RV tire pressure - are you confused with all the different information out there about RV tires and correct tire pressure? In this article we discuss RV tires and tire pressure - and why checking it is so important, what should your tire pressure be, how to check it, and what types of tire pressure gauges are available.

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Why Correct RV Tire Pressure is Important
Keeping your RV tire pressures set correctly is critical for several reasons, but the number one reason is SAFETY.
- Tires need to be correctly inflated to carry the load of your RV SAFELY.
- Be sure that tires are correctly inflated to maintain a proper SAFETY margin as you travel.
- Properly inflated tires will help them last as long as possible - saving you money!
- Tires must be correctly inflated to provide a good ride for your RV or trailer.
- Checking Tire pressure is critical to get the best tire performance and SAFETY.
What Should Your RV Tire Pressure Be?
There are a lot of factors involved in determining what your correct tire pressure should be. Finding your RV Tire pressure is a step-by-step process depending on your type of RV. First, we need to find out what information your RV manufacturer provides.
How To Find the Manufacturers Certified Weight and Recommended Tire Pressure
Every RV has a Federal Certification label somewhere in/on the RV. It could be in several different areas. Look for it on the driver's side front, the travel trailer tongue, and inside the motorhome near the driver's seat.
Every RV manufacturer has to certify the maximum weight of the RV, including the RV itself and any cargo that you carry. The RV certification label will state the unloaded vehicle weight of the RV, the maximum allowable weight (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), the axle weight rating (Gross Axle Weight Rating), and the tire pressure needed for the maximum weight of the RV and cargo.
As a basic rule for a travel trailer and fifth wheels, you should always inflate the tires to the value on the certification label. For driveable RVs, you should start with the certification tire pressure and adjust based on the actual weight of your RV. This is why it is so important to know the weight of your RV.
Tire Pressure and Capacity
Tires are made to carry a specific load at a specific air pressure and have a design load rating.
There is also maximum weight that the tire can carry and a maximum inflation PSI for the tire. You should never exceed the maximum load or tire pressure as stated on the sidewall. All tires on the same axle should be at the same pressure.
Most tire manufacturers have a tire load information and inflation table to help understand what the tire minimum pressure should be for a specific load and the maximum load rating. For more information, read Michelin Inflation Charts for RV Usage.
How To Determine RV Tire Pressure
How does tire pressure impact the load I can carry in my RV?
The pressure in your tire changes when driving/towing because as a tire rolls down the road it creates heat and then you have a warm tire.
Even a few miles of driving can put heat in a tire and invalidate your pressure reading. As you drive/tow your RV, the pressures will change as the tires warm and as the air temperature rises. We have seen pressures change by over ten PSI between cold and warm pressures of our fifth wheel.
Air Temperature effect on Tire Pressure
For every 10 degrees in air temperature change, tire pressure will change by 1 PSI. If you inflate your tire when it is 70 degrees to 30 PSI, if the temp drops to 50 degrees, your tire pressure will drop to around 28 PSI.
Travel Trailers & 5th Wheels vs. Class A/B/C RV Tire Pressure
Trailers and 5th Wheels tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure stated on the certification label. Even if you weigh your RV and the tire manufacturer's load/inflation table says that a lower pressure will carry the weight of your RV - ALWAYS use the tire pressure on the certification label.
Proper pressure is the safest way to ensure that your tires can carry the load. However, this will not protect you if you overload your trailer. DO NOT OVERLOAD YOUR RV. If you overload, you are asking for excessive heat build up, a tire failure, harsh ride, and trouble with your suspension, brakes, uneven tire wear, etc.
Trailer Tires vs. RV tires
Trailer tires are specially made for vehicles that are being towed. They are meant to carry a load at a specific pressure.
Driveable RV tires are made to handle acceleration and turning loads as well as weight-carrying capacity.
Proper tire pressure based on weight and capacity should also provide the most comfortable ride for your RV. All tires on the same axle should be at the same pressure.
Load vs. Capacity
As you load your RV, the weight on each tire will fluctuate depending on where you place the cargo.
The key here is to make sure the load is spread as evenly as possible.
You should allow for a safety margin in your tire pressure and capacity calculation. If you weigh your RV and find that each tire needs to carry 3000 pounds to share the 12000-pound total weight. The manufacturer load chart says that your tire can carry 3000 pounds at 60 psi. You check the chart for 3300 pounds (3000 x 10% = 300) and use that as your correct tire pressure. This gives you a 10% margin of safety as you travel down the road.
