Operating instructions
Air
Pressure
The most important factor in maximizing the
life
of
your tires
is
maintaining proper inflation.
Driving on a tire that does not have the correct
inflation pressure for the load
of
the vehicle is
dangerous and may cause premature wear, tire
damage, andlor loss
of
control
of
the vehicle.
A tire that is underinflated will bnild up exces-
sive heat that may go beyond the prescribed lim-
its
of
endurance
of
the rubber and the radial
cords. This could result in sudden tire failure. A
tire that is underinflated could also cause poor
vehicle handling, rapid andlor irregular tire
wear, or an increase
in
rolling resistance which
results
in
a decrease in its fuel economy.
Overinflation will reduce the tire's footprint or
contact patch with the road, thus reducing the
traction, braking capacity, and handling
of
the
vehicle. A tire that is overinflated for the load
that it is carrying will also contribute
to
a harsh
ride, uneven tire wear, and will be more suscep-
tible
to
impact damage.
Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure for
each loaded wheel position on your vehicle is
of
the utmost importance and must be a part
of
regular vehicle maintenance.
Federal law requires that the tire's maximum
load rating be molded into the sidewall
of
the
tire.
If
you look on your tire's sidewall you'll
see the maximum load allowed for the size tire
and load rating, and the minimum cold air infla-
tion pressure needed to carry that stated maxi-
mum load. Utilizing less air pressure means a
lesser load can be carried by the tire.
The amount
of
air pressure you need
to
use
depends on the weight
of
your fully-loaded vehicle.
So, you cannot determine your correct air pressure
unless you know your vehicle's actual weights.
Underinflation
When an underinflated tire
is
run at normal high-
way speeds, it flexes too much and bnilds up
On
The
Road
heat. This heat damages the inner liner, casing
and outer sidewall
of
the tire.
If
not remedied
quickly, the tire will be irreparably damaged.
In
extreme cases, thc sidewall
of
the tire is
destroyed, both from the excessive heat
it
endured
and due
to
the weight
of
the vehicle pressing on
the tire casing without the cushioning effect of the
correct air pressure, and the crushing/cutting
action of the wheel
as
it rolls on the underinflated
sidewall. According to guidelines put out by the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), any
tire that has been run at less than
80% of recom-
mended air pressure for the load it is carrying
should be inspected for possible damage.
When one tire in a dual configuration comes out
of
service due to underinflation damage, the
other tire in the dual configuration should be
inspected immediately.
If
the unserviceable tire
was underinflated, that means the serviceable
tire was carrying more and more
of
the load for
that wheel position. Consequently,
it
too may
have suffered some casing damage.
Air
Pressure Check
You
should check the air pressure every two
weeks or at least once each month and before any
major trip. Your
RV
tires' air pressure should be
checked every
"drive" morning on long trips. On
short trips
of
a day or less driving each way, your
tires should be checked before you leave on your
trip and again before you stmt your trip home.
Check your tires when they are
"cold" and have
not been driven for more than one mile. The
stated load capacity for a given cold inflation
pressure
is
based on ambient outside tempera-
ture.
If
you must check your tires when they are
warm or hot, do allow for a slight increase in air
pressure and make sure they are within a couple
of
pounds
of
each other on the same axle.
Frequently check tires. If a tire picks up a nail or
screw that creates a slow leak and causes some
air pressure loss, you might eventually spot it
visually
if
it is a front tire.
If
it
is
an
outside rear
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