Overweight Vehicles & Underinflated : A GROWING PROBLEM Overloading an RV, mini-bus, light , van or ambulance, or running on underinflated tires, is not just hard on the vehicle – it could cause your tires to fail. Tires and are designed to handle only so much weight. Exceeding it puts a strain on the whole system. Overloading and underinflation are both unsafe, send operating and repair costs sky-high and can cause unexpected downtime. Don’t let an overweight vehicle or underinflated spoil your trip – or worse. How overweight ARE our vehicles? Negative effects Since 1993, “A’WeighWe Go,” a proj- In a separate survey conducted Neglect makes ON SAFETY ect of the Recreational Vehicle Safety by Bridgestone/Firestone, 4 out of 5 matters worse ■ Tire failures Education Foundation (RVSEF), has RVs had at least one underinflated tire, Even a tire that’s in perfectly good condition, ■ Reduced handling capability weighed over 27,000 motor homes and a third of which were dangerously properly mounted and correctly inflated can lose trailers in conjunction with RV events. underinflated, and at risk of failure. between 1 and 2 lbs. of inflation pressure (psi) per ■ Dangerous on- breakdowns An underinflated tire cannot carry The results are not pretty. Of the month, depending on tire size. (This is normal. See ■ Stopping distances may lengthen the load of a properly inflated tire. RVs checked by RVSEF, nearly a third the story on page 9.) had loads that exceeded the capacity of the When a tire is underinflated, the extra tires on the vehicles. weight causes greater heat build-up in In just six months, Negative effects the tire, which can lead to tire failure. inflation pressure ON YOUR According POCKETBOOK to RVSEF, 22% of loss could be as rear axles ■ Rapid tire wear 33% of RV’s were much as 12 psi, had overloaded tires overloaded a potentially very serious situation that could ■ Irregular tire wear Most of the weight was cause a sudden tire failure that could lead to ■ Rapid component wear on the rear.Twenty-two percent of all accidents or death. rear tires were overloaded. And weight ■ Excessive fuel consumption distribution was so poor that about Often, these dangerously under-inflated ■ Costly breakdowns 28 percent of all motor homes were tires were the inner tires of dual pairs, out of balance by 400 pounds or more tires that are difficult to see and from one end to the other. difficult to service.

For your safety and that of your passengers, never exceed your vehicle’s safe load capacity, and always make sure your vehicle’s load is properly distributed. How does overloading happen? Under-Spec’d Too Much Stuff thing is on board. The only way to tell out of balance from front to rear or AXLES or TIRES Many vehicles, including RVs, mini- if a vehicle is overloaded is to have it from side to side. Increasing capacity by changing axles is buses, trailers and ambulances end weighed. (See below for more information.) If uneven loading is serious enough, probably too expensive and impractical up overloaded simply because people Load Out of Balance you could be within an axle or tire’s for most RV owners. put too many things into them. There is And, it’s also possible to be within the carrying capacity on one end of an axle, With tires, you may have some no easy way to determine the weight vehicle’s Gross Rating and over capacity on the other. flexibility. Tires are available in a variety you’ve loaded, so there’s a temptation to (see page 4 for definitions of terms), yet still Unfortunately, this is even harder of load ratings and sizes, and if the tires keep loading until every available space have overloaded axle ends or tires. to discover, because some types of load- you currently have cannot handle the is filled. People are loading by volume, That comes about, of course, leveling systems compensate for out-of- load, it may be possible to replace your but weight is far more important. if the load is not properly distributed. balance loading, making it harder to see. tires with tires of higher capacity. Consult Unfortunately, you may have Again, balance is something very Again, properly weighing the vehicle is the vehicle manufacturer before making exceeded the load-carrying capacity difficult to determine when you’re the only way to be sure. of the tires or axles long before every- loading the vehicle. You could be any change to your tires. Bear in mind, though, that the ultimate capacity of the vehicle is determined by the weakest link in the system. If axles are at or near the limit of their capacity, there’s no point putting on tires that can handle higher loads.

When you weigh your RV or travel trailer (including “fifth wheel” types), you must weigh it with everything on board including passengers.

It is essential to weigh each axle end of your water, fuel, oil, towed items, bicycles, the weight on each end of each axle. vehicle to determine whether it is overloaded, How? clothing, propane, etc. Bear in mind That’s the only way you can find out and whether the load is correctly distributed, ALL ABOARD! that water, fuel and propane can easily if the load is both within the capacity front to back and side to side. The most critical point about weighing exceed 750 lbs. You must know the of the axles, wheels and tires, as a vehicle is that it must be weighed actual load on the axles and wheels, well as whether or not the load is with everything on board that will be and there’s no other way to do it. properly distributed. there while you’re traveling. That means you must weigh the AXLE END BY AXLE END vehicle with passengers, supplies, food, In addition to knowing the total weight on the ground, it is crucial to know 2 Look for scales at moving and storage companies, farm suppliers, gravel pits, recycling companies or truckstops. Where? FINDING SCALES You should be able to find certified scales by looking in your Yellow Pages for moving and storage companies, farm suppliers, gravel pits, recycling companies or commercial truck stops. Be sure to call in advance to determine whether the facility offers public weighing services, their hours of operation and any fees that might be involved.

