RV tires and wheels: selection, pressure, age and torque

Choose replacements approved for the RV’s tire application, size, load and speed requirements, then check the actual loaded vehicle and wheel positions. Set cold pressure using the vehicle and tire instructions together. A load-range letter or a larger tire rating does not raise an axle, wheel or vehicle rating.

Read load and pressure as a specific pair

An Airstream service newsletter filed with NHTSA in February 2017 lists its then-new 15-inch Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R15 example at 2,830 lb and 80 psi, versus the listed Marathon example at 2,540 lb and 65 psi. This historical comparison is not a substitute for the current installed tire’s load table or permission to raise wheel pressure.

Two tires rated at 2,830 lb have a combined stated capacity of 5,660 lb under that rating condition. An assumed axle weighing 5,500 lb appears to leave 160 lb overall, but a 2,900-lb wheel-position load exceeds one tire’s 2,830-lb rating by 70 lb. Equal division of axle weight hides that problem.

Assumed unequal 5,500 lb axle loadingOne wheel position: 2,900 lb; Other wheel position: 2,600 lbAssumed unequal 5,500 lb axle loadingOne wheel position: 2,900 lbOther wheel position: 2,600 lb

ST and LT describe applications, not automatic upgrades

ST identifies special-trailer service and LT light-truck service. Obtain approval for the actual replacement application rather than substituting by diameter or country of manufacture. Match wheel width, pressure capability, valve, clearance and single/dual application as well as the tire’s markings.

NHTSA tire guidance explains placard pressure, cold checks, damage inspection and the DOT manufacturing date. Do not bleed a warmed tire down to a cold-pressure target or add pressure beyond equipment limits to compensate for overload. Investigate known low-pressure operation for internal damage with a qualified tire professional.

Age guidance belongs to the maker

Michelin’s RV service-life bulletin recommends at least annual specialist inspection after five years in service and precautionary replacement at ten years from manufacture, including spares, while observing an earlier vehicle recommendation. It does not guarantee ten years of use or establish one replacement age for every brand.

A DOT date ending 3822 identifies week 38 of 2022. As of October 2026 that is about four years since manufacture, not proof of four years in service. Condition, service history and the applicable maker instructions still govern the decision.

Wheel torque and travel checks remain separate

Dexter’s 600–8,000-lb axle manual gives configuration-specific lug torque and checks at 10, 25 and 50 miles after installation. Use the exact stud and wheel requirements; a single 50-mile recheck is not the whole instruction.

For storage or lifting, use the actual vehicle’s support points and approved procedure. Do not assume leveling jacks can unload tires for long storage. After a tire failure, inspect associated wiring, brake components and body damage before continuing, and use qualified roadside help where the location or equipment is unsuitable.