Tire care is important no matter what kind of vehicle you are talking about. But it is extra important when the vehicle in question is an RV. Since RVs do not tend to be driven five days per week, every week of the year, their tires are subject to different kinds of stresses. Fail to take care of an RV’s tires and you could prematurely end their serviceable lives.

Likewise, taking good care of your tires can really pay off over the long haul. Good tire care practices reduce the risks of dry rot, flat spots, premature wear, and blowouts. They also guarantee a more comfortable ride whenever the wheels are turning.

Below are some helpful tire care tips from Connecticut-based AirSkirts. As a family-owned business, AirSkirts takes great pride in providing customers with inflatable RV skirting, wheel covers, and other related equipment.

1. Maintain Tire Pressure

The first and most important tire care tip for any type of tire is to maintain proper air pressure. Tire manufacturers determine the optimal air pressure to keep their products in tip-top shape. RV owners should pay close attention to it as well. Under- or over-inflated tires will wear out faster.

Under-inflated tires can develop flat spots when an RV sits for too long. They also wear out more quickly during travel. Over-inflated tires are more susceptible to premature wear and blowouts when an RV is moving. Avoiding both problems is a matter of regularly checking air pressure with a working gauge, then either inflating or deflating as needed.

2. Make Use of Tire Covers

Tire covers are not really a necessity for RVs that are constantly on the road. An RV owner who is picking up and moving every few days doesn’t need tire covers any more than a car owner. But when parking an RV for an extended amount of time, covers are invaluable. They protect against UV rays and other environmental influences.

AirSkirts makes tire covers that can be fully integrated with their skirting kits. They can also be used independently. Regardless, a high-quality cover will extend the life of any RV tire.

3. Make Use of Visual Inspections

Regular visual inspections are key to recognizing potential tire problems before these become major concerns. How often should you inspect? That depends on how often you take your RV out. Full-timers who move a lot should always do a visual inspection prior to departure. Think of it as similar to what truck drivers do. They inspect their tires at the start of each day.

Part-timers should also do pre-trip inspections. But they should also conduct visual inspections every 2 to 4 weeks. Though such a short schedule may seem excessive, a lot can change in a short amount of time. Moreover, long-term storage can be affected by a lot of different things. Visual inspections every few weeks are really important.

4. Get Your RV Out

Finally, tires are not meant to sit in the same position for long stretches of time. They are designed to rotate. With that in mind, it is a good idea to take an RV out every six weeks or so. Run it for 40 or 50 miles before parking it again. Just that little bit of driving actually goes a long way toward maintaining tire life.

Take care of your RV tires and they will last as long as the manufacturer intended. Ignore them and you are on your own. They may still last for many years. Then again, they may not. You probably won’t know until the most inconvenient time.