You can get this free brochure “How to Weigh Your Travel Trailer or RV,” providing detailed instructions on weighing your RV or travel trailer, online, from many tire dealers, and by calling 1-800-847-3272. Once you’re there Because weighing your vehicle is a also available free of charge at complicated job, we’ve published a Firestone MasterCare Tire Centers, separate booklet, “How to Weigh and from many other authorized your Travel Trailer or RV,” that you tire dealers nationwide. You can can use as a workbook for weighing also obtain a copy by calling us, at and recording your results. 1-800-847-3272 or by e-mail to You can download a copy of [email protected], and the booklet from our web site, asking for the free publication: www.trucktires.com. Copies are How to Weigh Your Vehicle. What to do if your weights aren’t right You must not exceed the total Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle, If you have not exceeded the GVWR, but have exceeded the maximum RV or travel trailer, AND you must not exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) permissible load on the axles or tires, you may be able to redistribute weight to of each of your axles, nor the maximum load for your tires. bring all loads back to permissible levels. If your weight is higher than the GVWR, you’ll have to reduce the load by Remember, running overloaded is both dangerous and illegal, besides putting removing some things. excessive – and expensive – wear and tear on most vehicle components. 3 LANGUAGE COMMON TERMS A Federal Dataplate is required GCWR by law on all vehicles. It lists the Gross Combined Weight Rating Gross Vehicle Weight Rating The maximum allowable total (GVWR), the maximum weight loaded weight rating of the RV and at which the vehicle may be operated. any vehicle it is towing. GCWR Note that this weight rating may be minus GVWR (see next definition) legally exceeded only when the represents the allowable weight for vehicle is parked. the towed vehicle. The Federal Dataplate also provides a Gross Axle Weight Rating GVWR (GAWR), the maximum weight Gross Vehicle Weight Rating that should ever be on a given axle. The weight rating established by Because this rating is based on the the chassis manufacturer as the actual characteristics of the vehicle maximum weight (including vehicle, components, you should never cargo, liquids, passengers, etc.) the com- exceed this rating, even when ponents of the chassis can support. the vehicle is parked. The GAWR, divided by two, Tongue Weight The downward weight exerted at is the maximum axle rating for each Vehicles manufactured by members the hitch or 5th wheel connection of the Recreational Vehicle Industry end of the axle. You must not exceed by a fully loaded towed vehicle. Association use labels like these this weight on either end of the axle, to provide additional information even if the total does not exceed GVW not found on the Federal Dataplate. the GAWR. Gross Vehicle Weight All members of the Recreational The actual weight of a fully loaded Vehicle Industry Association vehicle (including vehicle, cargo, (RVIA) are required to place an liquids/fuels, passengers, towed additional label on the vehicles they vehicle’s tongue weight, etc.). The manufacture. It lists information not GVW must not exceed the GVWR. found on the Federal Dataplate and supersedes the Federal Dataplate, GAWR which usually covers only the basic Gross Axle Weight Rating vehicle chassis. (for each axle) The maximum weight rating that the components (tires, There are two versions of the rims/wheels, brakes, springs, axle) of RVIA label, depending on whether each axle are designed to support. the vehicle was manufactured from September 1996 through August 2000, GAW or after September 1, 2000. Gross Axle Weight There are also separate versions The actual weight of a fully loaded of the label for motor homes and for vehicle that is carried trailers, including “fifth wheel” trailers. by a single axle. 4 5 (including (70 kilograms) (NCC is equal water weight , full LP gas weight, SCWR, heater) to or less than GVWR minus UVW.) Sleeping Capacity Rating Weight designated The manufacturer’s number of sleeping positions multi- pounds plied by 154 for each. Note: If your passengers pounds each, weigh more than 154 the number of passengers may have to be reduced to avoid exceeding SCWR. CCC Cargo Carrying Capacity The GVWR minus all of the full fresh following: UVW, (drinking) UVW Weight Vehicle Unloaded as built of the vehicle The weight engine with full fuel, at the factory cargo, but without oil and coolants, or LP gas, occupants fresh water, accessories. dealer-installed NCC Net Carrying Capacity of all The maximum weight the driver, occupants including food,plus personal belongings, LP gas, tools, tongue fresh water, vehicle, weight of any towed accessories, etc. dealer-installed that can be carried. SCWR OF LOADStongue weight of any towed vehicle and weight of any accessories. dealer-installed ? wheels Also, you must not exceed the Inflation pressures that are too high for the load can make tires more susceptible to impact breaks if they encounter obstacles at high speeds. What inflation to use pressure pressures Never set tire inflation the recommendations you find BELOW placard. on the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum inflation pressure ratings shown on tire sidewalls. Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut, punc- tured or broken by sudden impact if at they hit an obstacle, like a pothole, high speed. Correct inflation pressure can help minimize that kind of damage. The maximum inflation pressure (displayed on the sidewall) is also the tire’s minimum required to carry the maximum load. & your tires tires your Wheel Load & Ratings Inflation the load and Be sure you also know inflation pressure ratings for your wheels as well. Often, these are stamped on the inside of the wheels, but if not, your dealer can help you find out what they are. Never exceed the maximum load or inflation pressure rating of your wheels. capacity of of capacity

for ratings if your wheels are not marked. Wheels are often (but not always) stamped

that may be used with them. See your dealer

Bear in mind that these are max- If you use passenger tires (no “LT” with the maximum loads and inflation pressures with the maximum loads and inflation pressures

Tire Load Rating Tire and wheels have Just like axles, tires ratings load ratings. The maximum side of the tires, are molded into the and sometimes stamped on the insides of wheels. imum ratings. The sidewall of the tire shows maximum load and minimum inflation pressure for that load. in their size designation) on multipur- pose passenger vehicles, , buses or trailers, you must reduce the load percent. rating of these tires by 10 What is the is the What Speed Rating 1. Do not exceed maximum speeds allowed by law. Many tires have speed ratings. 2. Always reduce your speed appropriately for traffic, weather, vehicle You’ll find this information on the or road conditions. tire sidewall. The speed rating Remember, in all cases, 3. Never exceed the maximum speed of “speed-rated” tires. indicates the maximum speed at the lowest speed-rated tire 4. With “LT”(Light Truck) tires do not exceed legal speed limits. determines the maximum which the tire can be operated at the ( If you use LT tires at speeds between 66 and 75 mph, increase cold correct load and inflation pressure. inflation pressures by 10 psi above the recommended pressure for the load speed for the entire Never operate your vehicle at speeds but do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure for wheel or tire.) vehicle combination, that exceed the maximum speed for 5. If you use medium commercial truck tires, do not exceed the including any “maximum sustained speed” rating for these tires as found the lowest-rated tire on the vehicle. in the manufacturer’s databook. towing vehicle.

