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The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / Replacing MH Tires

Carol
User ID: 8771373 Jan 18th 10:00 AM
I try to be meticulous in the maintenance of my older Class A motorhome. I've read numerous times that the tires should be replaced every 5 or 6 years regardless of their appearance.

When you are figuring the replacement date, do you count from the date the new tires were purchased and installed or from the date of manufacture (DOT info on sidewall)? Also, do you use the 5 or 6 year replacement recommendation?

Thanks,
Carol

Marty
User ID: 0339064 Jan 18th 12:25 PM
I work from the date stamped in the sidewalls first of all. If I put the tires on new with a current date, then I'll look to probably 6 years depending on who manufactured the tire, how many miles I've put on meaning usage and or how I think my luck will hold out. That last part becomes a coin toss I guess.

Marty in TN

Carol
User ID: 8771373 Jan 19th 8:39 PM
Thanks, Marty. Guess I'll be shopping for tires (I run Bridgestones) as soon as the RV comes out of winter storage. This time I'll make sure I buy newly manufactured tires and not those that have been in stock somewhere for a year or two.

jd
User ID: 0721754 Jan 20th 7:02 AM
Bridgestone has a good reputation. Glad to see you're planning for the new season. I've become convinced it's good to drive an RV regularly (I shoot for monthly, 6 weeks max) to keep the oils worked around in the tire rubber. If my theory makes sense, then several months of storage just isn't good. I think you should move to Florida.
God Bless, jd

ED
User ID: 8868883 Jan 26th 9:10 AM
I plan to buy new tires BrigeStone tires in the week to come. Where and how can I find the code# for the date of mfg. I want to make sure I am not sold a tire that maybe 2 or 3 years old. I would never know unless I can find the code and know what each number stands for ie..first # may be month and second number may be year. Any input will be apreicated....Thank you Ed

Mike
Administrator Jan 26th 9:19 AM
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/determtireage.jsp

Pastor Charlie
User ID: 2958184 Jan 30th 8:50 PM
I just had a new set of Michelins installed on my Class A. I emailed the Michelin Corp. tech people and asked about the dating of tires and was informed that prior to 2000 all Dot numbers ended in three numbers, i.e. 206, the first two numbers 20 was the week of the year and the last number 6 was the year; 1986 or 1996, etc. All numbers since 2000 use four numbers, i.e. 2004, the 20 being the week of the year and 04 the year. These numbers are found on the side of the tire following the DOT stamp.
Pastor Charlie

Carol
User ID: 8771373 Jan 30th 10:59 PM
That's correct, Pastor Charlie. The website listed by Mike (administrator) gives a good explanation of the DOT code. I'm curious, when you bought your Michelins, did you have any trouble getting tires manufactured in 2005 or late 2004? Since I will buy new tires this spring, I've been wondering if the dealer will give me a hard time about wanting "newly minted" tires.

Pastor Charlie
User ID: 2958184 Jan 31st 6:59 AM
Carol,
I bought my tires through Merchants Tire Company, they have over 350 stores and guaranteed the lowest prices, I asked about your concern as it was also mine. They said the tires would not have been in the wirehouse over 18 months but the warranty began with installation. I insisted that I wanted recently manufactured tires. I also asked Michilin about the manufactured dated and they thought 6 months more likely. Supply and demand determines the time. My tire dates are 1804 and 1904 indicating the 18 and 19 week of 2004.

Carol
User ID: 8771373 Jan 31st 9:05 AM
Thanks, Pastor Charlie. I hope I can find a company as cooperative as yours.

Barthbill
User ID: 0213374 Feb 6th 1:38 PM
I'm with JD on this. I have observed from my neihbors', co-workers and fellow RVers that tires that are driven last MUCH longer than tires that sit.

Sitting is really bad. Some tire manufacturers recommend jacking and deflating to half pressure if it is going to sit.

Mike
Administrator Feb 7th 8:04 AM
"The anti-aging chemicals used in the rubber compounds are more effective when the tire is "exercised" on a frequent basis. The repeated stretching of the rubber compound actually helps resist cracks forming. The tires used on vehicles that are driven infrequently, or accumulate low annual mileage are more likely to experience cracking because long periods of parking or storage interrupt "working" the rubber. In addition to being an annoyance to show car owners, this condition often frustrates motor home and recreational vehicle owners who only take occasional trips and cannot even park their vehicle in a garage or shaded area. Using tire covers at least minimizes direct exposure to sunlight."

