Motorhome Tires
Choosing motorhome tires requires different selection criteria than choosing tires for any large vehicle because of the coefficient of rolling friction. This is utilized for the calculation of the amount of force that it is demanded to utilize the set of tires on the surface. This surface, of course, is the road or highway.
The motorhome tires I describe here are brands available in the United States. Our readers from the European Union ask in the comments for opinion and suggestions, but I only can recommend the motorhome tires that I have used myself in my own RVs.
A Class A motorhome can be compared to an 18-wheeler truck as they have towing capacity that can handle thousands of pounds, huge wheels, and space for 4 or more passengers. They are quite larger than both Class B and Class C motorhomes.
Class A motorhome owners cannot simply use any tires when they must tackle long trips because of the weight and the constitution of a typical class A RV.
As I wrote above, apart from looking at how much Class A motorhome tires cost, I will also discuss basic tire maintenance, changing tires and storing them, and which brands sell these tires from the ones I know from my own experience.
How Much Do Class A Motorhome Tires Cost?
On average, you can expect to pay around three hundred dollars per tire for a Class A motorhome. Actually my calculation was $ 322 to be more precise. This calculation, nevertheless, does depend on many factors, including the quality, the Uniform Tire Quality grading rating (UTQG), the brand, and the sales and pricing conditions.
Like with most things in life, what you pay when buying Class A motorhome tires determines its value. Inexpensive tires may work for some time, but they will not last for very long as they typically have less weight, less pressure, smaller section widths, and weaker tread widths.
For comparison, whereas a Yokohama TY303 weighs 99 pounds and costs $317 each, a Deerstone D 902 weighs 38 pounds each and costs $ 91 each.
RV And Motorhome Tires Price List Updated
- SuperMax MTB HWY in 11 /– 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged $230
- Yokohama TY303 in 255/70 in R 22. L 30312 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $313
- Goodyear Precure G 177 M 27 in 11 / R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $241
- Goodyear G751 MSA DuraSeal in 11 / R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $811
- Deestone D902 in 8.75 x – 16.5 DS 1290 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $88
- RoadOne F16 in 11/R-24.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $275
- Bridgestone L 320 in 11 / R – 24.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $839
- Goodyear G741 MSD in 11 / R – 24.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $836
- LingLong F01 in 275 /80 R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $318
- Goodyear G670 RV ULT LT in 225 /70 R 19.5 B tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $378
- Triangle TR 666 in 275 /80 R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $320
- Goodyear G670 RV MRT in 275 /80 R – 22.5 MSRP 2020 averaged: $725
- Michelin XRV in 225 /70 R 19.5 58916 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $308
- Vitour V796 in 315 /80 R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $325
- Goodyear Endurance in 315 /80 R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $1383
- Roadmaster RM 253 in 245 / 7OR 19.5 136 M tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $237
- Goodyear G652 in 305 / 70R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $848
- Kumho KRS03 in 305 / 70R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $416
- Hankook AH11 in 8 / R 19.5 L tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $212
- Toyo M144 in 305 / 70R – 22.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $506
- Firestone Transforce HT Highway in 235x 75 R15 104 R tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $127
- Toyo M154 in 265 /75R 22.5 138L tires MSRP averaged: $384
- Goodyear Marathon LHS II in 295 / 80R – 22.5 tires MSRP averaged: $977
- Samson Radial GL283A in 8 / R 19.5 124 L tires MSRP averaged: $138
- Continental Tire Conti Trac in 235 / 70-16 tires MSRP averaged: $129
GT Radial GTL 922 in 11 / R – 24.5 tires MSRP 2020 averaged: $269
Comparison Between Class A, B, and C Motorhome Tires
The 3 RV classes use tires that are able to handle different RV sizes and weights. Motorhome tires for a Class A RVs weigh between 14,000 and 32,000 pounds and can handle vehicles between 30 and 40 feet wide.
Tires for a Class B RVs are smaller and meant for less weight. They weigh from 6,000 to 8,000 pounds and can handle vehicles between 17 and 19 feet wide.
Tires for a Class C RVs are in between the other classes weigh between 10,000 and 12,000 lbs. and can handle vehicles up to 30 ft. wide.
Changing a Class A Motorhome’s Tire
Let me describe to you a process to change the motorhome tires as I do it: never going below the RV. It is good to be able to change the tires on a Class A motorhome, especially if you have bought new tires and need to replace the old ones. The same directions can also be used to replace a flat tire.
Use two RV jacks or one RV leveler, place the first jack at a front wheel and the second one at a back wheel. An RV leveler should be positioned between the wheels.
Ensure first that the jacks are secure before starting to lift the vehicle at the back via the leveler or jack. Stop when the back tire touches the RV frame.
Repeat the process at the front. When the front tire touches the RV frame, lift the jack an additional three notches. Repeat this for the back jack.
The objective is to lift the tire until it clears the ground and you are able to spin it freely. To achieve this, you may have to increase the height of the jacks at a pace of three notches a time alternating between the back and front jacks.
Remove the tire that needs to be replaced by loosening its lug nuts. Put the new tire in its place and secure it properly.
