The technicalities of owning and enjoying an RV and travel trailers are much more intricate than we know. There’s so much to know and consider when planning a trip as an RV owner and probably the most important part of that is safety.
The tires on your RV, like your car or truck, need to be properly aligned and inflated to the right pressure. This comes only after you’ve given critical thought to choosing the right type, rating, and quality of tires.
With such a vast array of knowledge, self-described rules, and fallacies on the internet, it can become confusing for an RV owner to keep the pressure right in the tires.
So a common question asks itself, what it’s like running 80 Psi tires on 65 Psi? There are so many things to consider when answering this question, so let’s get all these answers for you in detail.
What are the Different Types of Tire Ratings?
If you ever went shopping for new tires or have taken a closer look at the sidewalls of the tires on your RV, you must have noticed those solitary alphabets written after the numbers.
The most common types of these are C, D, and E Type. All these alphabets denote the maximum inflation pressure and load capacity of the tires.
- C: 50 Psi
- D: 65 Psi
- E: 80 Psi
These numbers specify the maximum pressure, one that should never be exceeded and must be kept in mind when going for cold inflation, considering temperature changes and expansion of gases in mind.
Why the Right Tire Pressure is So Important?
Needless to say, it has everything to do with the safety and comfort of your ride. If the tire is underinflated, the sidewalls bend, leading to increased friction and heat which ultimately causes blown tires. It is one of the most common causes of burst tires and also the most neglected part.
On the contrary, if you have increased the pressure too much, it leads to a bumpy ride, throwing pillows here and there while you drive. It can also affect the traction and put your safety at risk, especially at higher speeds.
So it’s important that you find the exact inflation pressure of your RV’s tires and keep it a little less than the maximum for ideal ride quality and safety.
Running 80 Psi Tires at 65 Psi?
You must have come across your fellow RVers talking about tire pressure, and most importantly when they have 80 Psi tires.
If your tires also have a maximum inflation pressure of 80 Psi, then you’re riding on E types. These tires are rated at 80 Psi, which doesn’t essentially mean that you should pop up them to max loading pressure.
We have to talk a little physics here, when you drive your car, truck, RV, or for that matter, any vehicle, the gases in the tires expand, and the temperature increases. If your tires are already at the maximum inflation, it could become problematic as the tires could literally blow due to increased pressure.
So, when you inflate your E-type tires rated at 80 Psi pressure, it is crucial that you keep some room for gas expansion and temperature changes. Ideally, you should have a 10-15 Psi leverage on your tire pressure. Not only does it enhance safety by ensuring optimal traction and stability but also prolongs the lifespan of tires and ride comfort.
Hence, running 80 Psi tires at 65 Psi is an optimal scenario. Furthermore, tire pressure also depends on your cargo and if you’re towing any payload. If you are going to tow a trailer or some other payload, you should check with your manufacturer about the exact tire pressure.
Changing Tires on Your RV
Just like your truck or SUV, the tires on your motorhome also face a lot of grunt of the granite and need changing every 20,000 miles or so.
It is important that you keep a few things in mind while changing the tires on your RV. The first thing is to consult your RV’s manufacturer or an expert to find out the right type of tire with a compatible load rating and maximum pressure.
Is your RV single or double axle? Does it come with heating equipment, a list of accessories, storage capacity, and overall tonnage? All these factors define what kind of tires would be best suited for you.
No matter which brand you go for, always meet the maximum inflation pressure and load rating, or just get the same tires that came with your RV initially.
TPMS – Is it Really Good or a Gimmick?
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. This technology uses sensors to calculate tire pressure in each tire and display it via a screen. Although the technology has been around for a while, RVs and motorhomes got the taste of it pretty recently.
This is truly a marvelous thing and helps you keep a constant eye on your tire pressure. Not only is it suitable for prepping your RV and avoiding unnecessary breaks, but it also alerts you in case of a flat or underinflated tire.
Most modern RVs come equipped with TPMS but if it doesn’t, you can still get your hands on portable aftermarket systems that connect with the 12V or OBD-II port and display the tire pressure with other warnings and updates.
So, it is a great help to have constant knowledge of your vehicle’s tire pressure and improve your overall comfort and safety, while on the go.
Final Word
Keeping perfect tire pressure is crucial for any vehicle, and more so when we are talking about huge motorhomes and RVs. Stability, traction, tire integrity, and comfort are some of the most important things that a driver must take into consideration when prepping the RV for a fun adventure.
If you’re also running your 80 Psi tires at 65 Psi, you must be wondering about the inflation, economy, and stability of your ride. But there’s no need to scratch your head too much about it. While pumping those tires, you should always keep some leverage to compensate for gas expansion, temperature increase, load bearing, and terrain conditions. If you still are confused after reading our detailed guide, it’s best that you go for a detailed discussion with your RV manufacturer or an independent tire expert. Happy offroading!
Philippe strives to give you the best overview of automotive equipment, tools, parts, and solutions to a variety of complex automotive problems, based on his own experience. You can read his car reviews on TopSpeed.
