CONGRATULATIONS on taking a major step towards safer traveling! Knowing, understanding, and managing the weight and loading of your RV will make you a safer driver, enhance your peace of mind, minimize wear & tear on your RV, and increase your traveling enjoyment.
SETTING YOUR RV TIRE PRESSURE
Setting your RV radial tires to the correct pressure is one of the most important aspects of ensuring safe traveling. Tires that are under inflated will suffer fatigue and perhaps premature removal or failure, while tires that are over inflated may not give the tread life and performance for which they were designed, particularly braking performance.
One of the most important reasons we weigh RV’s by individual wheel position is to determine the correct tire pressure. Tire charts, provided by each tire manufacturer, tell us the relationship between tire pressure and tire load carrying capacity. When we prepared your report, we used the tire pressure you indicated on your worksheet to determine the rating of your tires, as specified by the manufacturers tire chart. If no pressure was indicated, we use sidewall rating pressure. RVSEF cannot tell you the correct inflation pressure for your tires, as we do not know if your RV is loaded to its normal weight. We provide you with the information you need to make that decision yourself.
ALL TIRES ON THE SAME AXLE SHOULD BE SET TO THE SAME PRESSURE. Using the load indicated on the heaviest side for each axle, check the tire chart to determine the correct pressure for that load and set all tires on that axle accordingly.
The information contained in your report will help you to manage weight distribution, which will have a bearing on the durability of tires, suspension, and structure of your RV. Keep in mind that your vehicle can still be improperly loaded even though it does not exceed GVWR or a GAWR. Unbalanced weight distribution can create serious handling problems. Just because there is an empty space, does not mean that it can be filled!
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS APPROPRIATE TO ELIMINATE TIRE OVERLOADS.
This action may be: (1) Reducing the overall weight of your RV; (2) Relocating things within your RV to relieve a tire location; (3) Adjusting your tire pressure.
If your report indicates a tire overload, refer to the tire chart that we enclosed to determine if the overload can be resolved by adjusting tire pressure. ALL TIRES ON THE SAME AXLE SHOULD BE SET TO THE SAME PRESSURE. Using the load indicated on the heaviest side for each axle, check the tire chart to determine if the load can be met or exceeded by increasing your tire pressure.
Keep in mind that tire charts provide the MINIMUM pressure to carry the load without risking tire damage, calculated for highway speeds. Some tire charts are published by INDIVIDUAL tire rating, while others are published by AXLE rating, in which case, an assumption is made that the weight is equal on both sides, and even others are published by WHEEL POSITION. If you are using an INDIVIDUAL or WHEEL POSITION tire rating chart, simply enter the chart on the single or dual line, as appropriate, with the load information from our report, and determine the minimum pressure to handle that weight. If you are using an AXLE rating chart, and your weighing results indicate that one side is heavier than the other, multiply the heaviest side by 2, then enter the chart on the single or dual line, as appropriate.
When we weighed your RV, it was A SNAPSHOT IN TIME. It will likely never weigh that again, as you change fuel, water, cargo, etc. You should view weighing results as MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, using it as a baseline for making adjustments. The tire pressure you select from the chart based on your weighing results with us may not be appropriate for other loading configurations, particularly if your normal load is higher than when we weighed it. This is why we suggest that your report should contain POSITIVE TIRE MARGINS, i.e., the rating is larger than the load. However, too large a margin indicates too much pressure, compromising tire wear, as well as tire “patch” (contact with the road), which may result in inadequate braking, particularly on wet roads. A good guideline is 300-500 pounds of margin per tire.
Having said all of the above, trailer tires are normally an exception. Because trailers “squirm” creating significant lateral loading in the tires, it is recommended that they be run at sidewall pressure, unless trying to resolve a ride quality problem. You took the important first step by weighing your rig; now follow up and use the data to ensure your safety and travel enjoyment. Study your report, evaluate the configuration of the RV as we weighed it as compared to how your normally travel, and set your tire pressures accordingly.
If you cannot resolve a tire overload with pressure adjustment, it must be done by reducing or relocating weight. Operating tires over their established ratings is inviting tire failure, and the potential catastrophes that are associated with such failures with traveling. If you are unsure about the condition of your tires, take them to a reputable tire dealer and have them inspected. This may require disassembly of your tires from the wheels to permit inspection of the inside of the tire casing. Even having done this does not guarantee that your tires have not suffered damage, as it may not be visible even inside the casing. The best policy is to NEVER OVERLOAD YOUR TIRES!
RVSEF uses sophisticated scales that are certified annually and calibrated to an accuracy of +/-1% of the applied load. However, finding a perfectly level site at a rally or campground is virtually impossible; therefore some minor variation from the 1% can be expected. Our extensive testing variations in fuel, water, groceries, etc., this degree of accuracy is considered acceptable, and consistent with the accuracy of commercial scales. Thank you for your patronage. Your SAFETY is important to us, and we will promptly answer any correspondence (staff@RVsafety.com) if you have any questions about your report
