How Often Should You Replace Your Travel Trailer Tires?
It goes without saying that one of the most essential parts of a travel trailer is its tires. To hit the road and ensure a safe journey, it’s vital to do a quality check of the tires. However, we often forget to check the condition of the tires of our travel trailers, and that’s why we often get in trouble for changing the tires in the middle of the journey.
Therefore, if you have a travel trailer, it’s crucial for you to know how often should travel trailer tires be replaced.
Well, generally it’s better to change the trailer tires every 3 to 6 years. Apart from that, how often should you change tires on a travel trailer depends on a number of important factors, which we’ll discuss in this guide. If you want to know exactly how often to replace travel trailer tires read on this detailed guide.
How Often Should Travel Trailer Tires Be Replaced
If you are a travel enthusiast, lightweight travel trailers come in really handy and also fit every traveler’s needs perfectly. And when it comes to travel trailers the name of the tires comes automatically. As it is one of the most essential parts of it which helps to carry the entire weight of your travel trailer.
However, to ensure that these tires do not endanger your journey, you need to make sure that they are in good condition. They should be replaced before their life ends. So, here’s how often should travel trailer tires be replaced.
In general, you should change the tires of the travel trailer every three to six years depending on the following factors. So, the following are the factors that will help you to understand how often should you replace travel trailer tires.
- Tread Depth
The tread on your trailer's tires gives the gripping action and traction to prevent the tires from slipping on the roads, driveways, and more. You should replace the tires when you see that your tire tread is worn down to 4/32 of an inch. Also, if you drive about 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year, the trades will get damaged. A thin tire has the risk of blowing out on the highway & it could be dangerous.
- Tire Aging
Each tire manufacturing company will have different recommendations about tire life. A travel trailer tire’s life doesn't start from the day you purchase it. Its life starts from the day the manufacturer produces it. So, before buying a travel trailer tires see when it was manufactured. The date is given on the tire’s body.
On average, a travel trailer tire’s life cycle is about 3-6 years under normal use and good maintenance. But, if you use the travel trailer frequently, the tires will start to lose their life earlier than a trailer that is rarely used.
- Mileage
Mileage is one of the most important factors that you should consider. The lifespan of a travel trailer tire does not only depend on the number of years, but it also depends on the mileage. RV tires should be used for about 5000-12000 miles. It may hit the miles limit earlier than 5 years. If you cross the miles limit, you may blow out on the road. So it should be replaced before the miles limit ends.
- PSI Level
Your RV tires are made with a thicker sidewall so that they can handle the weight properly and maintain the right amount of inflation. If the tires are underinflated, they could generate extra heat & could be very dangerous while driving.
Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that your RV tires are properly inflated. The right amount of PSI increases fuel efficiency, prevents tire blowouts, and slows down the tire aging process. So take out that pressure gauge before each trip and check the PSI level. The maximum PSI level of your RV tires is located on tire sidewalls.
- Crack, Puncture, Or Foreign Objects
Crack, puncture, and foreign objects are usually responsible for creating spaces that allow the air to escape from your tire. If you don’t notice them immediately, they could lead the tires to be blown out on the road. So, when you notice any of them, you should replace the tire.
So, make sure to consider all these factors to decide if your tire needs a replacement or not. And if the age of your tire goes beyond 5 to 6 years, it’s crucial to have them replaced otherwise, it can be dangerous for you.
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Tips to make tires last longer
Once your tires hit the 5 to 6-year mark, there is nothing much that you can do to maintain them except the replacement. But, there are some maintenance tips that you can follow from the beginning, to prolong the life of your RV tires. So, here are some maintenance tips for you all-
- Try to keep the tires always clean using mild soap and normal water.
- Keep them properly inflated to the maximum cold pressure level (recommended)
- Always cover the tire when not in use in order to protect them from ultraviolet sunlight.
- If you’re parked or storing your travel trailer for extended periods of time, make sure to take the weight off tires.
- Also, for long-term storage, you can consider removing the tires and wheelsets completely.
- When the tire sits idle, make them rotate occasionally.
- Keep them away from wet ground, otherwise, they can absorb the water
- Never forget to check the tires when you have planned for a long trip. Go ahead and replace them if you have any doubt
Final Verdict
It doesn’t matter if you’re a full-time or weekend traveler, if you have a travel trailer, you should keep your eyes on its tires. It’ll ensure your safety as well as a hassle-free and great adventure experience
Remember, trailer tires are not something to be taken lightly. You must know how often should travel trailer tires be replaced to make sure your tires are all set for road use. We hope this guide helps you to get a clear answer regarding this topic. So, if you’re planning for a tour make sure to consider this guide.
Happy travells and stay safe!