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/rubbercracking.jsp

jd
User ID: 9642053 Feb 7th 5:24 PM
Well said, Mike...
Better go camping!
God Bless, jd

Carol User ID: 8771373	Jan 18th 10:00 AM I try to be meticulous in the maintenance of my older Class A motorhome. I've read numerous times that the tires should be replaced every 5 or 6 years regardless of their appearance. When you are figuring the replacement date, do you count from the date the new tires were purchased and installed or from the date of manufacture (DOT info on sidewall)? Also, do you use the 5 or 6 year replacement recommendation? Thanks, Carol
Marty User ID: 0339064	Jan 18th 12:25 PM I work from the date stamped in the sidewalls first of all. If I put the tires on new with a current date, then I'll look to probably 6 years depending on who manufactured the tire, how many miles I've put on meaning usage and or how I think my luck will hold out. That last part becomes a coin toss I guess. Marty in TN
Carol User ID: 8771373	Jan 19th 8:39 PM Thanks, Marty. Guess I'll be shopping for tires (I run Bridgestones) as soon as the RV comes out of winter storage. This time I'll make sure I buy newly manufactured tires and not those that have been in stock somewhere for a year or two.
jd User ID: 0721754	Jan 20th 7:02 AM Bridgestone has a good reputation. Glad to see you're planning for the new season. I've become convinced it's good to drive an RV regularly (I shoot for monthly, 6 weeks max) to keep the oils worked around in the tire rubber. If my theory makes sense, then several months of storage just isn't good. I think you should move to Florida. God Bless, jd
ED User ID: 8868883	Jan 26th 9:10 AM I plan to buy new tires BrigeStone tires in the week to come. Where and how can I find the code# for the date of mfg. I want to make sure I am not sold a tire that maybe 2 or 3 years old. I would never know unless I can find the code and know what each number stands for ie..first # may be month and second number may be year. Any input will be apreicated....Thank you Ed
Mike Administrator	Jan 26th 9:19 AM http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/determtireage.jsp
Pastor Charlie User ID: 2958184	Jan 30th 8:50 PM I just had a new set of Michelins installed on my Class A. I emailed the Michelin Corp. tech people and asked about the dating of tires and was informed that prior to 2000 all Dot numbers ended in three numbers, i.e. 206, the first two numbers 20 was the week of the year and the last number 6 was the year; 1986 or 1996, etc. All numbers since 2000 use four numbers, i.e. 2004, the 20 being the week of the year and 04 the year. These numbers are found on the side of the tire following the DOT stamp. Pastor Charlie
Carol User ID: 8771373	Jan 30th 10:59 PM That's correct, Pastor Charlie. The website listed by Mike (administrator) gives a good explanation of the DOT code. I'm curious, when you bought your Michelins, did you have any trouble getting tires manufactured in 2005 or late 2004? Since I will buy new tires this spring, I've been wondering if the dealer will give me a hard time about wanting "newly minted" tires.
Pastor Charlie User ID: 2958184	Jan 31st 6:59 AM Carol, I bought my tires through Merchants Tire Company, they have over 350 stores and guaranteed the lowest prices, I asked about your concern as it was also mine. They said the tires would not have been in the wirehouse over 18 months but the warranty began with installation. I insisted that I wanted recently manufactured tires. I also asked Michilin about the manufactured dated and they thought 6 months more likely. Supply and demand determines the time. My tire dates are 1804 and 1904 indicating the 18 and 19 week of 2004.
Carol User ID: 8771373	Jan 31st 9:05 AM Thanks, Pastor Charlie. I hope I can find a company as cooperative as yours.
Barthbill User ID: 0213374	Feb 6th 1:38 PM I'm with JD on this. I have observed from my neihbors', co-workers and fellow RVers that tires that are driven last MUCH longer than tires that sit. Sitting is really bad. Some tire manufacturers recommend jacking and deflating to half pressure if it is going to sit.
Mike Administrator	Feb 7th 8:04 AM "The anti-aging chemicals used in the rubber compounds are more effective when the tire is "exercised" on a frequent basis. The repeated stretching of the rubber compound actually helps resist cracks forming. The tires used on vehicles that are driven infrequently, or accumulate low annual mileage are more likely to experience cracking because long periods of parking or storage interrupt "working" the rubber. In addition to being an annoyance to show car owners, this condition often frustrates motor home and recreational vehicle owners who only take occasional trips and cannot even park their vehicle in a garage or shaded area. Using tire covers at least minimizes direct exposure to sunlight." http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/general/rubbercracking.jsp
jd User ID: 9642053	Feb 7th 5:24 PM Well said, Mike... Better go camping! God Bless, jd