Your RV Tires play the most important role in the handling, steering, and braking of your RV. Before heading out to your favorite RV Resort you should understand and follow these basic RV tire safety practices. Doing so will not only help to protect you from having tire problems while on the road, but also extend the life of the tires and protect your investment.

First off, it's important you know how to read the side wall of your tires so you can check their age. Every tire has a Date Code stamped onto the side wall which will tell you the date the tire was manufactured. The code will look something like this: DOT PDH LORM 2304. The date code stamped on your tire always starts with the letters DOT, and ends with either a 3 or 4 digit number. This number is your date code. The first 2 numbers indicate the week your tire was manufactured. 23 would indicate your tire was manufactured on the 23rd week of the year. The last 2 numbers indicate the year it was built, so the number 2304 indicates your tire was built around June 2004. If the tire has only 3 digits, such as 239, then the tire was built around June 1999 and should be replaced before your next trip as RV tires should be replaced every 5-7 years regardless of wear. This information can be particularly useful when purchasing new tires for your RV. Be certain to check the age before making that big investment.

Improper tire inflation is the number one cause of premature tire wear. All RV's have a certification label placarded on the vehicle that provides the recommended cold tire inflation pressure. Most commonly this label can be found inside the driver's door. Be certain to check your tire pressure when they are cold as tire pressure increases during use.