:  

1. Understanding how a tire is made.

Every modern RV tire will contain emollients such as carbon black and specific waxes that are designed to protect their sidewalls against the effects of UV (ultra violet) light, and ozone.

The manufacturers of  all modern tires realized as early as 1910 that adding carbon black to the rubber compound that makes up the RV tire will protect this tire from the effects of UV… what may not be known by the general public, is that this carbon black material must be reapplied periodically to prevent UV damage.

Blocking the tire from the sun using a good tire cover is also recommended.  It is just like sunscreen for our bodies if you must be in the sun, sunscreen works up to a point.  However being in the shade will give a better protection.

RV Tire manufactures also use wax to help keep ozone from drying out and cracking a tire.  This wax does not need to be re-applied periodically like carbon black.  It will work its way to the surface by the process of using the tire in a normal fashion.  This brings us to the 2nd reason for the premature degradation of a tire.

2. Understanding how individual working conditions effect the longevity of a tire.

Our RV tires are designed to roll down the road. If they are used in this manner and kept clean, sidewall deterioration becomes less of a concern. This motion, of rolling down the road, allows the wax to work its way up to the surface of the tire, and offers protection against ozone contamination.

To sum this up, there are three things to do that will prevent early tire damage to your RV.

1. Keep the tire clean.

Heavy buildup of mud and dirt will act as an abrasive that prevents a proper waxing process.  Using a mild soap and water solution along with a soft bristle brush will, if applied on a regular bases, remove a fair amount of ozone buildup.

2. Flexing, or using the tire.

It is the flexing of a tire while driving down the road that will work the waxes to the surface of your sidewalls… this flexing results in an expansion and contraction motion of the tire.  As long as new wax works its way to the surface, you will have good protection against the effects of ozone oxidation.

3. Apply a carbon black component to your tires.

After you have your RV tires clean, you will want to apply a carbon black product like 303 Aerospace Protectant. As far as I know, this is the only product that will work as advertised in combating UV.

It matters what you put on your tire:

Another thing to consider is the fact that any tire dressing that contains petroleum products, alcohol, and/or silicone materials may further damage the tire due to a possible chemical reaction with the antioxidant material in the tire.

Bottom line, these two additives, carbon black and wax, will protect an RV tire from premature drying and cracking.

However, as I stated above, when a tire is not used, this wax additive will lose its effectiveness.  This is why we don’t see the same type of premature weathering on our automobiles.  We simply use them enough to keep everything in balance.  Unfortunately, RVs can sit for prolonged periods of time.  So, we must take the above additional steps to protect our recreational investment.

About the Author

My name is Jim, and I retired from the Department of Defense in the year 2000 due to base closure. I was an engineering technician working at McClellan AFB, and way back when, the Sacramento Army Depot. My job was, simply put, to do whatever had to be done.

It encompassed a broad spectrum of activity ranging from writing technical procedures to reverse engineering repair processes and writing/verifying MIL STDs (Military Standards) for various military applications and test equipment.

I am developing a web site (http://www.class-c-motorhome-info-made-simple.com/) that will profile the recreational opportunities in Northern CA specifically and the US in general.

Stage 1 encompasses a general overview of RVing basics that relates to accessories and weight issues.

Stage 2 will be discussing repair projects on my Class C.

Stage 3 will be specific information about prime RV destinations.

Economy Beyond Gas: Three Things You Can Do to Make Your Car's Tires Last Longer

Anything you can do to make your car tires last longer will cut down the cost of driving your car.  Sure, you've heard so much about driving habits that can increase your miles per gallon that you're tired of hearing it, but what about increasing your miles per tire change?  The way you drive, and the way you take care of your tires can go a long way toward saving you money.  And as a bonus, most of the ways to make your tires last longer will also make your car safer to drive, and improve your fuel economy!

Here are three tips to help you get the most life out of your car tires:

• Keep your tires properly inflated
• Keep your wheels properly aligned and balanced
• Turn your wheels only while the car is moving

Each of these things will make your tires last longer, and I'll tell you why.