Diesel Pushers and drivable RVs
Class A/B/C RV's are different than travel trailers and 5th wheels.
With drivable RVs, you can vary the pressure in the tires to carry the load stated in the tire manufacturers chart. These RVs have much more sophisticated suspension systems that can handle the higher weight.
The tire pressures are critical to both the load-carrying capacity and the comfort of the driving experience.
It is critical that you weigh your RV to understand the load the tires carry. You need to include a 10% safety margin on your tire pressures. You do not need to set your pressure to the tire pressure stated on the certification label unless your actual weight is close to the maximum weight on the certification label.
If your weight is lower than the maximum weight and you inflated tires to the dataplate pressure, your tires may be overinflated, and your ride may be stiff and uncomfortable.
How to Weigh your RV
Weighing your RV should be part of your routine when traveling to verify the weight you are towing/carrying. We usually weigh at Cat scales.
Most scales will give you an axle weight. You then need to divide your axle weight by the number of tires that are carrying that weight. If your axle weight is 12000 pounds and you have a twin axle trailer, you have 4 tires carrying that 12000-pound load.
You then need to find an air pressure and capacity chart for your brand and the size of the tire. When you find the proper psi for the weight on each tire, you need to increase the pressure so that you will have a 10% capacity safety margin.
So after weighing your RV add 10% to the axle weight and look up the tire load information and maximum capacity in the load charts to get the correct pressure for each tire. This pressure should provide good vehicle handling and fuel economy.
RV Trailer Tire Strength and Durability
As tough as you think tires are, they are very fragile if not cared for properly.
Each tire's contact patch with the road is only the size of a dollar bill. That tire patch has a critical job to do.
When you under or overinflate a tire, you break the rules that allow it to carry a specific weight. You will generate an extreme amount of heat. Heat is the number one enemy of tires. Just a few miles running a tire underinflated will permanently damage the tire. Then, it is only a matter of time before you experience a tire failure.
For your safety and that of those around you, please check your tire pressures often and NEVER drive on an underinflated tire.
How To Check Your RV Tire Pressure
- Check your tire pressure every day prior to starting out. This will ensure that the tires are all set correctly. I recommend a digital tire pressure gauge to maintain exact pressure.
- Set your tire pressure when the tires are cold (not driven on for more than a mile). Inflating tires is best done before you start your drive, so the tires are at or near the current air temperature. I suggest a digital tire pressure gauge.
- Don't worry about a 1 or 2 difference from your target PSI. That difference could easily be caused by the air temperature difference from day to day.
- Looking for consistency between days. If one tire is significantly lower than the others, then you should completely inspect that tire to ensure there is no damage or other reason for the difference.
Types of Tire Pressure Gauges
Correct tire pressure is critical so that you do not fatally damage your tires. This is why you must monitor tire pressure and check your cold inflation pressures daily with a quality tire pressure gauge and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Please use a quality tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure. Do not trust a tire pressure gauge at a gas station or service center. Here's a link to the one I use to check for properly inflated tires. Electronic gauges are easier to read, but may not be more accurate.
It is a good idea to use two sources to check - a TPMS to monitor while you are traveling, and a tire pressure gauge to manually check pressure or when inflating.
RV Tire Pressure Gauges
I always use a tire pressure gauge to set the tire pressure and to do a periodic manual check. There are digital and analogue tire gauges. Purchase a quality tire gauge and carry an air compressor so that you can adjust your pressures if needed.
RV Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
To make this task a lot easier and more convenient, I suggest installing a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). They usually have a sensor that installs on the tire valve stems.
Many types of TPMS will allow you to track the temperature and pressure of tow vehicles, trailer, RV, and dinghy tires. Here are a few that I suggest: TireMinder TPMS and EEZ RV TPMS
❓ FAQs
Most tire manufacturers have a tire load information and inflation table to help understand what the tire minimum pressure should be for a specific load and the maximum load rating. Check your certification label and inflate it to the PSI listed. For more information, read Michelin Inflation Charts for RV Usage.
There is also maximum weight that the tire can carry and a maximum inflation PSI for the tire. You should never exceed the maximum load or tire pressure as stated on the sidewall. All tires on the same axle should be at the same pressure.
Both underinflated and overinflated tires are dangerous. But the basic rule is never underinflate your tires - or go over the max pressure. Always follow the tire manufacturer guidelines.
You should always adjust the tire pressure in your trailer tires to the recommended inflation. Don't forget your tow vehicle tires. They need to be properly inflated to handle the extra weight of your trailer tongue weight or the pin weight of your 5th wheel trailer.
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