Lower the vehicle using the jacks or leveler and remove them when the vehicle is completely down.
Although the job is simple, you should never get under an RV when doing it. It is in fact dangerous to get under any RV when repair work is done, as the vehicle is heavy and it could easily crush you if something goes wrong.
As an extra precaution, only change RV tires with the emergency brake set.
Storing a Spare Tire for a Class A RVs
Regarding class A RVs, you may have realized that there is not a specific space to store a spare tire. This is often the case for different RV models and manufacturers. In the 1980s, it was normal to have a special place for a spare tire, but today, most manufacturers would rather use this space to accommodate exterior or interior amenities.
In the rare cases where a spare class A tire can be stored in a vehicle, it will likely have to be unmounted and partially deflated. The sheer size and weight of a Class A tire will take up a huge amount of valuable space.
You could in fact rather use the space for an extra bed, even cooking amenities or a bathroom.
RVs also have has what is known as a GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight. This is the maximum weight an RV can tow, including the chassis, the vehicle body, the engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, the driver and all passengers.
This measurement is very specific and catering for a spare tire means that something else would have to be sacrificed.
It is common for motorhomes nowadays, not to have a spare tire, as I indicated above. This simply means that you will not be able to change a tire while on a trip.
If a tire deflates or malfunctions in another way, you would have to get the vehicle towed and use a professional to replace the tire.
Tips to Maintain Motorhome Tires
To keep your motorhome tires lasting longer, you have to regularly do tire maintenance. The tips below will go a long way to help you get the most from them.
If you are not sure about which tires you need for your motorhome, check the motorhome’s manual. This should provide details on the class of tires that are best based on vehicle size, vehicle weight, load rating, and sidewall strength.
Tire rotation
Although all tires wear down with time, some spots may wear down faster, which is not good. Do a tire rotation on all four tires regularly to avoid this.
Change Tires When They Age Out Even If They Have Plenty Of Tread Left
Even though we had plenty of tread left, our motorhome tires were ready to be replaced due to their age. Like the vast majority of RVers, tires aged out before they wore out.
In our case, for my class A, I have been really happy with the ride and performance of our Michelin’s so I am certainly going to stick with the exact same model. However, I have changed this approach, as I have found ways to extend the RV tires lifecycle to nine or ten years safely
Change the old motorhome tires after buying a used RV
Do not drive with old tires, particularly if you buy a preowned motorhome. If you are thinking of getting a preowned RV, one of the things you should check out first, are the tires.
Tires regulated by the American Department of Transportation (DOT) or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have a Tire Identification Number, also called DOT numbers. The first 2 digits represent the week in which it was manufactured while the others represent the year. A DOT number of 1321 indicates for example that they were produced in March 2021.
If a tire has a DOT number of only 3 digits, it is definitely time to replace these tires as they were manufactured in the 1990s. The DOT number 507 indicates for example that they were produced in the 50th week of 1997.
The typical lifespan of motorhome tires is between 5 and 7 years. In my article about the maintenance of RV tires, I describe several ways to extend the life of RV tires for up to ten years.
Protect spare tires from direct sunlight
Spare tires that need to be stored, either in a garage or motorhome should not just be put anywhere as this could expose the tires to UV light and degrade the coatings mentioned before. Use a piece of wood that is big enough to place the tire on.
Understand what can decrease the life of tires. Apart from normal wear and tear, prolonged exposure to UV rays and ozone can also reduce tire life.
Check tires to find cracks
You should also check all motorhome tires for cracks at the start of the RV season. Cracks would indicate that tire rotting has started, in which case they should be replaced.
Tire pressure should be checked with an inflation gauge regularly. Angled dual foot pressure gauges are also good, especially if you want to test multiple tires.
RV should be winterized once per year. Remove the tires from the vehicle before doing this to keep them in the best condition, and put them back on when the job is done.
If one axle carries more weighed than another, add or release pressure on a tire to compensate. You could also rearrange the load in the motorhome to distribute the weight evenly amongst axles.
Make sure you know the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) of the RV to prevent straining the axles. The maximum axle weight can be measured with a single axle scale, single platform scale, or segmented platform scale.
When inflating tires, make sure you do not under- or overinflate them as either could generate excessive heat and possibly explode. Tires that are not inflated correctly will also wear down unevenly.
Understand the weights as defined by the RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association). These weights will be on the vehicle’s data plate.
- The Gross Combined Weight (GCWR) is the weight of everything on the vehicle.
- The Hitch or Tongue Weight (TW), caters to a full trailer including a fifth wheel.
- The Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW), is the weight of the vehicle on its own without any equipment.
- The Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) is the weight of all gear, belongings, and other equipment you bring onto the RV.
Summary
Tires for class A motorhomes are suitable for the heaviest and biggest RVs and will roughly set you back $300 each.
Although there are cheaper tires available, those will not last very long. It’s best to buy well-known brands. To save money, you may be able to get better prices at online retailers, but make sure they are in fact new.
Even though Class A tires are big and heavy, they are not indestructible. Doing routine maintenance on the tires, such as rotating them and checking inflation will help to extend their life. Never exceed the weight limits recommended for the vehicle.