Proper Inflation

Maintaining correct air pressure in your tires has been discussed as a way to improve gas mileage, so much that it almost sounds ridiculous.  Overemphasized or not, it is still true, and it also improves the life of your tires.

Check your tire pressure at least once a week, and add air when the pressure is below the manufacturer's recommendations.  Check the owner's manual for your car for the correct pressure.

If you find that one or more tires need air often, have your local repair garage check it for slow leaks, and fix them.  A slow leak might be a warning sign that the tire will suddenly go flat, so spare yourself the trouble.  Fix it before it gets worse.

And don't overinflate the tires.  There is a school of thought that if a little pressure is good, more pressure must be better, but this is not the case.  An overinflated tire will bulge along the tread surface, so that only a small strip down the center of the tire is actually in contact with the road.  This will cause the tire to wear prematurely down the center, and it also reduces traction because you have less rubber on the road.

If a tire is overinflated, which can happen when the weather gets warm or if you move from a low altitude to higher altitude, let some air out.  Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure, neither too low nor too high.

Alignment and Balance

You usually get your tires balanced and your wheels aligned whenever you buy new tires, and that's good.  However, if anything happens to unbalance your tires or to misalign the wheels in between tire changes, you should have it corrected right away.

Misaligned or unbalanced tires will wear unevenly, and that always means that they will wear out faster.  They will last much longer if they are always properly balanced and aligned.

If you have a flat tire repaired, or even just a slow leak, make sure the tire is rebalanced before the mechanic puts it back on your car.  They may charge extra for this service, but it will save you money in the long run.  The tire will last longer, and you will get better gas mileage than you would get with an unbalanced tire.

Your wheel alignment should stay correct between tire changes, but if you drive on rough roads, you should have it checked regularly.  You should also have the alignment checked if you had some unusual shock to your car's suspension, such as if you hit a curb or a large piece of debris in the road.

With proper wheel alignment, your tires will last much longer.  You will get bonus benefits of better, safer handling, improved fuel economy, and longer life of your car's suspension and steering components such as tie rod ends and ball joints.  The extra strain on the system from misaligned wheels also causes undue wear and tear on these parts as well as your tires.

Steer Only While Moving

Back in the days before power steering became commonplace, everyone knew this:  It's much easier to turn the steering wheel while the car is moving than while it's stopped.  In case you've never had the pleasure of driving without power steering, it's worth the trouble to demonstrate this for yourself.

With the car parked on a slope, such as a driveway, and the engine off, turn the key to the "on" position without starting the engine.  This will unlock the steering column.  Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left.  It's hard, but a person of average strength can do it with a little effort.  Now, release the brake a bit to let the car roll slowly, and turn the steering wheel all the way to the right.  It's still difficult without the engine running, but much, much easier than it was when the car was not moving.

The difference is friction.  When you turn the steering wheel and the car is not moving at all, you are rubbing the front tires sideways across the pavement.  This rubs the tread off the tires and onto the pavement.  No, you won't see a flat spot on the tire after one bout of parallel parking, but the cumulative effect of doing this day after day is taking thousands of miles off the life of your tires.

Whenever you have to maneuver at low speed, such as getting in or out of a small parking space, make sure the car is moving - at least a little bit - while you turn the steering wheel.  Even if the car moves as little as half a foot while you turn the steering wheel from one extreme to the other, you will save a great deal of wear on your tires.

And there's a bonus here, too.  If you turn the steering wheel while the car is stopped, where does the power to turn the wheels come from?  Right!  From the engine, and from the gasoline that you paid too much for.  Steering only while moving will save you gas, as well as saving wear on your tires.

Conclusion

Much of the cost of owning and driving a car is related to your choices in how you drive it.  Yes, you must replace your tires every so often.  But you can make it a little less often, and make your expensive tires serve you a good deal longer, if you take proper care of them.

About the Author

Chuck Bonner is the lead analyst at GasPredictor.com. GasPredictor.com has many innovative ways to save money on your driving budget, including a highly accurate system for predicting changes in retail gasoline prices in the U.S. To see tomorrow's gas prices today, visit http://www.gaspredictor.com