Care ON THE ROAD When you’re traveling, do as professional commercial drivers do: inspect your tires regularly and check and adjust cold inflation pressure every day that you actually travel. (See page12 for details on how to measure and adjust inflation pressure properly.) If you need to “block” tires to level the vehicle, be sure that the block is Make sure that larger than the “footprint” of the tire. No part of the tire should ever blocked tires do not “hang over” the edge of the block. This can cause internal damage to the tire. overhang any part of the block.

CLEANING tires Generally, you do no damage to your The same thing is true of most Care AT HOME tires by leaving them dirty. tire “dressings,” designed to make tires For best tire performance and life, the best thing you can do when you get home Sidewall rubber contains antioxi- look shiny. Most of these preparations is to take the load off your tires by putting the vehicle up on blocks. dants and antiozonants that are designed remove protective compounds, again Cover the tires with opaque material to keep sunlight away. Ozone in the to gradually work their way to the sur- causing tires to age abnormally. air can deteriorate tires, especially sidewalls, and UV radiation from the sun can face of the rubber to protect it. Occasional washing with soap accelerate this effect. Washing tires excessively removes and water is OK, but anything beyond If you remove the tires from the vehicle, store them in a cool, dry, dark these protective compounds, and can that can actually shorten the life of place, away from grease, oil and fuel, and well away from electrical equipment cause tires to age prematurely. your tires. (like motors or generators) that produce ozone. Keep your stored tires inflated to a minimum pressure of 10-15 psi, and Washing tires too often can remove protective compounds and result in arranged side-by-side, like a row of donuts. Avoid letting tires sit on asphalt for premature aging. Avoid harsh cleaning agents, steam cleaning and tire dressings. 6 long periods of time because they can absorb damaging oils from it. How old are my tires? How old is TOO OLD? Every tire sold in the U.S. is required digit the year when the tire was made. This is a difficult question. It depends are “worn out.” Is a 10-year-old tire too to have a DOT (Department of Tires made in the 1990s may also have on use, care and conditions. For a old? Probably. Is a 6-year-old tire too Transportation) identifying number. a triangle alongside the numbers, signi- variety of reasons, tires that get a lot old? Maybe. Have your tires inspected. This is a 10- or 11-digit number that fying that they were made between of use may actually last longer than The age of your tires, along with contains lots of information about the 1990 and 1999. those that don’t. And, tires that have their overall wear, condition of side- tire manufacturer, size, plant where it Newer tires have 4-digit numbers, been properly inflated, stored, rotated walls, etc. are all factors your tire dealer was made, etc. where the first two digits signify the and inspected often will last longer than will take into consideration when The last 3 or 4 digits are of most week of the year and the latter two those that have not. inspecting your tires and advising interest to you, because they can tell digits indicate the year. There’s no easy answer. RV users, you on tire replacement. you how old your tires are. 19 TH WEEK OF 1994 for example, often put no more than a For safety’s sake ask your dealer DOT numbers appear only on few thousand miles on their tires a year. to destroy your old tires or render them one sidewall of your tire. Older Their tires may need to be replaced unserviceable so no one else can tires have 3-digit numbers, with because of age long before their treads use them. the first two digits signifying the week of the year and the third The last 3 or 4 digits of the DOT number on your tires tell you the week and year that the tire was manufactured. 42ND WEEK OF 2002 DO NOT REPAIR TIRES YOURSELF Practically no RV owner we know is properly equipped or trained to repair tires. The equipment and supplies, not to mention the skills required, go way beyond everyday tire care knowledge. What makes it Know the right answers Recognize a a proper repair? It is both incorrect and dangerous Proper Repair 1. Punctures are filled and to attempt to repair a tire without A correctly repaired tire will Puncture sealed with a “stem.” removing it from the wheel on have both a plug or “stem” Repair Area which it is mounted. 2. Inside of tire has a reinforced through any hole, and patch covering the puncture. You will sometimes see cheap a reinforced patch on the “string” repair kits in auto parts stores inside. There are some 3. Tire is fully inspected inside and even in some convenience combination units that are and out for hidden damage. stores. You may also be told that a acceptable. A plug alone is 4. Repair is made according “plug” repair can be done from the not enough. A patch alone Repairs can only be to tire manufacturer’s outside of the tire, without removing is not enough. made in the tread specifications. it from the wheel. Repairs can only be made and only in the area Using these types of repairs is in the tread area, and only inside of the belts. 5. Repair size does not exceed dangerous and can do permanent the area between the shoulder limits set by tire manufacturer. damage to your tires, rendering them grooves as shown here. 6. Repair is in a permitted location. unusable. Improper repairs will also invalidate any warranty on your tires. 7 That’s also why the right inflation pressure depends on the load on each axle end. So, What air does as we said in the section on weighing, you Surprising as it might seem, it’s not the tires that support your vehicle. It’s the air inside them. first need to know the axle end loads for And that’s why it’s so critical that you keep the right inflation pressure in every tire all the time. each axle. Then you can determine whether you have the right tires and the It’s not the tire, but the air inside it that supports the load. correct inflation pressure for them.

What to Do After You Weigh Your Vehicle READING THE TABLES – Each tire manufacturer publishes load and inflation tables for its tires, and these are what you’ll use to find the correct inflation pressure. TIRE LOAD LIMITS (kg/lbs) AT VARIOUS COLD INFLATION PRESSURES (kPa/psi) TIRE SIZE USAGE kPa 450 480 520 550 590 620 660 690 720 760 DESIGNATION psi 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 kg 1180(D) 1230 1300 1360(E) 1410 1470 1550(F) 1580 1640 1700(G) DUAL 114 119 123 126 lbs. 2600(D) 2720 2860 3000(E) 3115 3245 3415(F) 3490 3615 3750(G) 225/70R19.5 kg 1250(D) 1310 1380 1450(E) 1500 1570 1650(F) 1690 1740 1800(G) SINGLE 116 121 125 128 lbs. 2755(D) 2895 3040 3195(E) 3315 3450 3640(F) 3715 3845 3970(G)

