Tires

I agree, don't let tires stand in the way of a great coach, but try to use it as a price negotiation point. And just like tires, check battery age too; both being age dependent and costly. Exciting to buy, so have fun!

hohenwald48 wrote:
Over the past few weeks I've been shopping for a low miles (25k or less) used 2007/08 motorhome. No particular brand. I've gone to look at several and probably called 10 or so for additional information. With the exception 1, all have had the original tires. Come on folks 10 years is a little long in the tooth for RV tires. No wonder you hear so many blow out stories.

If you look even further back you will still find even more original tires - the stories of blow outs are usually because as the coach gets older the owners tend to not keep an eye on the pressure in the tires (generally the issue for a blow out, just no one will admit that THEY are the problem) - IMHO buy what you like and then find your replacement tires - drive it in and change them out, in most cases you will not find a Coach with less than 25K miles on it that has new tires, just not going to happen.

JMHO,

Yeah 10 years is getting up there. Still though for myself I do think that if you have the coach stored indoors and the tires not exposed to elements much (except for when you use the coach), you can get 7 or 8 years out of them if they are a good brand. My opinion only.

DryCreek wrote:
Ya' know, I've been noticing the exact same thing. We are in the final stages of our search for a short class A, and with very few exceptions, all of the tires have been original equipment or very near to that. But then again, when you think about it, how many miles are on those coaches we've been looking at? Compare that to your average sedan or pickup truck of the same vintage. Those folks parting with the "middle aged" motor homes just didn't use them that often.

The unit at the top of our list is a 2007 model, with just under 17K miles (and OE tires). The inspection/registration expired in 10/2015. To me, that kind of usage explains the lack of tire replacement.

That and the fact that most people will resist buying new tires when there is still plenty of thread on the existing ones.

Ya' know, I've been noticing the exact same thing. We are in the final stages of our search for a short class A, and with very few exceptions, all of the tires have been original equipment or very near to that. But then again, when you think about it, how many miles are on those coaches we've been looking at? Compare that to your average sedan or pickup truck of the same vintage. Those folks parting with the "middle aged" motor homes just didn't use them that often.

The unit at the top of our list is a 2007 model, with just under 17K miles (and OE tires). The inspection/registration expired in 10/2015. To me, that kind of usage explains the lack of tire replacement.

As long as it is priced accordingly, I would prefer old tires that would get me to the tire shop.

Simply drive it very carefully to the tire store.

I'd not allow the age of a tire to be the reason to miss a good deal.

We put about 1500 miles on our old tires prior to buying new. They looked great when we first got our coach, then we started to see the dry rot cracking on the sidewalls.

Very easy to negotiate the price of tires into the purchase. If you were selling the MH, would you replace the tires before the sale? Purchaser may want another brand. Let the new purchaser put what they want on and if the tire blows out setting on the lot, so be it.

Did the sellers say the tires were good and had plenty of tread left?

No matter how many times it seems to be discussed, tire age is something that continues to be ignored by many RVers.

Doesn't hurt to bring it up again!