On June 1st, it was time for one of the most expensive scheduled maintenance items any RVer faces: the replacement of our tires. Of course we’ve known for a while that this day was coming, but it’s still a pretty big credit card invoice to sign.
Aside from the cost, we’re really happy to be rolling on fresh tires. And at least we shouldn’t be facing this again for a long time.
Here’s a brief overview video of our tire replacement, along with a couple of quick tire-related tips that might save you some money when it’s your turn to open you wallet for new rubber.
SAVE MONEY ON TIRES!
The Escapees RV Club now offers savings on RV tires, too. They’re now a part of the Michelin Advantage Program. So Escapees members can save on Michelin, BFGoodrich, and Uniroyal brand tires for their motorhome, trailer, truck, or car. So if you’re not already a member, join Escapees today and start saving!
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Roe Gary
Friday 25th of September 2020
I am wondering between Toyo and Michelin tire. I don't know what kind of tire is good for my rv. Hope to have advice from guy! Thanks
TheRVgeeks
Friday 25th of September 2020
Hi Gary! Good question! We only have experience with Michelin tires on our RVs (both our current Newmar and our first RV had/have them), which we really like. Both Michelin and Goodyear make RV-specific models of tires... which have two characteristics that other tires may not have:
They tend to be a little more pliable, so the ride is a little softer & more comfortable. "Truck" tires come sized in the same sizes used on RVs, but they are usually firmer/stiffer rubber designed to stand up to the abuse of long-haul, long-term operation. They are usually formulated with more UV stabilizers to help protect the rubber from degradation caused by exposure to the sun.Whether or not these things are ACTUALLY important is up to you. The RV tires are definitely more expensive than finding a matching size truck tire. But RV tires are all that we've used, and we've been very happy.
Many years ago, Country Coach tried switching to Toyo tires on their RVs. They stopped because of a LOT of problems with wear & blowouts, but if we recall correctly, a lot of that had to do with a mixup/misunderstanding about the correct pressures to run them at... so they were under-inflated (BIG PROBLEM!!!). Don't think it was anything inherently wrong with the Toyos. But, again, they may tend to be stiffer and, thus, ride a little harder/harsher than an RV-specific tire would at the same size.
If you DO decide to target RV tires, FMCA has tire discount programs for Michelin, Hankook, and Continental tires which can save you a lot of money. If you're already an FMCA member, you can take advantage of it. But it may even be worth joining FMCA just to get the discount if you're replacing all 4, 6 or 8 tires on your RV!! (you can save $10 on your membership if you use Promo Code “RVGA2” when you signup: http://join.fmca.com/rvga2).
Hope this helps!
Lee
Friday 13th of May 2016
We are also looking at the Michelin tires for our 42' coach and are wondering what model you went with? I have no been able to find one that is RV specific. Thanks for the help. Lee
TheRVgeeks
Friday 13th of May 2016
Hi Lee,
We replaced our tires with the exact same model that came on our RV: Michelin XZA2 Energy (size: 295/80R22.5). These aren't specifically made for RVs... but we were extremely happy with our first set, and hope to be equally happy with the replacements (so far, so good).
We know that Goodyear has "RV Specific" models of tires that were supposed to have higher concentrations of UV stabilizers in the rubber... to help the tires last longer in typical RV use: low miles (so they don't get replaced due to tread wear) and lots of sun exposure. We haven't had any personal experience with those tires, but there are loads of threads about them on iRV2.com (some good and lots of bad... they apparently had an issue with "river wear" on the treads).
Hope this helps.
MSGDLD
Sunday 14th of June 2015
Another great video, thanks. No free giveaway for a set of Michelin tires? Darn! :-)
Interesting about the spare, I just assumed (you know what that does) that all had spares. Our class A, built on a P30 chassis does, but even though the 19.5" tires are smaller than yours, I couldn't change the tire on my own. Gravity would help get it out and down, I could get the tires changed, but no way I could get it back in the storage area, which is on a raised shelf in the middle of one of the bays. It still would require roadside assistance.
A quick note on tires brands and types. Goodyear and Michelin both offer RV specific tires. These are more expensive than a truck tire, but are made for RVs, and contain more UV protectant, improving the life of the tires. Unlike commercial trucks, for most RVs/motorhomes, sun and ozone damage, causing sidewall cracking and rubber degradation, is the primary cause of tire unserviceability, not worn out tread. Cheaper tires are generally commercial vehicle tires, and aren't going to contain the extra UV protection. FWIW, I replaced my two Goodyear 670 front tires, which were worn and outdated, with commercial Toyo tires, which were at least $100 a tire cheaper. I'm sorry I don't remember the model of Toyo's. The Toyo tires have a harsher ride than the Goodyears for sure, and I don't think they have quite the straight line stability as the Goodyears did.
Bobby, it sounds suspiciously like your RV is overloaded, stressing your tires, or the tires were too light a load rating for the weight of your RV. It wouldn't be the first time an RV Manufacturer has underestimated the final weight of a coach. For instance, our coach's front axle is very close to it's weight limit when the coach is empty. If you haven't already, you should get your loaded coach weighed.
TheRVgeeks
Sunday 14th of June 2015
Thanks for all the great additional input. One thing you mentioned was a major factor in our decision to stick with Michelins: the ride. Not saying that they have the best ride (we don't have experience with other brands to know that). Only that we were very happy with our ride all these years, and we'd be very unhappy having to live with a rougher ride if we experimented with another brand, such as Toyo, which we strongly considered. We figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and we're super happy with our smooth Michelin ride.
Paula Burr
Wednesday 10th of June 2015
Thank you so much! We'll add them to our list!
Howard
Tuesday 9th of June 2015
I'm pleased to have joined the large group of your fans. You videos are very well done and your information agrees with my experience - so I know it's accurate! One thing I would have liked to hear about is you view of the prows and cons of the two popular types of wheel balancing. IE lead rim weights or the internal loose "beads". I've heard that the beds can interfere with TPMS sensors.
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 9th of June 2015
Hi Howard. Thanks for the nice comment, and thanks for mentioning balancing. We understand that beads can indeed create a problem, not only with TPMS, but with the valve stems. If that method is used, it requires a special valve stem with a screen in it to prevent any bead-related problems. We've always gone with regular weights and have never had a problem. We've also never had anything balanced other than the front wheels, and we've never had the slightest ride issue. Of course if someone is trying to solve a ride problem, then balancing the rears might be in order. And we really like your "accuracy gauge" too. Works for us! ;-)