RV tires are such a critical safety topic that we talk about them a lot. You may have read our recent post entitled Why Do RV Tires Blow Out? What Can I Do to Prevent It?
Most of us are aware that the loss of steering control that can occur after a front tire blowout can be a life-changing (or, yikes, life-ending!) experience. But there’s an invention out there that can save you and your motorhome from catastrophe in the event of a dreaded front tire blowout: RettroBand.
If you’re not familiar with RettroBand and you’ve got a heavy motorhome, namely a Class A or a large Class C, read on for information on this innovative tire safety system.
If you’ve ever driven a large motorhome, you may have found yourself wondering what would happen if you were to experience a front tire blowout while driving that heavy rig down the road at highway speeds.
In the past, the standard course of action in the event of a steer-tire blowout was to hold on tight trying to maintain control, hoping to get out of the situation without anyone getting hurt… or worse. Drivers are also advised to respond by doing something completely counterintuitive: step on the accelerator and avoid the brakes!
That’s because you don’t want to shift even more of the weight and mass of the RV onto the front wheels during a front-tire blowout, which is exactly what hitting the brakes would do. But how many of us would have the wherewithal to remember to instantly hit the gas in the sudden, jarring event of a blowout? And would you even have time to react at all before losing control?
So today we’re showcasing the RettroBand Version 2.0 – an innovative wheel enhancement and safety device for motorhome owners that could literally save your life. If that sounds like hyperbole, watch the incredible demonstration in the video embedded at the bottom of this post and see for yourself!
This is obviously really important stuff, so let’s dive right in.
What Is RettroBand?
RettroBand is a tire safety product exclusively distributed & installed by National Indoor RV Centers.
RettroBand Version 2.0 is a system that’s installed on the front wheels. The band is made of polyurethane composite with a strong steel band in the middle.
They’re designed to ensure that your motorhome remains stable and under control should a front tire blow out, which can be a truly serious and dangerous event.
The product was created for heavy Class A motorhomes and larger Class C motorhomes because a blowout on a front axle tire of these heavy rigs can lead to a sudden loss of air and tire shredding, dropping the rig onto the tire rim, potentially causing a complete loss of control of the RV.
RettroBands were created to avoid that scenario.
How Does RettroBand Work?
A Rettroband adds physical support to the rims of your motorhome’s front tires. The strong polyurethane material with a steel band at the center wraps around the rim, absorbing the weight of the RV in the event of a front-tire blowout.
RettroBands supply strong support in the event of a blowout, rather than leaving the front of the RV to fall onto the rim. The black polyurethane material houses a strong steel band. Together they form support that not only prevents extensive damage to the RV but, more importantly, keeps the driver in control, and the occupants of the RV safe.
The purpose of installing RettroBands is to support the RV and ensure that a deflated tire doesn’t come off the rim. It allows you to maintain steering stability so you can safely control the RV and come to a stop in an appropriate location.
In the past, another product used to address this issue was called the Tyron Band, which were designed to prevent a tire from coming off the rim in the event of a blowout.
However, Tyron Bands don’t provide any other type of support to the tire or motorhome in a blowout situation.
RettroBand adds that support, representing a very significant difference.
With RettroBand Version 2.0 on a rim, if the tire blows out, the RettroBand holds the rim up, allowing you to slow the motorhome and move it off the roadway toward safety, rather than allowing the rim to hit the road.
Where Can I Buy RettroBands and How Much Do They Cost?
RettroBands Version 2.0 are available at the following NIRVC locations (phone numbers included):
- Dallas, TX — (469) 277-1330
- Atlanta, GA — (770) 979-4051
- Nashville, TN — (615) 527-8960
- Phoenix, AZ — (520) 442-2500
- Las Vegas, NV — (702) 766-7770
Keep in mind that RettroBand is a premium safety system, highly designed and engineered to be able to safely handle the substantial weight of a large motorhome traveling at high speed, which is no small feat. If they seem pricey, it’s because of how they’re designed, what they do, and what they can save in the event of a life-threatening situation. Think of them like insurance.
Current prices below include two RettroBands and installation on the steer tires. Of course, appropriate state sales tax is additional.
295/305: $3595. / 315: $4595. / 365: $4695.
If your motor has tires of another size, contact RettroBand or NIRVC in any of the above locations for more information.
NIRVC offers a lifetime guarantee on RettroBands. This means that if you experience a blowout while using a RettroBand, NIRVC will replace the RettroBand regardless of its condition.
In other words, every RettroBand that does its job in the event of a blowout gets replaced with a brand-new RettroBand installed by NIRVC.
Are There Arguments Against the Use of Rettrobands?
