RECREATIONALVEHICLE TIRE GUIDE

RECREATIONALVEHICLE TIRE GUIDE

HOW TO GET THE MOSTFROM YOUR TIRES

HOW TO GET THE MOSTFROM YOUR TIRES

Always weigh your fully-loaded motorhome by axle ends before travelingto ensure that the weight does not exceed the capacity of your tires.

Michelin - the leader in technology, the leader in themanufacturing of tires for RV applications.

From the introduction of the first radialtruck tire over 50 years ago, to the technologicalbreakthrough of X-One Single tires replacing duals,Michelin has rightfully earned the enduring reputation as the world leader in tire technology.

Today, Michelin’s quality, service, andreputation are world renowned. And Michelinenjoys a solid reputation in the RV industry. Infact, the vast majority of the quality RV Chassismanufacturers of Class “A” (large coach withbasement-style storage), Class “C” (mini-motorhomes), wide body, diesel pusher, and busconversions for motor homes and motor coachesspecify Michelin as original equipment.

No one knows more about tires thanMichelin. That’s why we strongly recommendyou have Michelin on your motor home. Butwhatever brand of tires you use, your tires are amajor investment and need proper care andmaintenance for long life and safe operation ofyour RV. With proper care and maintenance ofyour Michelin tires, as recommended in thisbrochure, you’ll get the maximum performancethat we’ve so carefully designed into them.

WHAT IS A TIRE’S FUNCTION?The Michelin tire designed for your RV is a very

technical and precisely engineered product. To obtainthe maximum use and best service out of yourMichelin tires it is helpful to understand the functionof a tire. A tire is a “container” that holds air. It is thecombination of air and tire that supports the vehicleand its contents. In addition, since the tire is the onlycontact that the vehicle has with the road surface, itmust provide other functions such as traction forstarting, stopping and steering as well as providing acushion for the vehicle.

THE IMPORTANCE OFAIR PRESSURE

The most important factor in maximizing the life ofyour tires is maintaining proper inflation. Driving ona tire that does not have the correct inflationpressure for the load of the vehicle is dangerous andmay cause premature wear, a harsh ride, tire damage,and/or loss of control of the vehicle.

A tire that is underinflated will build up excessiveheat that may go beyond the prescribed limits ofendurance of the rubber andthe radial cords. Thiscould result insudden tire failure.A tire that isunderinflated willalso cause poorvehicle handling, rapidand/or irregular tire wear,and an increase in rollingresistance which results in adecrease in its fuel economy.

Overinflation will reduce thetire’s footprint or contact patchwith the road, thus reducing thetraction, braking capacity, andhandling of the vehicle. A tire that is overinflated for the load that it iscarrying will also contribute to a harsh ride,

uneven tire wear, and will be more susceptible toimpact damage.

Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure for eachloaded wheel position on your vehicle is of the utmostimportance and must be a part of regular vehiclemaintenance.

HOW MUCH AIR SHOULDI CARRY IN MY TIRES?

Federal law requires that the tire’s maximum loadrating be molded into the sidewall of the tire. If youlook on your tire’s sidewall you’ll see the maximum

load allowed for the size tire and load rating, and theminimum cold air inflation pressure needed to carrythat stated maximum load. Utilizing less air pres-sure means a lesser load can be carried by the tire.The chart at the end of this brochure shows weightsthat can be supported by various air pressures.

The amount of air pressure you need to usedepends on the weight of your fully-loaded vehicle.So, you cannot determine your correct air pressureunless you know your vehicle’s actual weights.

DANGERS OF OVERLOADINGWhat are the risks of driving an overloaded RV? In

addition to possible problems with tires, wheels, andsprings, there can be problems of brake failure, drive-train failure, wheel bearing failure, etc. Moreover, anoverloaded RV uses more fuel, is harder to handle,and can lead to driver fatigue. If any componentshould fail, it could result in vehicle damage and/orloss of vehicle control. In addition to the abovedangers, there are some states that require certainmotor homes and RVs to utilize the Highway Patrol’sweight scales to check for overloaded axle weights.Citations can be issued to violators.

