Choosing the Best Tires for Your RV
A blown tire, noisy ride, or slipping on the road are the last things anyone wants while traveling with their RV across the country. Certain tires are built for specific purposes, and some are better than others. It’s important to choose the correct tire for a cross-country tour, especially when doing it with a massive vehicle that weighs several tons. Safety is key when traveling with an RV, and that extends to tires.
Unfortunately shopping for RV tires isn’t as simple as picking out the newest Michelins at Costco. They’re considered specialty items and need to be ordered. Here are some tires to consider before embarking on a big RV-powered journey.
Goodyear Unisteel G670
The only tires specifically built for RVs are made by Goodyear. The G670 might appear to cost a lot on the surface, but with all of its technology $850 per set of four isn’t an oversell. These tires are protected from UV rays. They also use anti-oxidant and anti-ozonant compounds to protect from weather cracking.
They even implement a tread pattern that Goodyear says produces lower heat, higher strength, and better grip. Goodyear offers the G670 in many sizes, from 224 to 315. The largest size can hold up to 9090 pounds at 130 PSI.
Michelin XPS Rib
Depending on the size, RVs don’t necessarily need specialty RV tires. They can also use tires built for commercial vehicles. The XPS Rib is Michelin’s contribution to the commercial light truck tire market. It has a long tread life, is well built, and offers decent grip in dry and wet conditions.
At $300 per tire, the XPS Rib is a considerable expenditure, but they come with a 60,000-mile warranty. They’re also retreadable, which is a practice that involves removing old worn treads and replacing them with new ones. This practice saves about 90-percent of the tire.
Bridgestone Duravis M700 HD
Considerably cheaper than both the Goodyear and Michelin is the Bridgestone Duravis M700 HD. In this case, cheaper doesn’t mean worse. The Duravis provides excellent tread wear and is built to handle all kinds of terrain, including snow. Though if not opting for the Bridgestone, plan a route that doesn’t require them. The Bridgestone is built for commercial use but provides ample handling and stability for motorhomes.
Unfortunately, it’s not recommended for the massive Winnebagos that expand and house fireplaces. The Goodyear is still the best tire for that application. That said, at $213 it’s hard to ignore the Bridgestone as the best option for a mid-size or smaller truck-based motorhome.
Choosing the best tire for an RV requires a different thought process from buying tires for a car. The construction has to be adequate to handle the weight, especially while turning or driving over certain terrain. It needs to provide proper traction over said terrain, and it needs to withstand all the elements.
The Goodyear Unisteel is obviously the best choice for a full-fledged RV. For a smaller motorhome based on a truck frame, consider the Bridgestone. It’s cheaper and provides better performance. These are just a few choices among many, so shop around.
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