Check the ratings 225/70R19.5, as you can see from the Increasing pressures First, compare the actual axle end chart, the maximum load for a single And also notice that sometimes, you Never operate your vehicle weight, which you determined by tire is 2,755 lbs. for a “D” load range can increase load capacity by increasing weighing the fully loaded vehicle, with tire, 3,195 lbs. for an “E” load range the inflation pressure in your tires. In with tires inflated to the maximum load allowed on the tires tire, 3,640 lbs. for an “F” load range tire our example, a single “F”-rated tire can less pressure than required you have on the vehicle. and 3,970 lbs. for a “G” load range tire. be used with a load of 3,315 lbs. for the load. Never at 85 psi, 3,450 lbs. at 90 psi and The actual permissible load Using higher load operate your vehicle depends on both the tire size and load range tires 3,640 lbs. at 95 psi. range. The maximum load amount is From what we’ve just seen, it’s clear Remember, these are minimum with tires inflated to molded into the sidewall of the tire. that you could increase your load pressures for each of these loads. In less pressure than specified It’s also shown in the load and inflation capacity by changing to a higher load- other words, you can increase your on the vehicle placard, tables, alongside the letter indicating rated tire of the same size at a higher inflation pressure above what the the load range of your tires. pressure. Bear in mind that you still chart shows, so long as you don’t NO MATTER WHAT THE LOAD. On a Bridgestone or Firestone must not exceed the gross axle weight exceed the maximum pressure Never inflate your tires load and inflation table (which can be specified for that tire. rating shown on the vehicle placard, above the maximum pressure found in data books available at your and you may not exceed the maximum tire supplier) maximum loads are tire inflation requirement for the shown on their sidewalls. shown in boldface. For the tire size wheels you are using.

8 2750 lb. 5000 lb. = 2500 lb./tire 65 psi needed 65 psi needed Same on both ends The tires on both It’s also important that you use the same inflation pressure on both ends of an axle must ends of each axle. If axle end loads differ enough that the tables be inflated to the same pressure. specify different inflation pressures for each end, the axle is out of [ if all tires 225/70R19.5] balance enough that you should redistribute the load. If loads dictate different pressures, If you can’t do that, you must inflate the tires on both ends to the the load is probably pressure required for the end with the heavier load. improperly distributed. 2975 lb. 5400 lb. = 2700 lb./tire 75 psi needed 70 psi needed Protecting Your Most Important Assets Keeping air inside Air can actually work its way How often What happens – where it belongs through the sidewalls of your tires and should you check? if you don’t? It would be nice if you could just put escape. If you can imagine ping-pong The absolute best practice you could Running a tire underinflated is like the right inflation pressure in your tires balls bouncing their way through use would be to check (and adjust, running your engine without enough and forget it. Unfortunately, that’s miles of a tangled briar patch, you’ve if necessary) every single tire, every oil or coolant. It may seem to work OK what too many people try to do. got the idea. single travel day. for a while, but you are doing serious, The trouble is, air doesn’t stay How much Many tires used on RVs are permanent damage. inside your tires. Those molecules are can you lose? commercial grade tires and commercial Adding oil or coolant won’t active little guys, always looking for a Depending on size, a tire can lose 1 to drivers are required to check their tires fix engine damage, and adding air way out. And they find it too. 2 pounds of inflation pressure (psi) per as part of their pre-trip checks. Of won’t fix tire damage. The tire is still seriously damaged and can still fail, month by diffusion through sidewalls. course if you go somewhere and park even after inflation is corrected. If you have a bad valve stem or faulty your vehicle for a week, you wouldn’t seal between the tire and wheel – or a need to check every day during that If you find any tire 20 percent or nail in one of your tires – losses can time – just the day you arrive and more underinflated, you should have it inspected (both inside and out) by your occur even faster. the day you leave. That’s probably too much for tire dealer. That means up to 12 psi loss in just most RV owners, so we suggest this: 6 months if you never check and adjust Is there an Make sure you check (and adjust, if easier way? inflation pressure. That’s enough loss necessary) the cold inflation pressure for many tires to be seriously – and Checking inflation shouldn’t take that in every tire on your vehicle at least long to do, and it shouldn’t be that dangerously – underinflated. Depending on the size of the tire, you can lose once during every travel week. hard. On the gatefold pages at the 1 to 2 psi per month as a result of diffusion of Altitude and outdoor temperatures back of this booklet, you’ll find some air molecules through tire sidewalls. also affect inflation pressures, another tips to make inflation checks easier good reason to check them frequently. and more effective. 9 CHECK EVERY TIRE AT LEAST ONCE DURING EVERY TRAVEL WEEK! CHECK EVERY TIRE AT LEAST ONCE DURING EVERY TRAVEL WEEK! CHECK EVERY TIRE AT LEAST ONCE DURING EVERY TRAVEL WEEK! Load & Inflation Tables for Tires Frequently Used on RVs READING THE TABLES – Each tire manufacturer publishes load and inflation tables for its tires, and these are what you’ll use to find the correct inflation pressure.