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HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR RV’SCORRECT WEIGHT

The G.V.W.R. (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) andG.A.W.R. (Gross Axle Weight Rating) stickers on yourRV (normally located on the support pillar next to thedriver’s seat) will show you the chassismanufacturer’s and/or the RV manufacturer’s totalvehicle maximum weight ratings and per axle weightratings.

The G.V.W.R. is the maximum total weight forwhich the vehicle is rated - including passengers,fluids, and cargo. The G.A.W.R. is the maximum forwhich a single axle is rated. These per axle andtotal maximum weight ratings could be limited by thetires, wheels, axle and axle bearings, springs, thevehicle frame, or other components of the vehicle.

The G.A.W.R. sticker is only a guide in knowingyour maximum loaded axle weights and subsequentlyyour correct tire inflation pressure. Even RV’s ofthe same make and model, will vary in actual loaded

axle weights, because of different options and per-sonal loads.

While your actual, loaded axle weight should bebelow the G.A.W.R., you must weigh your RV in aloaded condition to know its actual weight. Weigh thefront axle, the total unit, and then the rear axle. It ispossible for a vehicle to be within the G.V.W.R. yetoverloaded on an axle. It is even possible for onewheel position to be overloaded, even though theG.A.W.R. has not been exceeded. We have seen asmuch as 1200 pounds difference between left frontand right front. For this reason Michelin recommends weighing each wheel position ofthe vehicle. This will give you a clear indication ofexactly how the weight of your RV is distributed. TheTire Industry Safety Council provides instructions onhow to weigh your vehicle by wheel position. Theseinstructions and diagrams are presented on the following pages. Once you know the total weight, andthe weight on each wheel position, the tire load datachart in this brochure will show you the correct coldinflation pressure per tire for each wheel position.

WHERE TOWEIGH YOURVEHICLE

There are probablyseveral certifiedpublic scales in yourarea. You will findpublic-access scalesin a variety of places,such as moving andstorage company lots,farm suppliers with grain elevators, gravel pits,recycling companies, and large commercial truckstops .

If you are not aware of a nearby public scale, checkyour area telephone book yellow pages under the“scales - public” section or “weighers.” A nominal feewill be charged, but this is money wisely spent.

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MOTORHOMEWEIGHT INFORMATION

Model ___________________________GVWR __________________________UVW ___________________________NCC ____________________________GCWR __________________________

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) means the maximum permissible weight ofthis motorhome. The GVWR is equal to or greater than the sum of theUnloaded Vehicle Weight plus the Net Carrying Capacity.

UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) means the weight of this motorhome as built atthe factory with full fuel, engine oil, and coolants. The UVW does notinclude cargo, fresh water, LP gas, occupants, or dealer installedaccessories.

NCC (Net Carrying Capacity) means the maximum weight of all occupantsincluding the driver, personal belongings, food, fresh water, LP gas,tools, tongue weight of towed vehicle, dealer installed accessories,etc., that can be carried by this motorhome. (NCC is equal to or lessthan GVWR minus UVW)

GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) means the value specified by themotorhome manufacturer as the maximum allowable loaded weight ofthis motorhome with its towed trailer or towed vehicle.

This motorhome is capable of carrying up to _____________ gallons of freshwater (including water heater) for a total of _____________ pounds.Reference: Weight of fresh water is 8.33 lbs/gal; Weight of LP gas is 4.5 lbs/gal(average).

CONSULT OWNER’S MANUAL FOR SPECIFIC WEIGHINGINSTRUCTIONS AND TOWING GUIDELINES.

