RVs, like any other type of vehicle, require regular maintenance. From checking the RV’s exterior body to measuring tire pressure, any inspection or maintenance process can ensure the RV’s longevity.
Though often neglected, one essential element of an RV maintenance routine is tire rotation. It’s the process of moving tires from one position to another to ensure even tire wear. Simply put, the tires can exchange places from left to right, rear to front, or diagonally.
This process, when done as regularly as it should, reaps many benefits to the RV and the owner. So, should RV tires be rotated? The answer is yes.
In this article, we take a closer look at why RV tires should be rotated and what benefits an RV can gain from this process. We’ll also go over how to tell if the tires need rotation and how often they should be rotated.
Should RV Tires Be Rotated?
There’s quite some debate around tire rotation. One side argues that there’s nothing to gain from rotating tires. Some people believe that the tires will most likely be replaced altogether before they display any signs of wear to be rotated.
You might be asking yourself, “Why rotate tires at all then?”
The other side argues that tire rotation is a crucial part of RV maintenance. There are countless advantages to rotating tires—most importantly, making sure that the tires don’t need to be replaced often.
Therefore, let’s take a look at why rotating RV tires is important.
Reasons You Should Rotate Your RV’s Tires
There are multiple reasons you should rotate your RV’s tires regularly. Here are the most prominent ones.
Tires Wear Evenly
Overall tire wear is inevitable. However, depending on your driving, the tires will wear differently. For example, when you accelerate, turn, or brake, the front tires work harder than the rear ones.
Neglecting regular tire rotation can cause an unbalanced performance across the tires. Some may even wear out quicker than others.
When you regularly rotate your tires, you make sure that the tires wear evenly—which can prolong the tires’ life.
Protects RV Components
Components like the brakes, axles, and wheels are affected by the performance of the tires. That’s why regularly rotating tires keeps them well-maintained.
When your RV tires are in good shape, they ensure other components are protected and perform safely.
Improves RV handling
As long as your RV tires are balanced, driving and handling will be safe and easy. Regular tire rotation can make sure that your tires are well-balanced, which decreases the chances of losing control over the RV.
If the tires aren’t regularly rotated, the one set of tires will wear differently than the other. What’s more, tire treads will wear unevenly—causing the tires to wear faster and the RV to become unstable.
Rotating your tires spreads out wear uniformly, which enables you to drive smoothly in extreme weather conditions, such as rain and snow. It also improves braking distance.
Prevents Tread Cupping
Tread cupping is one issue that can arise from a lack of tire rotation. When this occurs, you might start to notice the RV is bouncing a little too much on the road. In addition, it can increase vibration and noise. These effects may be even more pronounced at higher speeds.
All of this can be avoided by rotating your RV tires on a regular basis.
Saves Money
If your tires wear out unevenly, you may find yourself needing to replace one or more of them. With good quality RV tires costing between $200 and $300 per tire, the cost of replacing them can be rather costly.
Due to the even wear of the tires when you regularly rotate them, they can last for quite some time. This means that there won’t be much need to replace the tires as frequently, which keeps overall RV maintenance expenses down.
Early Detection of Foreign Objects
Sometimes as we drive, foreign objects can penetrate the tires. These objects may significantly reduce a tire’s lifespan. If you rotate your RV’s tires on a regular basis, you may be able to remove any foreign objects that have become lodged in the tires early on.
All of the benefits you gain from tire rotation ultimately serve to enhance the durability of the tires.
How Can You Tell if an RV Needs Its Tires Rotated?
The first sign to look out for is uneven tire wear. Every time you hit the road with an RV, you should conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that everything works perfectly.
As you inspect the tires, watch out for any signs of unevenness in the tires or the tire treads. If you find any, then it might be time for a tire rotation.
Another sign to watch out for is the increase of RV vibration and noise. You’ll mostly notice the vibration through the steering wheel and hear weird noises coming from one or more tires.
Over time, neglecting to rotate the tires can make the experience behind the wheels quite unpleasant.
It’s worth noting that if you rotate your tires routinely, these signs should be uncommon.
How Often Should RV Tires Be Rotated?
Rotating RV tires generally depends on how often you use the RV. Some people recommend that tires should be rotated every three months, but this may not always be necessary. Tires should be rotated at any sign of uneven wear.
Alternatively, as a rule of thumb, experts, such as the US Tire Manufacturers Association, recommend rotating tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
That being said, if you don’t drive the RV, and it’s stored often, the tires can be rotated as little as once annually.
In Conclusion
Tire rotation doesn’t just protect the tires. It also protects the entire RV as well as the driver. That’s why it’s imperative to include rotating tires as part of the RV’s maintenance routine.
Whenever it’s time to rotate your RV’s tires, you can visit an RV repair shop. These shops have the specialized tools needed to safely and easily rotate the RV’s tires.
You can also check for any signs of uneven tire wear during a regular inspection. This way, you can immediately rotate the RV’s tires and ensure that you have safe travel.