Tire Load Limits at various Cold Inflation Pressures TIRE SIZE kPa 480 520 550 590 620 660 690 720 760 790 830 DESIGNATION USAGE psi 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 kg 1480 1550 1610 1670 1750 (E) 1820 1890 1950 (F) 2010 2070 2120 (G) DUAL 127 131 134 lbs. 3270 3410 3550 3690 3860 (E) 4005 4150 4300 (F) 4425 4550 4675 (G) 9R22.5 kg 1530 1610 1690 1760 1850 (E) 1920 1990 2060 (G) 2120 2180 2240 (G) SINGLE 129 133 136 lbs. 3370 3560 3730 3890 4080 (E) 4235 4390 4540 (G) 4675 4810 4940 (G) kg 1750 1830 1910 2000 (E) 2080 2160 2240 (F) 2300 2360 2430 (G) DUAL 132 136 139 lbs. 3860 4045 4230 4410 (E) 4585 4760 4940 (F) 5075 5210 5355 (G) 10R22.5 kg 1850 1940 2030 2120 (E) 2200 2280 2360 (F) 2430 2500 2575 (G) SINGLE 134 138 141 lbs. 4080 4280 4480 4675 (E) 4850 5025 5205 (F) 5360 5515 5675 (G) kg 1990 2080 2160 2250 2360 (F) 2460 2560 2650 (G) 2680 2710 2725 (H) DUAL 138 142 143 lbs. 4380 4580 4760 4950 5205 (F) 5415 5625 5840 (G) 5895 5950 6005 (H) 11R22.5 kg 2050 2160 2260 2370 2500 (F) 2600 2700 2800 (G) 2870 2940 3000 (H) SINGLE 140 144 146 lbs. 4530 4770 4990 5220 5510 (F) 5730 5950 6175 (G) 6320 6465 6610 (H) kg 2110 2210 2300 2390 2500 (F) 2580 2660 2725 (G) 2820 2910 3000 (H) DUAL 140 143 146 lbs. 4660 4870 5070 5260 5510 (F) 5675 5840 6005 (G) 6205 6405 6610 (H) 11R24.5 kg 2190 2300 2410 2520 2650 (F) 2770 2890 3000 (G) 3080 3160 3250 (H) SINGLE 142 146 149 lbs. 4820 5070 5310 5550 5840 (F) 6095 6350 6610 (G) 6790 6970 7160 (H) kg 2170 2260 2350 2440 2575 (F) 2630 2680 2726 (G) 2840 2960 3075 (H) DUAL 141 143 147 lbs. 4780 4990 5190 5390 5675 (F) 5785 5895 6005 (G) 6265 6525 6780 (H) 12R22.5 kg 2240 2360 2470 2580 2725 (F) 2820 2910 3000 (G) 3120 3240 3350 (H) SINGLE 143 146 150 lbs. 4940 5200 5450 5690 6005 (F) 6205 6405 6610 (G) 6870 7130 7390 (H)

10 Tire Load Limits kg/(lbs.) at various Cold Inflation Pressures (kPa/psi)Pressure Listed is in the Minimum for the Load TIRE SIZE USAGE kPa 480 520 550 590 620 660 690 720 760 790 830 860 DESIGNATION psi 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 kg 1120 1170 1215 (D) 1260 1310 1360 (E) 1410 1460 1500 (F) DUAL 115 119 122 lbs. 2460 2570 2680 (D) 2785 2890 3000 (E) 3100 3200 3305 (F) 8R19.5 kg 1150 1220 1285 (D) 1340 1400 1450 (E) 1500 1550 1600 (F) SINGLE 117 121 124 lbs. 2540 2680 2835 (D) 2955 3075 3195 (E) 3305 3415 3525 (F) kg 1230 1300 1360 (E) 1410 1470 1550 (F) 1580 1640 1700 (G) DUAL 119 123 126 lbs. 2720 2860 3000 (E) 3115 3245 3415 (F) 3490 3615 3750 (G) 225/70R19.5 kg 1310 1380 1450 (E) 121 1500 1570 1650 (F) 125 1690 1740 1800 (G) 128 SINGLE lbs. 2895 3040 3195 (E) 3315 3450 3640 (F) 3715 3845 3970 (G) kg 1550 1590 1660 1750 (F) 1790 1850 2060 (G) DUAL 128 133 245/70R19.5 lbs. 3415 3515 3655 3860 (F) 3940 4075 4540 (G) kg 1650 1700 1770 1850 (F) 1900 1970 2180 (G) R250 ONLY SINGLE 129 135 lbs. 3640 3740 3890 4080 (F) 4190 4335 4805 (G) kg 1550 1590 1660 1750 (F) 1870 1990 2120 (G) DUAL 127 134 245/70R19.5 lbs. 3415 3515 3655 3860 (F) 4125 4390 4675 (G) kg M724 ONLY 1650 1700 1770 1850 (F) 129 1980 2110 2240 (G) 136 SINGLE lbs. 3640 3740 3890 4080 (F) 4370 4655 4940 (G) kg 1700 1780 1860 1950 2000 2170 2360 (G) DUAL 138 265/70R19.5 lbs. 3745 3925 4100 4300 4410 4785 5205 (G)

M729 ONLY kg 1800 1900 1970 2060 2300 2340 2500 (G) 140 SINGLE lbs. 3970 4190 4345 4540 4850 5160 5510 (G)