How to Weigh Your RVYour RV must be weighed fully loaded, that is, with

passengers, food, clothing, fuel, water, propane, supplies,etc. Any towed vehicle (car/pickup, boat or trailer) or itemloaded on brackets on the back of the RV, such as bikes ormotorcycles, should also be included in the weighing. Thereare three types of scales:1 ) PLATFORM - This scale is long enough to weigh the

complete vehicle. The following steps are suggested andare illustrated on the following pages of this brochure:a) Pull onto the scale so that only the front axle is on theplatform (with the end of the scale midway between thefront and rear axles), and record the scaled weight.b) Pull forward until the full unit is on the scale, andrecord the scaled weight.c) Pull forward so that only the rear axle is on the scale(again with the edge of the scale midway between thefront and rear axles), and record the scaled weight.d) If the RV has a rear tag axle, pull forward so that onlythe tag axle remains on the scale, and record the scaledweight.e) To determine individual wheel position weights, it isnecessary to repeat the first three steps (1a, 1b and 1c),but this time, use only one side of the scale, as shown onthe following pages of this brochure.f) To calculate the opposite side of the vehicle wheelposition weight, subtract this side’s weights fromthe weights recorded in steps 1a, 1b and 1c.If there is no towed vehicle, this weight will represent the

actual weight on the tag axle. To determine the actual loadon the rear axle, subtract this value from the recordedweight in step 1c. If there is a towed vehicle, proceed to step1e to obtain the “towed vehicle only” weight. Subtract thatvalue from the value above and then subtract that from theweight recorded in step 1c.

g) If a boat, trailer or other vehicle is being towed, itshould be weighed and combined with the towingvehicle’s G.V.W. (Gross Vehicle Weight) to ensure thetotal weight does not exceed the G.C.W.R. (GrossCombined Weight Rating).

2) SEGMENTED PLATFORM - Platform scales with

segmented sections can provide individual axle weightsand total vehicle weights simultaneously, when thevehicle is positioned properly.Position the vehicle on the scales so that each axle iscentered as much as possible on separate segments, andrecord the weight. Reposition the vehicle so that only oneside is on the scale, again centered on the segment asmuch as possible. Subtract the weighed wheel positionsfrom the total axle weights to determine the unweighedwheel positions’ weights.

3) SINGLE AXLE - This scale weighs one axle at a time.Drive your front axle onto the scale and stop long enoughfor the weight to be recorded. Pull vehicle forward untilthe rear axle is on the scale. To obtain the gross vehicleweight, add the two axle loads together. To obtain theindividual wheel position weights, repeat this processwith only one side of the RV on the scale.

Note: Even though the weight of the total axle maybe within the axle’s rating, it may be overloaded onone side. This causes one wheel position to be over-loaded. Therefore, side-to-side weighing is required.

Your RV must remain as level as possible on thescale (even though an axle or side is not physically onthe scale). Obviously, to obtain the side-to-sideweights, there must be enough space on either side ofthe scale to accommodate the RV being partially offthe scale.

If there is a difference in the weights on one side of thevehicle as compared to weights on the other side, compo-nents (tires, wheels, brakes, springs, etc.) on the heavierside could be overloaded, even though the total axle load iswithin the G.A.W.R. It is important to redistribute the loadto avoid component failure, as well as to improve thehandling characteristics of the vehicle. With these actualweights, it is now possible to compare them against theG.A.W.R., G.V.W.R. and tire capacities. These actual weightsare also what should be used to help determine theproper air pressure for the tires.

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CAUTIONIndividual wheel position weights must not exceed the maximum tire loadcapacity. Maximum tire load capacity can only be achieved utilizing the air

pressure as listed on the sidewall of the tire.

How To Use The Actual RV WeightInformation With The Tire DataLoad Chart

Let’s consider an RV running on 275/80R22.5 XZA2LRG tires, with actual corner weights of 5,400 lbs. on theleft front tire, 5,175 lbs on the right front tire, 8,500 lbs.on the left rear duals and 9,200 lbs. on the right rearduals. For control of your RV, it is critical that thetire pressures be the same across an axle.Therefore, we must "overinflate" the right front tire andthe left rear duals. Checking the load/inflation tablebelow shows that a cold tire pressure of 100 psi will support 5,510 lbs. on a single front tire.

