Air
Pressure
The
most important factor in maximizing the
life
of your tires is maintaining proper inflation.
Driving
on
a tire that does not have the correct
inflation pressure for the load
of
the vehicle is
dangerous and may cause premature wear, tire
damage, andlor loss
of
control
of
the vehicle.
A tire that is underinflated will build up exces-
sive heat that may go beyond the prescribed
limits
of
endurance
of
the rubber and the radial
cords. This could result
in
sudden
tiTe
failure. A
tire that is underinflated could also cause poor
vehicle handling, rapid
andlor irregular tire
wear,
or
an increase
in
rolling resistance which
results in a decrease in its fuel economy.
Overinflation will reduce the tire's footprint or
contact patch with the road, thus reducing the
traction, braking capacity, and handling
of
the
vehicle. A tire that is overinflated for the load
that
it is carrying will also contribute to a harsh
ride, uneven tire wear, and will be more suscep-
tible to impact damage.
Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure for
each loaded wheel position on your vehicle is
of
the utmost importance and must be a part
of
regular vehicle maintenance.
Federal law requires that the tire's maximum
load rating be molded into the sidewall
of
the
tire.
If
you look on your tire's sidewall you'll
see
the maximum load allowed for the size tire
and
load rating, and the minimum cold air infla-
tion pressure needed to
cany
that stated maxi-
mum
load. Utilizing less air pressure means a
lesser load can be carried by the tire.
The
amount
of
air pressure you need to use
depends
on
the weight
of
your fully-loaded vehicle.
So,
you
cannot determine your
COlrect
air pressure
unless you know your vehicle's actual weights.
Underinflation
When an underinflated tire is run at normal high-
way
speeds,
it
flexes too much and builds up
On
The
Road
heat. This heat damages the inner liner, casing
and outer sidewall
of
the tire.
If
not remedied
quickly, the tire will be irreparably damaged.
In
extreme cases, the sidewall
of
the tire is
destroyed, both from the excessive heat it endured
due
to
the weight
of
the vehicle pressing
on
the
tire casing without the cushioning load carrying
effect
of
the
COlTect
air pressure, and the crush-
ing/cutting action
of
the wheel
as
it rolls on the
underinflated sidewall. According to guidelines
put out by the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA), any tire that has been
run at less than
80%
of
recommended air pressure for the load it
is carrying should
be
inspected for possible damage.
When one tire in a dual configuration comes out
of
service due to underinflation damage, the
other tire
in
the dual configuration should be
inspected immediately.
If
the unserviceable tire
was underinflated, that means the serviceable
tire was carrying more and more
of
the load for
that wheel position. Consequently, it too
may
have suffered some casing damage due to
overloading.
Air
Pressure Check
You
should check the air pressure evety two
weeks
or
at least once each month and before any
major trip. Your
RV
tires' air pressure should be
checked evety
"drive" moming on long trips.
On
shOlt trips
of
a day or less driving each way, your
tires should be checked before you leave
on
your
trip and again before you start your trip home.
Check your tires when they are
"cold"
and
have
not been driven for more than one mile.
The
stated load capacity for a given cold inflation
pressure is based on ambient outside tempera-
ture.
If
you must check your tires when they are
warm
or
hot, do allow for a slight increase in air
pressure and make sure they are within a couple
of
pounds
of
each other on the same axle.
Frequently check tires.
If
a tire picks
up
a nail or
screw that creates a slow leak and causes some
air pressure loss, you might eventually spot it
visually
if
it is a front tire:
If
it is an outside rear
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