When to replace tires

[myersm]

My TM dealer strongly recommended to replace tires after 4 years of use. Is the 4 year mark a good standard to go by? I have a 2002 3023 with 15" tires. And what about the spare?

Thanks!

[Padgett]

"If you have to ask", that is a good idea. OTOH this whole tire age thang is relatively new, before you looked carefully at the sidewall and tread for cracks & replace when visible.

Of course in the bad old daze a set of Firestone Wide Ovals only lasted 8-10k miles so was never an issue. Today things are different but can say that if in a benign climate and garaged or at least kept off moist earth (pavers are good) they can last quite a while.

ps my TPMS should be here next week.

[Redtail Cruiser]

Mike, the four to five year mark, is a good rule of thumb for tire replacement on your TM; however it's up to your comfort level. After the first two years on mine I rotated the spare to the street side to have the freshest tire on the plumbing side. When my tires are four years old, I'm going to replace all three and put the old ones on my utility trailer, which has eight year old tires on it now.

[hillbillyhotel]

I am also on the 5 yr plan, we as tm owners tend to buy a little better tire than the avg rv owner, so maybe that is why he was saying 4 yrs.
this is third season on this set,

[tentcamper]

I op for the 5 year plan. I don't like being on the side of the road.

[PeterOC]

About how much are tires? And, do you have to replace the spare? That would be 1/2 more for something that's seldom used.

[Padgett]

Depends on where you buy them. $100 a tire is about right with mounting and balancing (always have a trailer tire balanced).

Personally, I have no problem with an older spare in very good condition since if needed would drive slower and only for a short distance.

[tentcamper]

I end up at about 130 each installed and out the door. Yes you should do the spare also if it's old. The spare can look brand new and in great shape but if it's old it may not hold up once you put it on. Heard to many stories of brand new looking spare, but old and once mounted failing just a few miles down the road.

[davlin]

5 Years for me. The one thing that no one (else) has harped on, is that is NOT five years from date of use. That's five years from manufacturer's date. That's why it's really important to know how to read the DOT stamp on the tires, and to insist to your dealer that you won't accept "old" tires. Since most tire distributors want to cycle out their oldest tires first (who wouldn't?) you have to be the voice that says "No." Once they understand that you won't buy old tires, they'll be happy to comply, because they want the sale.

Dave

[tentcamper]

davelin, very good point about the date manufactured.

Here is a link on reading the date code. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11