To determine the air pressure for the rear duals, againtake the heaviest position, in this instance the right rearweighs 9,200 lbs. The load/inflation table below showsthat a cold pressure of 90 psi will support 9,380 lbs on 2dual tires. It is important to note that the cold inflationpressure for the tire must never exceed the maximuminflation rating that is stamped on the wheel.

REMEMBER: For control of your RV, it is critical thatthe tire pressures be the same on both sides of an axle.

Please note that the standard Michelinload/inflation charts have been alteredfor RV usage only.

EFFECT OF TOWED VEHICLESOR TRAILERS

You’ve just read about your RV’s G.V.W.R. (GrossVehicle Weight Rating) and your RV’s G.A.W.R. (GrossAxle Weight Rating). If you are towing a vehicle ortrailer, you need to know your RV’s G.C.W.R. (GrossCombined Weight Rating). This is the total actual loadedweight of your RV plus total actual loaded weight of thetowed vehicle. The total actual loaded weight of the RVand towed vehicle should not exceed the G.C.W.R. Whilethe G.C.W.R. has more to do with the drivetrain (engine,transmission, axle, brakes, and bearings) design limits,this additional weight can also affect the tires and howyour RV handles. And finally, please don’t forget to consider the tongue weight of the trailer and its impact on vehicle handling.

WHEN TO CHECK YOUR RVTIRES’ AIR PRESSURE

Now that you have found what the correct air pressureper axle needs to be for your RV, you need to know whento check your air pressure. You should check the airpressure every two weeks or at least once each month andbefore any major trip. Your RV tires’ air pressureshould be checked every “drive” morning on trips.On short trips of a day or less driving each way, your tiresshould be checked before you leave on your trip and againbefore you start your trip home. If your vehicle is storedfor any length of time, air pressure should be checkedprior to storage but, more importantly, when it comes outof storage.

Check your tires when they are “cold” and have notbeen driven for more than one mile. The stated loadcapacity for a given cold inflation pressure is based onambient outside temperature. Be aware that the pressurein the “hot” tire may be as much as 10-15 psi higherthan the “cold” inflation pressure. If you must checkyour tires when they are warm or hot, do allow for an

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S = 1 tire on 1 side of single axle Single Axle

D = 2 tires on 1 side of dual axle Dual Axle

For Tag axle, use applicable Single or Dual chart

275/80R22.5 LRG - ALL TIRES

PSI 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115Lbs per S 4500 4725 4940 5155 5370 5510 5780 5980 6175Position D 8190 8600 9080 9380 9770 10140 10520 10880 11350Kg. per S 2040 2140 2240 2340 2440 2500 2620 2710 2800Position D 3720 3900 4120 4260 4440 4600 4780 4940 5150

increase in air pressure and make sure they are within acouple of pounds of each other on the same axle. Neverlet air out of a hot tire.

To maintain the inflation pressure in your tires you willneed the proper equipment. It is recommended that youpurchase a quality truck tire air gauge which has anangled dual head. This type of gauge allows you to checkinflation on the inner dual wheel which has the valve stempointing toward you, and on the outer wheel which hasthe valve stem pointing away from you. Nothing shouldrestrict your ability to check your tire’s air pressure dailywhen you are driving your RV. Pressure sealing valve capsshould always be used to prevent air from escaping fromthe valve stem. If you use valve stem extension hoses,make sure they are good quality stainless steel braidreinforced and are securely anchored to the outer wheel.The joints should be soaped immediately after initialinstallation to check for air loss. If your RV has wheelcovers which must be removed to check the inflation,then consider removing them as the extra time and effortrequired may lead you to avoid checking your air pressure.