kg 1700 1780 1860 1950 2000 2000 2300 (G) 137 265/70R19.5 DUAL lbs. 3750 3930 4095 4300 4405 4415 5070 (G) kg 1800 1900 1970 2060 2130 2200 2430 (G) 139 R250F ONLY SINGLE lbs. 3970 4180 4355 4540 4685 4850 5355 (G) kg 1980 2000 2120 2150 2220 2300 (G) 2380 2570 2725 (H) DUAL 137 143 lbs. 4365 4400 4675 4735 4900 5070 (G) 5255 5675 6005 (H) 285/70R19.5 kg 2110 2190 2300 2360 2440 2500 (G) 140 2600 2800 2900 (H) 145 SINGLE lbs. 4645 4835 5070 5205 5385 5510 (G) 5740 6175 6395 (H) kg 2060 2120 2200 2300 2370 2450 2575 (H) 2620 2725 2900 (J) DUAL 141 145 305/70R19.5 lbs. 4540 4670 4860 5070 5230 5410 5675 (H) 5770 6005 6395 (J) kg 2240 2330 2420 2500 2610 2700 2800 (H) 2870 3000 3150 (J) SINGLE 144 148 lbs. 4940 5130 5340 5510 5745 5945 6175 (H) 6340 6610 6945 (J) kg 1800 1860 1940 2000 2020 2090 2120 (G) 2230 2300 (H) DUAL 134 137 255/70R22.5 lbs. 3970 4110 4275 4410 4455 4610 4675 (G) 4915 5070 (H) kg 1900 1980 2060 2120 2220 2300 2360 (G) 138 2450 2500 (H) 140 SINGLE lbs. 4190 4370 4550 4675 4895 5065 5205 (G) 5400 5510 (H) kg 2080 2180 2290 2390 2490 2590 2690 2900 (H) DUAL 145 275/70R22.5 lbs. 4590 4815 5040 5270 5490 5720 5940 6395 (H) R294 ONLY kg 2230 2340 2450 2560 2670 2780 2890 3175 (H) SINGLE lbs. 4920 5160 5400 5645 5880 6130 6365 7000 (H) 11 Tire Load Limits at various Cold Inflation Pressures TIRE SIZE kPa 480 520 550 590 620 660 690 720 760 790 830 860 USAGE DESIGNATION psi 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 kg 1430 1500 1600 1640 1710 1800 1840 1900 1950 (G) DUAL 131 lbs. 3160 3315 3525 3615 3765 3970 4055 4195 4300 (G) 245/75R22.5 kg 1570 1650 1750 1800 1880 1950 2020 2090 2120 (G) SINGLE 134 lbs. 3470 3645 3860 3975 4140 4300 4455 4610 4675 (G) kg 1600 1680 1750 1830 1910 2000 2050 2130 2180 (G) DUAL 135 265/75R22.5 lbs. 3523 3705 3860 4040 4205 4410 4525 4685 4805 (G) kg 1760 1850 1950 2010 2100 2180 2260 2340 2360 (G) SINGLE 138 lbs. 3875 4070 4300 4440 4620 4805 4975 5150 5205 (G) kg 1860 1950 2060 2130 2220 2300 (F) 2390 2470 2575 (G) 2630 2725 (H) DUAL 137 141 143 295/75R22.5 lbs. 4095 4300 4540 4690 4885 5070 (F) 5260 5440 5675 (G) 5795 6005 (H) kg 2040 2140 2240 2340 2440 2500 (F) 2620 2710 2800 (G) 2890 3000 (H) SINGLE 140 144 148 lbs. 4500 4725 4940 5155 5370 5510 (F) 5780 5980 6175 (G) 6370 6610 (H)

kg 2030 2130 2240 2320 2420 2500 (F) 140 2600 2690 2800 (G) 2870 3000 (H) DUAL 144 146 295/75R22.5 lbs. 4470 4690 4940 5120 5330 5510 (F) 5740 5940 6175 (G) 6330 6610 (H) R227 ONLY kg 2230 2340 2430 2550 2660 2725 (F) 2860 2960 3075 (G) 3150 3250 (H) SINGLE 143 147 149 lbs. 4915 5155 5355 5630 5860 6005 (F) 6305 6525 6780 (G) 6950 7160 (H) kg 1870 1970 2060 2150 2240 2360 (F) 2410 2490 2575 (G) 2660 2800 (H) DUAL 138 141 144 lbs. 4135 4340 4540 4740 4930 5205 (F) 5310 5495 5675 (G) 5860 6175 (H) 285/75R24.5 kg 2060 2160 2240 2360 2460 2575 (F) 2650 2740 2800 (G) 2920 3075 (H) SINGLE 141 144 147 lbs 4545 4770 4940 5210 5420 5675 (F) 5835 6040 6175 (G) 6440 6780 (H) kg 2060 2130 2220 2300 (F) 2390 2470 2575 (G) 2770 2900 (H) DUAL 137 141 145 lbs. 4540 4690 4885 5070 (F) 5260 5440 5675 (G) 6100 6395 (H) 275/80R22.5 kg 2240 2340 2440 2500 (F) 2620 2710 2800 (G) 3000 3150 (H) SINGLE 140 144 148 lbs. 4940 5155 5370 5510 (F) 5780 5980 6175 (G) 6615 6945 (H) kg 2180 2300 2420 2540 2660 2780 2900 3075 (H) DUAL 147 lbs. 4810 5080 5340 5600 5860 6130 6390 6780 (H) 295/80R22.5 kg 2430 2560 2690 2820 2950 3090 3220 3350 (H) SINGLE 150 lbs. 5350 5640 5930 6220 6510 6810 7100 7390 (H) kg 2360 2440 2540 2560 2730 2830 3000 3010 3150 (J) DUAL 148 305/75R22.5 lbs. 5205 5375 5595 5840 6025 6235 6610 6640 6940 (J) kg 2575 2680 2790 2900 3000 3110 3250 3310 3450 (J) SINGLE 151 lbs. 5675 5905 6150 6395 6620 6850 7160 7300 7610 (J)

TIRE SIZE kPa 550 590 620 660 690 720 760 790 830 860 900 DESIGNATION USAGE psi 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 kg 2575 2650 2750 2900 2970 3070 3150 3270 3450 (J) 315/80R22.5 DUAL 151 3560 3745 (L) All Bridgestone lbs. 5675 5840 6070 6395 6545 6770 6940 7210 7610 (J) 7850 8255 (L) Tires Except kg 2800 2910 3030 3150 3260 3370 3450 3590 3750 (J) R296 SINGLE 154 3900 4080 (L) lbs. 6175 6415 6670 6940 7190 7440 7610 7920 8270 (J) 8600 9000 (L) 12 Tire Load Limits at various Cold Inflation Pressures TIRE SIZE kPa 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 660 DESIGNATION USAGE psi 35 45 50 60 65 75 80 95 kg 630 720 800 (C) 870 975 (D) 1030 1120 (E) 1250 (F) DUAL 100 107 112 116 LT215/85R16 lbs. 1360 1625 1765 (C) 1985 2150 (D) 2320 2470 (E) 2755 (F) kg 695 790 880 (C) 965 1060 (D) 1130 1215 (E) 1360 (F) SINGLE 103 110 115 119 lbs. 1495 1785 1940 (C) 2180 2355 (D) 2550 2680 (E) 3000 (F) kg 720 820 910 (C) 1000 1080 (D) 1170 1260 (E) 1400 (F) DUAL 104 111 116 120 LT235/85R16 lbs. 1545 1845 2006 (C) 2260 2381 (D) 2645 2778 (E) 3085 (F) kg 790 900 1000 (C) 1100 1190 (D) 1290 1380 (E) 1550 (F) SINGLE 108 114 120 123 lbs. 1700 2030 2205 (C) 2485 2623 (D) 2905 3042 (E) 3415 (F) kg 635 725 800 (C) 885 975 (D) 1040 1120 (E) DUAL 100 107 112 LT225/75R16 lbs. 1365 1630 1765 (C) 1995 2150 (D) 2330 2470 (E) kg 700 795 880 (C) 970 1060 (D) 1140 1215 (E) SINGLE 103 110 115 lbs. 1500 1790 1940 (C) 2190 2335 (D) 2560 2680 (E) kg 720 820 910 (C) 1000 1080 (D) 1170 1260 (E) DUAL 104 111 116 LT245/75R16 lbs. 1545 1845 2006 (C) 2255 2381 (D) 2640 2778 (E) kg 790 900 1000 (C) 1100 1190 (D) 1290 1380 (E) SINGLE 108 114 120 lbs. 1700 2030 2205 (C) 2480 2623 (D) 2900 3042 (E) kg 810 920 1030 (C) 1130 1250 (D) 1310 1400 (E) DUAL 109 116 120 LT265/75R16 lbs. 1740 2075 2270 (C) 2540 2755 (D) 2965 3085 (E) kg 890 1010 1120 (C) 1240 1360 (D) 1440 1550 (E) SINGLE 112 119 123 lbs. 1910 2280 2470 (C) 2790 3000 (D) 3260 3415 (E)

