RV tire care while in storage

**K and D** · 09-30-2018, 02:38 PM

We are new to this forum and also new to RVing, have completed 3 short trips since purchasing our new GD with only a few weeks between each trip. We're wondering if there is any concern regarding the trailer tires if we leave the RV stationary for say ... 6 months. Could the tires possibly get flat spots? We park the trailer on earth and are planning on putting down pine needles to soften the area a bit more the next time we take her out.

Apologies if there is already a thread on this topic. The forum is massive and I didn't find this topic using the search feature.

**bertschb** · 09-30-2018, 02:42 PM

Our 5th wheel sits for about 360 days each year. We cover the tires during this time but that's it. I don't think steel belted radials get flat spots. That happened to the old bias ply tires. Somebody who is more knowledgable can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong.

**Rapid1** · 09-30-2018, 03:52 PM

I level mine when it is parked. It unloads my tires nicely...they still touch the ground but can't have very much weight on them, judging by the lack of any bulge and the fact that I can dress the whole tire easily. I use 303 on my tires and don't feel the need to cover them as they are not in direct sunlight anyway. Mine might sit for 30-45 days at a time at most. Hope this helps.

Editing this to say that I just saw you have a TT and if you do not have an auto-level system, what I said may not apply to you. Mine has GC 3.0 electric jacks.

**315RLTSinPA** · 10-03-2018, 03:20 PM

I agree with the 303. It is one of the best things you can do for your tires. And apply to both sides. Second best thing, keep them covered.

**traveldawg** · 10-03-2018, 04:36 PM

You need to keep them from touching the ground. Not elevated, but something under them that does not conduct moisture. So, no wood. Maybe some plexiglas or plastic type leveling blocks just to keep them off the ground. I cut some plexiglass pads from one of those floor mats commonly used in offices and leave my car and golf carts on them in my garage when we leave for the season.

**Leon T** · 10-07-2018, 09:41 AM

I've tried everything on mine over the years, and nothing really seems to make a difference. Covered or uncovered (although I do try to park my trailers on the east side of buildings so they don't get the afternoon sun baking them). Heat kills mine in about 4 or 5 years no matter if they are on the ground or a spare mounted underneath the trailer. I've had plenty of "blowouts" while my trailers are just sitting on my property, including the spare mounted inside my enclosed car hauler. Opened the door one day and it had blown while mounted to the trailer wall.

My dad dismounts his and stores them in his garage when he isn't using his trailers. He's crazy. I'm not doing that.

Always pay attention to the tire manufacture date when buying tires. Don't buy tires that have been sitting around for months on end. I always buy from high volume tire shops (mostly Discount Tire and Costco) to avoid getting a "new" tire that's going to have a reduced service life because it's already old when I buy it.