PREFLIGHT CHECKLISTWhat if you don’t check your air pressure? If a tire picks

up a nail or screw that creates a slow leak and causessome air pressure loss, you might eventually spot it visual-ly if it is a front tire. If it is an outside rear dual, youmight also spot it with a visual inspection. However, if it isan inside rear dual, the chances of spotting it without anair pressure check are very slim. If you begin driving with-out finding it, very quickly (in most cases a few miles)your outside rear tire next to the low air pressure tire isgoing to heat up from carrying double its load, which willcause both tires to fail.

As you “preflight” check your vehicle every “drive morn-ing,” include an air pressure check of your tires. The peaceof mind is worth the extra few minutes!

ADDITIONAL TIRE CARERECOMMENDATIONS

Tire RepairEven the best drivers can drive over a nail and the best

tires can pick up that nail or screw and go flat. If you pick

up an object that causes aflat with a Michelin RVtire, the repair must bemade to the inside of thetire to be repaired properly.To do this, the tire needs tobe demounted and inspectedon the inside of the casing for any other damage that theobject may have caused. See your Michelin truck tiredealer for the proper repair and damage inspection.

Tire InspectionYour RV tires should be inspected thoroughly at

least once a year, and any time you drive in rough orrocky terrain, or when youhave your RV serviced. Thisinspection should includeboth sidewalls, the tread area,and the valves, caps, andany valve extensions.Inspect for nails, cuts,bulges, aging, or fatiguecracks and weathering or ozone checking. Also, check between the duals for objectslodged between them. See your Michelin dealer at once ifanything unusual is observed.

On a regular basis, rub the palm of your hand across theface of the tread on your front tires to feel for any featheredwear from “toe” alignment problems. (Be careful sincesevere wear can expose steel belt edges that are verysharp.) A “toe” misalignment problem can be caused byimpact with a “chuck” hole in the road. Bad “toe” wear canbe hard to find visually, but can be felt very quickly withthe hand. This type of alignment problem can wear rubberoff the tread of your tires in just a few hundred miles.

COMMON TIRE DAMAGESNo tire, regardless of its quality, is indestructible. Certain

conditions of use and abuse can stress a tire beyond reason-able operating limits, causing it to come out of service evenwhen considerable tread remains. Such conditions are clear-ly indicated by the damage they leave on the tire itself.

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Below we have listed some common damages and the signsthey leave behind. Please understand that this list is byno means exhaustive and is intended only as a general guide.

Fatigue RuptureThis type of damage is sometimes called a “zipper rip”

because of the zipper-like effect it creates in the steel casingcords of the damaged tire. When a casing cord is damagedor repeatedly and excessively bent due to over-load and/orunder-inflation, it will eventually break and subject the cordson either side to even more stress. When enough strength hasbeen lost due to additional cord breakage, a rupture occurs andprogresses rapidly along the path of least resistance in theupper sidewall. This can happen hours, days or even monthsafter the initial damage event when all evidence or memoryof the initial damage or over-load/underinflation is gone.

Casing cords in the Michelin truck tires used on motorhomesare very strong twisted steel cables. Extreme over-deflectionof a tire, that can occur during improper blocking of tires orhigh energy impacts, may weaken the structure of the cableso as to make it less tolerant of the repeated bending stressencountered in normal use. If in addition, the integrity ofthe steel cords is degraded by corrosion from moisturereaching the cords through cuts or tears in the rubber, theirtolerance of these conditions will be even further reduced.This corrosion may result from mounting damage, foreignobjects left inside the tire, road hazards, tire mishandling,or even improper repair of a nail hole.

Dual KissingWhile somewhat romantic in name only, this type of

damage refers to what happens when two tires in dualconfiguration make contact with each other while in operation. The heat generated by the friction between thetwo tires severely weakens the casing material of the dualtires. This is easily seen on the sidewalls of the tires wherethe duals came in contact. The condition may be caused byseveral factors:

-improper mounting;-incorrect wheel width or offset;-underinflation-“casing growth”

In this last case, the fabric casing cords of the tireactually stretch and expand, causing the tire to touchor kiss, under load at the contact patch.