Almost every objection we’ve seen to installing RettroBands is based on their cost, not the product itself.
Those arguing against spending money on RettroBands state that if you’re sure to use an RV TPMS (tire pressure management system) to watch your tire pressures, check your tire temperatures regularly, weigh your rig properly, use RV tire covers, and replace your tires before they age or wear, it’s cheaper to buy new tires than to buy a pair of RettroBands.
The problem with this is two-fold: 1) Even brand-new tires can have a blowout (without warning), and 2) The potentially enormous costs and damage from a blowout can’t be calculated in advance.
We recently read about an RVer who had a blowout on her brand-new motorhome which was NOT overweight. She followed all the rules. However, a piece of metal flew off of a truck and onto the roadway in front of her and her right front tire hit the metal and blew out.
She was lucky on that occasion, but she also had an experience she surely never wants to repeat, and now has RettroBands on her two front tires.
Also, RettroBands are recommended for installation on tires that are no more than 3 years old. That makes tire replacement time the perfect time to install them.
Again, RettroBands are a form of insurance. And if you’ve ever seen a motorhome experiencing a front-tire blowout, you might agree that the insurance is well worth having.
We’ll leave you with the following video in which Rob Craig and Brett Davis (Founder, President & CEO of NIRVC) put their own lives at risk to demonstrate their confidence in RettroBand.
You’ll see them driving an Integra Cornerstone motorhome with a 22,000-pound front axle at 70 mph, blowing out a size 365 tire with a RettroBand installed. The results are incredible.
Geek Out with Us Every Week
Join our newsletter to learn about all things RV-related. Every week we offer free tips, tricks, product reviews, and more to our online community of RVers. So, whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned expert, we’d love for you to geek out with us!
Dr. Mike
Monday 7th of November 2022
One of the items not listed in the article (which was very well written) is the fact that the retro bands will increase the resale value of your coach and, I believe the warranty is passed on to the next buyer.
Walt Leutwyler
Thursday 3rd of November 2022
Can you guys explain the difference between the Spartan Runflat and Rettroband? They look very similar in price to.
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 5th of November 2022
Hi Walt. We haven't seen much about the Spartan runflat solution (under their Red Diamond line of products), but it appears that the big difference is that the Spartan one has a roller between the wheel and the runflat device. According to their website, they claim that the roller "spins with the tire, not the wheel, reducing heat and friction." We're not sure how that would work and/or help... it actually seems like an additional complexity.
Craig Caldwell
Monday 31st of October 2022
Awesome product! Thanks for sharing.
John S.
Friday 28th of October 2022
Looks like impressive safety technology.
Any idea what they weigh?
How much do they affect tire balance? That attachment system must weigh something.
TheRVgeeks
Saturday 29th of October 2022
Sorry we don't have specs, John. But of course, NIRVC should be able to answer that one for you. Give them a shout at (469) 443-4764 to see if they can provide the info for the size you need.
Michael Hall
Friday 28th of October 2022
Perfect timed article as we are currently considering them! (Strongly)
My question is how do you handle tire repair or replacement with the bands in place if you are not near a NIRVC?
TheRVgeeks
Sunday 30th of October 2022
Hi again, Michael! We've relayed your question to NIRVC, and heard back from none other than their founder, Brett Davis! (You may have seen him in the video embedded in the post above, driving the motorhome they blew the tire on.) Here is Brett's entire reply, addressed in his usual fashion - thorough and thoughtful:
"At this point we’ve had a few dozen Rettroband customers who have had blowouts. No customer has ever had any difficulty in removing the Rettroband. Remember, the tire is shot. No mechanic has had a problem turning the two 3/8” nuts counterclockwise to loosen the Rettroband, and then remove it. Unfortunately, they will have to come to an NIRVC to have the reinstall done. The reason for this is, we guarantee the product for life. We want to know about every blowout, and replace the old band and gearboxes with brand new ones, simply because we don’t know if the integrity was compromised at all during the blowout and subsequent driving. I’d rather be safe than sorry. We’ve tested, plus had dozens of blowouts at this point, and the product works as advertised. However, we have never tested the reuse of a Rettroband after it has been through a blowout. I never saw the point, because every blowout is different. Reusing a Rettroband after a particularly bad blowout seemed too risky to me."
So it sounds like if you're not near an NIRVC, you'd have a new tire installed, and then stop at one of their locations (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, and coming to the Washington DC area) at your earliest convenience to have a new RettroBand installed.
TheRVgeeks
Friday 28th of October 2022
Hi Michael! That's a fantastic question. And since we don't want to misspeak, we're going to see if we can't NIRVC to provide a definitive answer to your question and post it right here. Stay tuned!