A Complete Guide to RV Tyres

Recreational vehicles, or campervans and motorhomes as they are more typically referred to in Australia, offer us a uniquely independent way to explore this great country of ours. Invest in a well-built RV and you can spend your spare time checking out new and interesting places all over Australia. Modern RVs handle well and are no slouches on the open road, making them a great choice for both short and long trips in Australia. However, as with any other type of motorised vehicle, and more so than with a small family car, it is essential to fit the right tyres to your RV if you want it to perform as the manufacturer intended. It is to this task that we address ourselves in today’s blog post, with the help of our resident experts. Read on as we discuss everything you need to know about buying new RV tyres in Australia and don’t forget to check out our range of tyres before you leave.

Understanding the Importance of RV Tyres

For the purposes of this guide, we will assume that you are researching the topic of RV tyres because you have recently acquired a new or previously owned vehicle and want to know what sort of tyres you should be buying in the future. With this in mind, we’re going to start with the basics. Firstly, we believe it’s crucial to understand why RV tyres are so important before searching for a new set or else you won’t pay sufficient attention to the task. Buying tyres for a large RV is not the same as buying new tyres for a family run-around or a ute, as the wrong purchasing decision could have serious consequences. Your RV tyres should provide plenty of:

• Load Capacity - Because they are so large and bulky, RVs need tyres that are strong enough to withstand heavy loads for long durations. While standard tyres may suffice for smaller recreational vehicles such as the classic VW campervan, they are not strong enough to withstand the wear and tear inflicted by a large touring RV.

• Traction - You are never going to enjoy Formula 1-level performance through tight corners when driving an RV, but can ensure there’s plenty of grip available when needed by fitting appropriately rated, high-quality tyres. The right tyres will help you stay in control even when conditions are decidedly slippery on the roads; the wrong tyres could easily turn out to be a serious mistake.

• Ride Quality - Fitting tyres that are not rated to support the weight of your vehicle will, of course, be dangerous for you and your passengers but the bad news doesn’t stop there. As well as the possibility of your tyres blowing out without warning, you will almost certainly have to put up with a rough and bumpy ride in the interim. If you want to ensure decent ride quality, choose tyres that are correctly rated for the load they will be carrying and make sure they are properly inflated.

For all the above reasons and more, RV tyres are extremely important. The time you spend researching your tyre choices in Australia is sure to pay dividends.

Understanding RV Tyre Specifications

The only way to determine whether a particular set of tyres is suitable for your RV is to decode the jumble of numbers and letters on the sidewalls so you understand the specifications to which they were manufactured. To help you learn how to do this, we are going to work through an example.

All tyre manufacturers follow similar standards, so once you’ve worked through this example, you will be able to apply your new knowledge to any tyres you may come across during your search.

215/70R16C

If you saw this code on the side of a set of RV tyres, it should be read thus:

• 215 – Section Width in mm
• 70 – Sidewall Aspect Ratio, Expressed as a Percentage
• R – Tyre Construction: R = Radial
• 16 – Rim diameter, in inches
• C – Commercial-Rated Tyre

In some cases, the letter denoting the class of the tyre, which in this example was commercial, is placed at the beginning rather than the end. For instance, a tyre sidewall code that started P205 would be for a passenger-rated tyre with a section width of 205 mm.

In addition to the main code, there should also be a load rating, sometimes referred to as a load index or service index. It may be at the end of the main code or underneath it on the sidewall. In either case, it will normally consist of numbers and letters, such as 100T. In this case, we can determine – by referring to a tyre load index chart – that the tyre is rated to carry up to 800 KG and can do this at speed.

Types of RV Tyres

The main type of tyres for RVs in Australia are commonly referred to as Light Truck (LT) tyres, and available with 3 different tread patterns in most areas of the country:

• H/T – Highway-Terrain tyres are, as you would expect, designed for driving on flat, smooth asphalt surfaces. H/T tyres may be rated 100:0 or 80:20 for on/off-road capabilities.
• A/T – All-Terrain tyres are suitable for driving on a variety of surfaces, including asphalt, gravel, sand and mud. They are normally rated 50:50 for on/off-road capabilities.
• M/T – Mud-Terrain tyres are, as the name suggests, designed for driving over wet, muddy terrain. They are also suitable for sand and gravel surfaces. Mud-terrain tyres may be rated 30:70 or 0:100 for on/off-road capabilities.