UnderinflationThis condition is often referred to as a “run flat” tire. It is

caused by operating a tire at very low or zero air pressure.When a tire is run at normal highway speeds, underinflated,it flexes too much and builds up heat. This heat damages theinner liner, casing and outer sidewall of the tire. If notremedied quickly, the tire will be irreparably damaged.

In extreme cases, the sidewall of the tire is destroyed,from the excessive heat and the weight of the vehicle crushing/cutting the tire against the wheel as it rolls on theuninflated sidewall. According to guidelines put out by theRubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), any tire that hasbeen run at less than 80% of recommended air pressure forthe load it is carrying should be inspected for possible damage.

When one tire in a dual configuration comes out of servicedue to underinflation/run flat damage, the other tire in thedual configuration should be inspected immediately. If theunserviceable tire was underinflated, that means theserviceable tire was carrying more and more of the load forthat wheel position. Consequently, it too may have sufferedsome casing damage.

TIRE WEAR, BALANCE ANDWHEEL ALIGNMENT

All tires mounted on RV’s should wear in a smooth,even wear pattern when the tires are maintained withthe correct air pressure for the load on the tire. If tiresbegin to show an irregular wear pattern, and the vehiclealignment is correct, sometimes just rotating the tires tochange direction of rotation and wheel position willallow the tires to wear evenly.

Significant tire/wheel assembly imbalance may causesteering difficulties, a bumpy ride and worn spots on yourtires. It is recommended that tire/wheel assemblies beinspected and balanced if one of these conditions exist.

Check with your motor home chassis manufacturerfor the correct align-ment specifications.Michelin recommends,for optimum radialtire life and perfor-mance, that the “toein” setting should beas close as is practicalto zero, within the motor home manufacturers’

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specifications. The caster should be set to the maximumpositive or minimum negative setting within thetolerances specified by the manufacturer.

Toe WearA feathered wear pattern on the front tires typically

indicates misalignment (toe in or out). Sometimes aradial tire will not have this wear pattern unless the toecondition is severe. Instead of the feathered edge wear, thetire will be worn on the inside or outside shoulder whichcould be confused with camber wear. On a three axle RV, askewed rear axle and tag could cause feathered edge wearon one shoulder of one front tire and feathered edge on theopposite shoulder of the other front tire. In order to correct-ly diagnose a tire wear condition, the motor home shouldhave the alignment checked on all wheel positions.

Camber WearAlso known as edge wear, camber wear shows up on the

inside or outside shoulders of the tread. Wear on theinside edge of both tires may be due to negative camber ortoe-out, a misalignment. If only one tire shows edge wear,check for worn kingpin bushings, bent or worn steeringcomponents, or excessive positive camber. For solid beamaxles, excessive camber can result from axle over load.

AGING/WEATHER CHECKING/OZONECRACKING

During the pre-trip inspection, the tires should beinspected for signs of aging, weather checking and/orozone cracking. Look for tiny cracks in the rubber surfaceon the sidewall of the tires.

If the cracks are less than 1/32” deep, the tire is O.K. torun. Between 1/32” and 2/32”, the tire is suspect and shouldbe examined by your Michelin tire dealer. If the cracks areover 2/32”, the tire should be replaced immediately.

To protect your tires from these common damageconditions:1) Keep tires properly inflated2) Keep tires clean3) Avoid prolonged exposure to heat, cold or moisture4) Avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays

5) Cover your tires when vehicle is not in use6) Do not park near electric generators or transformers7) Do not store vehicles in an area where welding is

being done or in a garage which has mercury vaporlamps

TIRE ROTATIONIf correct air pressure and proper alignment are both

continually maintained, tire rotation may never be needed.However, in other cases, tire rotation may be needed tohelp even out wear patterns caused by alignment,underinflation, or free rolling wear problems. Follow yourmotor home manufacturer’s rotation service recommenda-tions. There are no restrictions as to the method of rotationwith your Michelin RV tires, however, Michelin recommendsincluding the spare tire in the rotation pattern and changingthe direction of rotation. Tires can be rotated front to rearand side to side.

