The question of whether or not to rotate RV tires has been asked for decades. The answer is actually very simple, but first, you need to understand the benefits and disadvantages of each side of the argument.
Should RV tires be rotated? Yes, RV tires should be rotated. The Rubber Manufacturers Association recommends that all drivers have their RV tires rotated every 6-8 thousand miles for optimal performance!
Benefits of rotating your RV tires:
Your tire tread will wear evenly.
You’ll have more traction in wet weather conditions.
You can extend the life span on all four wheels.
Disadvantages:
Costs money to be done professionally.
How often should you rotate trailer tires?
A lot of people will tell you that the tires on your trailer should be rotated every three months. This is not always necessary, and it depends on how often you use your trailer. Tires in service for less than a year can be rotated as little as once per year or even less frequently if they are stored indoors over the winter season. If you have been rotating them annually, then an annual rotation would likely suffice.
We would recommend rotating your travel trailer tires every 7,500 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes first.
What happens if tires aren’t rotated?
If your tires are not rotated, they will wear out unevenly. That means the outside of each tire may have more or less tread than the inside of that same tire. This could lead to poor handling on rainy days or when turning sharply; an even bigger problem is what happens if a tire blows-out while driving at highway speeds! Obviously this can be dangerous and it’s something you’ll want to avoid happening by rotating your tires as recommended in your manual.
Additionally, uneven wear means your tires will need to be replaced sooner which can cost as much as $500 per tire.
Obviously, this is less than ideal, so spending a small amount of money on rotating your tires is the right thing to do.
Can rotating tires mess up alignment?
When it comes to tire rotation, there are many schools of thought. Some people believe that tires should be rotated every time they’re filled with air and others say never. There is some truth in both theories because rotating tires can change the alignment when done incorrectly or if a RV has had significant suspension problems; however, most RVs will not suffer from these issues so you don’t have to worry about them too much.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, then it’s worth paying a professional to do it for you to avoid any of these issues.
Why do trailer tires wear out so fast?
Travel trailer tires wear out so quickly because of the constant movement of the trailer over a period of time. The tires are always turning so there is no relief for them, causing increased wear and tear on the tread area.
There’s another reason why this happens: when you have uneven tire pressure in one or more tires (under-inflated), it forces your trailer to turn harder than normal which increases wear and tear as well.
Since most travel trailers sit stationary during winter months, they’re perfect candidates for being rotated before heading out next summer!
An additional benefit would be that rotating your tires could extend their life by up to 50%.
Do you need to rebalance tires after rotating?
You should have the tires balanced after rotating them. We recommend that you have the tires balanced at least once a year and ideally every time they are replaced.
Can I rotate my own tires?
You can rotate your own tires, but it takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll need to jack up the RV at its four corners so you can get under it with your tire-changing equipment.
You will also have to use two jacks if this is a large vehicle like an RV because there won’t be enough room on one side for both the wheel that needs rotating and the other three wheels (the ones not being moved).
If in doubt, get it done professionally.
How much does it cost to get tires rotated?
Expect to pay about $130 for tire rotations.
The cost of the work will depend on your tires and where you go to get them rotated, but it’s a service that should be done every six months or so as part of routine maintenance.
You can do this at home if you have access to jack stands, metric wrenches, and an air-powered impact wrench. Replacing a tire is just one step in this process. If your car needs more than new tires—and most cars these days do because they’re wearing out faster thanks to modern materials like steel belts instead of natural rubber—you may need another visit from the mechanic before you head back onto public roads again.
Before jacking up each wheel, make sure to loosen the lug nuts with a wrench. Then, use your air-powered impact wrench to remove each one from its respective wheel hub.
The first step in getting tires rotated is removing them entirely and installing new ones. There’s no need for any additional tools beyond what should be found inside your car or truck’s toolkit; just have it handy so you can tighten down the lugs when they’re reinstalled later on. Once all four tire are removed, install them back onto their appropriate chassis slots following this order: front left (L), rear right (R), front right (F) and rear left (B).
What does an unbalanced tire feel like?
An unbalanced tire may cause vibration or shake when you drive.
An unbalanced tire can also lead to uneven wear and tear on your tires, which will make them more likely to fail prematurely.