Tire Load Limits at various Cold Inflation Pressures TIRE SIZE kPa 240 280 310 340 380 410 450 480 520 550 590 620 660 USAGE DESIGNATION psi 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 kg 625 685 740 800 (C) 840 895 950 (D) 985 1030 1090 (E) 1110 1150 1215 (F) DUAL 100 105 111 115 8.75R16.5LT lbs. 1380 1515 1630 1765 (C) 1855 1970 2095 (D) 2175 2260 2405 (E) 2450 2540 2680 (F) kg 710 780 840 900 (C) 955 1020 1090 (D) 1120 1170 1215 (E) 1260 1310 1360 (F) SINGLE 104 111 115 119 lbs. 1570 1720 1850 1985 (C) 2110 2240 2405 (D) 2470 2570 2680 (E) 2780 2880 3000 (F) kg 740 810 875 950 (C) 1000 1060 1120 (D) 1170 1220 1285 (E) DUAL 106 112 117 9.50R16.5LT lbs. 1635 1785 1925 2095 (C) 2200 2330 2470 (D) 2570 2685 2835 (E) kg 845 920 995 1090 (C) 1130 1200 1285 (D) 1320 1380 1450 (E) SINGLE 111 117 121 lbs. 1860 2030 2190 2405 (C) 2500 2650 2835 (D) 2920 3050 3195 (E)

13 Dual tires add lots of load capacity to an axle, but they require the same maintenance as single tires. The valve stem for the inner tire of a dual may be difficult or even impossible to reach. Fortunately, there are things you can do.

Sometimes, the REPLACE ’EM! inner dual is difficult If you have rubber valve stems, What’s even better is to replace steel stems are necessary if you need to or impossible to check. they should be replaced with properly your rubber valve stems with all-steel use valve extensions. You may need to add extension hoses rated valve stems every time stems. On these, you only have to solve this problem. you replace a tire. It’s to replace the rubber All-steel, clamp-in valve stems cheap to do, and grommets each are recommended on duals, CLOCK ’EM! could save a time. And, especially when extension costly repair hoses are in use. When dual tires are mounted on the bill later. vehicle, they should always be put on with the valve stems 180 degrees apart. If one valve is at 12 o’clock, the other should be at 6 o’clock. That’s one way to make checking inflation pressures EXTEND ’EM! easier. If the holes in the wheels are too the extra weight of the hoses Adding extension hoses small or in the wrong places, it may can distort rubber stems and cause to the inside wheels of dual assemblies can Dual tires be impossible to check inflation on leaks, especially at highway speeds. make inflation pressure should always inside tires. That’s no excuse for not The best extension hoses will maintenance easier. be mounted doing it, however. have stainless steel reinforcement on the vehicle The answer may be adding and external braiding for long, so that their extension hoses that connect to the trouble-free life. valve stems are valve stem on the inside tire and are Make sure the ends of the hoses 180 degrees apart. fastened to the outer wheel. That way are securely attached to the wheels If you use extension you can check inflation on both tires so that they cannot come loose over hoses, the hoses must quickly and easily. time. We’ve illustrated a couple of be securely fastened to the wheels, as If you use extension hoses, you good methods for attaching the shown here. must use all-steel valve stems, because hose ends here.

14 There is only one way to correctly A professional measure the inflation pressure in tire gauge with your tires, and that is with a a double,angled quality inflation pressure gauge. and expensive. Never it or use it for any purpose other than foot end will Tire “billies,” boot toes, measure inflation pressures with that for which it was made. hammers, tire irons and baseball bats make checking anything other than a good gauge. If you drop your gauge, take it to are NOT inflation pressure gauges. No inflation pressures When you buy a gauge, get one your tire dealer and ask them to check it matter how much experience you have, faster and easier. with a double, angled foot. This will for accuracy. Shock can knock any gauge if you use these techniques, you are make checking the outer tire of out of calibration, sometimes by a lot. NOT measuring inflation pressure, and a dual set much easier. And, you risk serious underinflation of your treat your tire gauge like any tires – and that can be both dangerous other precision instrument: don’t drop

The eyes DON’T have it 70 PSI Another way you CAN’T tell correct inflation is by looking at your tires. With today’s radial tires, a visual inspection cannot be used to verify correct inflation. Different tires, from different manufacturers will have different degrees of bulge at a given pressure. 60 PSI

The difference between the shape of a correctly inflated tire and one that is dangerously underinflated is too subtle to determine by eye.

Please, always use a good air pressure gauge – and ONLY a good air pressure gauge 50 PSI – to measure the inflation pressure in your tires.