PROPER CLEANINGLike the rest of your RV, it pays to keep your Michelin

tires clean. Road oil will cause deterioration of therubber and dirt buildup will hold the contaminants next tothe tire.

As with the cleaning ofany rubber product, propercleaning methods mustbe used to obtain themaximum years ofservice from your tires.A soft brush and thenormal mild soapthat you would use to clean your RV may be used.If you use a dressing product to “protect” your tires from aging, use extra care and caution.Tire dressings that contain petroleum products, alcohol orsilicones will cause deterioration or cracking and acceleratethe aging process.

In many cases, it is not the dressing itself that can be aproblem, but rather the chemical reaction that the productcan have with the antioxidant in the tire. Heat can add tothe negative reaction. When these same dressing productsare used on a passenger car tire that is replaced every

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three to four years, it is rare to see a major problem.However, in most cases, RV tires may last much longerdue to limited annual mileage, and the chemical reactionshave much longer to take place.

THE USE OF BLOCKS TO LEVELMOTOR HOMES/RV’S EQUIPPEDWITH RADIAL TIRES

Extreme caution must be taken to ensure that the tiresare fully supported when using blocks to level motorhomesand/or RV’s. The load on the tire should be evenlydistributed on the block and in the case of duals, evenlydistributed on blocks for both tires. If not properly done,the steel cables in the sidewall of the tires may be dam-aged and could lead to premature fatigue of the sidewall.

The correct andincorrect methods areshown here. Pleasenote that blocksshould be wider thanthe tread and longerthan the tire’s foot-print. This providesmaximum support tothe tires and assuresthat the load is evenlydistributed through-out the tire’s footprintarea.

RV TIRE LONG TERM STORAGEYour RV is designed for recreation, not long-term

storage. However, unless you are a “full timer,” you haveno other choice. Rubber tires age faster when not beingused. A cool, dry, sealed garage is your best bet for storage.However, many RVs are stored outside in the elements.Some storage surfaces may cause tires to age prematurely.For this reason, Michelin recommends placing a barrier(i.e. card board, plastic or plywood) between the tire andthe storage floor/ground surface.

There are a few steps that you can take to reduce the

aging effects from long-term RV storage. Before puttingyour RV into storage or a non-use period, thoroughly cleanyour tires. Then cover the tires to block direct sunlight andultraviolet rays. Store your RV out of a high ozone area.Failure to take these steps can cause early deteriorationand shorten the life of your tires. NOTE: When a vehicle isstored, tires should be inflated to the inflation pressure asindicated on the sidewall of the tire.

Before removing your vehicle from long-term storage,thoroughly inspect each of its tires. This means a closeexamination of each tire’s sidewalls, tread area, and air pres-sure. If your pressure check indicates the tires have lost airduring storage, be sure to inflate them to the correct pressurefor the current load before putting the unit into service.

THE LIFE OF AN RV TIREThe life of a tire used on an RV cannot be measured by

miles alone. Among other factors, your RV tire life depends on driving habits, driving and storage conditions, geography,

atmospheric conditions, loads carried, weight distribution,as well as the age of your tires. You can determine the ageof the tire by looking at the DOT number (see illustration).In the last grouping of numbers on the right, the firsttwo digits indicate the week of the year that the tire wasproduced and the last two digits indicate the year ofproduction. In this example “4200” indicates the tire wasmade in the 42nd week of the year 2000. Prior to theyear 2000, DOT numbers had only one digit to indicatethe year of production. A tire produced in the 1900’s decadewould have three numbers and a triangle symbol ( ).The first two digits would indicate the week of the yearthat the tire was produced, the last digit would be the

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last digit of the year of manufacture and the ( ) indicatedthe 90’s decade. If the Michelin tires you have on yourRV were being driven on a small commercial truck,they might last 80,000 to 120,000 miles and bereplaced every two years. With the average (non-fulltimer) RV driving 5,000 miles per year, that could takeclose to 20 years to obtain! Therefore, with tires on anRV, the most important consideration in the life of tiresis age. The tires should be examined periodically forsigns of aging, and removed from service if required. Itis very likely that tires on an RV will need to beremoved from service before the tread is worn out.

