RV and motorhome tires usually age out before the tread wears out, so check the DOT date code and look for sidewall cracking before you judge them by tread depth. For a replacement in Philadelphia, call Philadelphia Tire Shop with the size and load range printed on your sidewall to confirm availability and fitting.
An RV can sit for months and still have deep tread, and that is exactly when the tires fail. Rubber degrades from sun, ozone and standing weight whether or not the wheels turn. A motorhome with 70 percent of its tread left can have sidewalls cracked deep enough to condemn the tire, so look at the sidewall and the date code before you look at the tread.
Before you call Philadelphia Tire Shop in Philadelphia, read the full size, the load range and the DOT date code off the sidewall. With those three details, availability and fitting can be confirmed on the phone, and you avoid a trip with a rig that turns out to be the wrong fit.
How do I tell whether RV tires are too old to keep?
Start with the DOT code molded into the sidewall. The last digits of that code give the week and year the tire was made. If you cannot find a date, ask for help reading it.
Then look at the rubber where the sidewall meets the tread, and in the grooves. Fine cracking, a chalky or dull surface, or any bulge means the tire should be inspected before the next trip, regardless of mileage. Ask the shop what age it considers the limit for your tire, and be wary of anyone who says only tread depth matters.
Is a trailer tire the same as a motorhome tire?
No. Towable trailers commonly run special-trailer tires, while motorhomes run truck-style tires with their own load ratings. Check the letters in the size on your sidewall and match them. Swapping to a different type because it was on the shelf changes how much weight each tire is rated to carry.
- Match the size, load range and speed rating already on the sidewall.
- On dual rear wheels, both tires on a side should be the same size and close in tread wear.
- Ask whether the quote covers mounting, balancing, new valve stems and disposal of the old tires.
What should I do before booking an RV tire job?
Call ahead. Large tires are not always on hand, and wheels that big may need different equipment to mount. Give the shop the exact size and ask what it can do with your vehicle before you drive over. The shop runs Mon–Sun 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, so you can plan around that.
Also check your inflation pressure against the weight of the loaded rig, not the number on the sidewall maximum. The right pressure depends on what the axle actually carries.
Should I replace all my RV tires at once?
Often yes, especially if they are the same age and show the same cracking, because they aged together. Tires on the same axle should match in size and wear. Ask the shop to look at the whole set rather than only the one that failed.
Can I patch an RV tire?
That depends on where the damage is and what kind of tire it is. Sidewall damage is not repairable, and an old tire with cracking is better replaced than patched. Call Philadelphia Tire Shop and describe the damage before you drive on it.
What do I need to know before calling about RV tires?
Have the full size, the load range and the DOT date code from the sidewall. Say whether the rig is a motorhome or a trailer, and whether the rear wheels are duals. That is enough to start a quote.