Choose tyres with the most suitable tread pattern for your needs. If you are unsure or will be travelling over a variety of terrains, we suggest opting for a model with an A/T tread pattern from a reputable manufacturer. Whichever tread pattern you choose, you will find your LT tyres have thicker sidewalls than standard passenger vehicle tyres and as a consequence, are more durable and offer greater heat resistance.

Maintaining Your RV Tyres

If your RV tyres were fitted more than 5 years ago, they must be inspected annually by a tyre specialist. If fitted more than 10 years ago, they must be replaced immediately, regardless of their condition. If your tyres were fitted less than 5 years ago, you can help to prevent premature wear by:

• Maintaining Correct Pressure – Under or overinflated tyres tend to wear unevenly, which means they need to be replaced earlier than would otherwise be the case. Properly inflated tyres also help with handling and performance so you should check the pressure at least once a month when on the road for extended durations as well as before and after every shorter trip.
• Inspecting Tread Regularly – Inspect the tread of each tyre for cracks, cuts and bulges. You should also check the tread depth and replace the tyres if indicated. By changing a tyre when its tread falls below the required depth, you can avoid unnecessary handling issues and uneven wear on the other tyres. If you notice any cuts or cracks, these should be inspected by a professional. In most cases where such damage is discovered, replacement is the only option.
• Driving Sensibly – Erratic or heavy-handed driving techniques can cause premature wear to all types of tyres and should therefore be avoided whenever possible. If you need to brake suddenly in an emergency this is, of course, fine. However, if you find yourself braking heavily for no other reason than poor awareness of your surroundings on the road, we recommend brushing up on your RV driving skills.

If you keep your RV tyres properly inflated, inspect the tread regularly and drive sensibly, you may be able to extend their useful lifespan. At the very least, you can avoid premature wear and tear by taking these precautions.

How to Replace RV Tyres

When the time comes to replace your RV tyres, you can accomplish the task in one of two ways:

• DIY – For those with basic vehicle maintenance skills, changing a tyre on an RV should be no more difficult than changing a tyre on a ute or family car. As long as you have a jack that is designed for the job and you know what to do, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to change the tyres on your RV without professional assistance.
• Garage – If you don’t have the right equipment or are not confident that you can handle the task alone, please do not take any chances. Take your RV to a local garage or, if it is not safe/legal to do so, find a garage that can collect your vehicle, change the tyres and bring it back afterwards.

Whether you tackle the job yourself or hire a professional to do it for you, make sure you follow our earlier advice and choose the right tyres for both your vehicle and your future travel plans. If you are in any doubt, contact us for assistance or refer to the manufacturer’s manual for specific tyre recommendations.

Additional Tips for RV Tyre Safety

If you follow the tips we have already given, you can avoid making any rookie mistakes when buying your first new set of RV tyres. If you want to become an RV tyre master, you can follow these additional tips too:

• Research Temperatures and Altitudes – Local climatic conditions and altitude may cause tyre pressure variations in some cases. You can avoid any issues these factors may cause by doing your homework and taking appropriate measures when indicated.
• Consider Installing a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – With a TPMS installed in your RV, you can keep a much closer eye on tyre pressures. 

You may or may not notice a difference in the performance of your RV or the longevity of its tyres when adjusting for local temperatures and altitudes. If you discern no appreciable difference, we suggest either being more vigilant or abandoning the effort altogether. Simply by choosing the right model for your vehicle and following the basic precautions we suggested earlier, you should be able to enjoy decent performance and durability from your new RV tyres.

Conclusion

If you take a proactive approach to RV tyre maintenance and replacement, you can avoid many of the problems that beset less cautious recreational vehicle enthusiasts. Appropriately rated, correctly inflated tyres with a suitable tread pattern will help to ensure your vehicle performs as expected in all conditions.

For quality RV tyres at competitive prices, delivered to your door, RV Parts Express is the Australian supplier you know you can always trust.