No one can tell by looking at a tire whether it has the correct inflation pressure. 15 40 PSI Keep it “COLD”! Keep it CLEAN! Valve stem caps should always be metal, with an internal rubber seal, never plastic. Always check inflation when the tires Get your gauge and a clean rag or is the actual seal that keeps the air Take the air hose with you, and are cold. “Cold” means when they’re at paper towel, and wipe each valve stem inside. A good cap will work even check and adjust each tire to the cor- the same temperature as the outdoor air. before you remove the cap. (And be when the valve doesn’t. Plastic caps rect inflation pressure. “Close enough” The way to make sure your tires are sure every valve stem has a high- may not provide adequate seal at the isn’t. Don’t take a chance. As long as cold is to either park the vehicle and quality, metal valve cap with an higher inflation pressures used on you’re going to the trouble of check- inner rubber gasket.) these vehicles, especially when ing, make sure they’re all correct. wait at least 3 hours before checking Believe it or not, the metal cap fitted with commercial grade tires. pressures, or to let the vehicle sit parked overnight, then check the pressures before you’ve driven it a mile. Check it out! Driving on a tire that is 20 Check ’em all! percent or more underinflated can A short, low-speed drive to the gas Considering the hard work RV tires Many vehicles have dual tires. You must have to do, if you find any tire 20 cause serious, permanent damage station is OK, but not a long, 65-mph check both tires because both tires are percent or more below the correct to the tire that may not be visible. freeway jaunt. Never let air out of a hot Only a qualified technician can tell tire, no matter how high the pressure pressure, treat that tire as a commer- essential to properly handling the load. cial vehicle tire (which most RV tires if the tire is safe for continued use. The second tire is not a “spare” or a seems to be. You’ll just end up with an Tires with internal damage from underinflated tire when it cools down. are): Have the tire removed, demount- “backup” for the other one. ed and inspected – inside and out – by underinflation can fail catastrophi- a qualified tire technician. cally and without warning, a serious Both tires should have absolutely ALLOW TIRES safety hazard. identical inflation pressures, and both should have about the same amount TO COOL FOR with an internal valve that Check of wear. Neither should show any through the CAPS is designed to keep out dirt 3 TO 4 HOURS and water while allowing evidence of serious damage to the If you’ve ever dropped a valve stem you to check and adjust tread or sidewalls. BEFORE CHECKING cap into a puddle or lost it in gravel, pressures. you’ll really appreciate the new, dou- And speaking of spares, be sure The most common ble-seal, flow-through valve caps that INFLATION AND flow-through cap is the to check your spare tires too! If you are available. “Alligator V2B.” Ask your get a flat along the way, you’ll be glad These caps allow you to check BEFORE YOU DRIVE tire dealer for a set. And you did. and adjust air pressures without ever don’t forget one for each of MORE THAN 1 MILE. removing the caps themselves. They your spare tires! have a good rubber seal, together Special, double-seal, flow-through valve caps allow you to inflate and check tires without having to remove valve caps. 16 Rotate to equalize wear If you have a tire that is wearing unevenly, or one tire that is wearing KEEP Assuming all tires on the vehicle are exactly the same size, EVERYTHING faster than another in an equivalent exactly the same tread pattern and exactly the same load range, position, it may be a sign of some kind there are a variety of rotation patterns you can use to equalize STRAIGHT of misalignment, and you should tread wear. Just as you align the check it. Consult your owner’s manual or tire dealer to select the best Once the uneven wear has begun, wheels on your car, it’s approach for you. however, you may be able to extend a good idea to check the life of the tire by moving it to a position where the wear will be coun- the alignment of the wheels teracted, or to a position where the on your vehicle. If tires don’t wear will be slower. If you move a tire to a new position, be sure the inflation track together properly, they can pressure is correct for the new position. wear too fast or wear unevenly. Steer tires that are wearing on Your RV dealer can help you one side or the other of the tread can often be swapped from one axle end with alignment issues. to the other. Sometimes this can shift wear away from the part of the tire that’s excessively worn, evening out overall wear. Likewise, if you have a tire posi- tion that consistently wears tires faster than another, you may be able to shift 1-800-543-7522 tires from the slower-wearing positions www.trucktires.com there, again evening out the wear and www.tiresafety.com extending tire life. 17 There are numerous organizations that can help you operate your vehicle safely and answer questions you may have about tire and component life. A few are listed here. Remember also to contact the dealer who sold you your vehicle and your tire dealer for additional information. FMCA RVDA [Family Motor Coach Association] [Recreational Vehicle RVSEF Dealers Association] [Recreational Vehicle Safety FMCA is an international Education Foundation] organization for families who RVDA is a national association RVSEF is a nonprofit foundation own and enjoy the recreational use representing RV dealers, providing dedicated to the safety education of motorhomes. A portion of the educational programs, products and needs of the RV industry. RVSEF membership is from the commercial services to its members. created the “A’Weigh We Go” RV recreational vehicle industry: RVDA weighing program in 1993, and has dealers, manufacturers and 3930 University Drive weighed thousands of RVs at rallies RV component suppliers. Fairfax, VA 22030-2515 and seminars throughout the U.S. FMCA (703) 591-7130 RVSEF 8291 Clough Pike (703) 591-0734 fax 4575 Annette Court Cincinnati, OH 45244 www.rvda.org Merritt Island, FL 32953 (800) 543-3622 (321) 453-7673 (513) 474-3622 (321) 453-3853 fax www.fmca.com RVIA www.rvsafety.org [Recreational Vehicle Industry Association] e-mail: [email protected] RVIA is a national trade RMA association representing RV Presented as a public service by Rubber Manufacturers [ Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. Association] manufacturers, conversion vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. RMA is the primary national trade association for the finished RVIA rubber products industry in the U.S. 1896 Preston White Drive including tires of all types. P.O. Box 2999 Reston, VA 20195-0999 535 Marriott Drive RMA Nashville, TN 37214 1400 K Street NW, Suite 900 (703) 620-6003 Washington, DC 20005 (800) 543-7522 www.rvia.org www.trucktires.com (202) 682-4800 www.tiresafety.com www.rma.org ©2006, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC BF50998 8-06 (40M) 18