Tires

[EmergencyNrse]

Okay, I've read, searched and looked up and down for information on the significance of tread pattern for RV tires.
The general opinion from my reading posts is that tires that are old will need replaced or bad things can happen. 6, 7, 8 years...

Since mine are 12-years old I've been looking to avoid that catastrophic failure that's coming and buy a new set all the way around.




Can someone 'splain plez, how the vertical groove pattern is significant from a regular car or light truck tread pattern? They obviously are different for a reason. I just don't know enough as to why.

Thank you in advance.

(Oh, and I'm in the 225/70 19.5 league)

[CapriRacer]

down home wrote:
.......There should be a tire guy around here shortly?

You called?

First, be careful using the term "RV". Even travel trailers can be considered RV's.

Second, from the tire industry's perspective, there aren't "RV tires" per se. I think what we are talking about here is Medium Truck Tires - medium because "Heavy" is for even bigger trucks.

Medium Truck Tires use pressures in the 100 psi neighborhood. At that level, water, snow, and mud are generally pushed out of the way much more readily than Passenger Car tires which operate at about 30 psi.

Cross grooves help provide a) an additional place for water/snow/mud to go and b) act as a paddle wheel. They enhance wet/snow/mud traction.

But there is a downside! They reduce the amount rubber in contact with the road and therefore reduce dry traction (which is generally not a big problem). They also make more edges which are prone to wear faster.

Hope this helps.

[Passin_Thru]

Michelin Steering axle tires will work all around. You don't need deep snow tread for an RV, you will be down South hopefully in the winter.

[down_home]

The grooves circling the tire are the quietest riding. Typically used on steer axle tires, they are on all positions on ours from Michelin.
They also help in tracking.
Don't buy block threaded tires like on some semi tires for off road or multipurpose they sing loudly or at least louder than ours.
As far as traction concerns I haven't seen any with either type design on our Mhs.
There is much more that I don't know than I do.
However City buses rather than run heavily threaded tires, in snow ran rather smooth treads, I was told on a few ocassions.
Why, I am not informed.
There should be a tire guy around here shortly?