The rubber in your tires ages just like the rubber inyour fan belt and radiator hoses. Tires contain waxes andemollients to help protect their outer surfaces from ozoneand weather checking. As the tire rolls and flexes, thewaxes and emollients continually migrate to the surface,replenishing this protection throughout the normal use ofthe tire. In cooler, clean air locations, the expected tire lifewill be longer than in high temperature, high ozone areas.Of course, as a tire ages, you should inspect it morefrequently.

SELECTING REPLACEMENT TIRESFOR YOUR RV

One of the most important RV equipment purchasesthat you will make will be the replacement tires. If youobtained good service with your first set of tires, chancesare that they were matched wellfor your RV’s weight needsand your type and area of driving.

Should you choose to replace your tires with another size, be verycareful with this selection.There are some basic areas ofconcern, such as the load rating of the new tire andthe overall diameter of the new tire for vehicle clearance,speedometer reading, and wheel width.

There is also the matching of the tires to the dual wheeloffset for the dual spacing clearance and the load rating ofthe wheel. For example: buying a tire with a higher load

rating that might require 105 P.S.I. would be inappropri-ate if your wheel is limited to 80 P.S.I. (Be sure that thewheel width is compatible with the new tire size). Consultyour vehicle manufacturer for wheel specifications.

Take for example a 25-foot Class “A” motor home. If theowner had replaced the O.E. 7.50 R 16 tires withLT235/85 R 16 LRE, these tires would have fit on thesame wheels and would have carried the extra loadneeded, but there would have been one major problem.The LT235/85 R 16 tire requires a minimum of 10.6” dualspacing (from center of inside dual to center of outsidedual), while the GM 16” x 6K wheels that were in use onlyhad a 5” offset (5”+ 5”=10” dual spacing). Therefore, thesidewalls of the duals would rub. This rubbing action andresulting extra heat buildup could cause one or both of thedual tires to fail.

As you can see, there are some critical areas to look at inpicking out replacement tires. For the best information ondoing this, you should see your Michelin dealer. There areMichelin dealer locations across the country to help withthis type of information and there is a location close bythat is ready to help.

If you have already been driving on Michelin RV tires,you are aware of some of their extra benefits, such as thegreat wet and dry traction and outstanding handling. MostRV owners who drive on Michelin tires for the first timecomment on the smooth, quiet ride.

For great traction, outstanding mileage, a smooth, quietride and for miles and miles of service, there is a premiumquality Michelin RV radial for your special RV needs.

Over 100 years ago when the brothers Edouard and AndreMichelin started their small tire company, they committedthemselves to these three fundamental principles: “We will make nothing but tires...thereby becoming experts in thefield of manufacturing. Our prime task is to serve the cus-tomer...for it is the customer on whom we depend for ourliving. We must constantly aim to produce the best tire...atthe most economical price possible.” It is on these principles,together with stressing quality rather than quantity thatMichelin has grown to become the largest producer of tiresin the world, and is the clear leader in consumer tire satis-faction. Can you afford to be riding on anything less?

For more information on the Michelin dealer nearest you,check your local telephone directory or call 1-800-847-3435.

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Michelin Recreational Vehicle Tire Guide

To learn more please contact your Michelin Sales Representative or visit

www.michelintruck.com

MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Greenville, South Carolina, USAMICHELIN NORTH AMERICA (CANADA) INC., Laval, Quebec, CanadaMICHELIN MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., Querétaro, Mexico

An Equal Opportunity Employer

© 2006 MNA, Inc. (04/06)