Driving 23 Miles on Slightly Underinflated RV Tires in Cold Weather

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Member Title: Safe to drive on slightly under inflated tires?
Members widely agree that driving 23 miles to the tire shop with tires at 80-81 psi (just below the recommended 82 psi) is safe, especially given the short distance, cold temperatures, and likely light load. Several experienced RVers point out that tire pressure fluctuates with temperature and load, and that the small difference is negligible—especially since tire pressure will rise as the tires warm up during the drive. One member notes that the recommended pressure is for maximum vehicle...
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marudnick

Senior Member
RV LIFE Pro
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Mar 13, 2020
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I’m planning on getting new tires for my 2019 Sunstar 29VE next week. I just went to the RV today to check the tire pressure. The TPMS states that they are 80-81 psi cold. The yellow sticker in the RV lists the cold inflation pressure as 82 psi. I typically fill them to 87 psi cold. If I lived in sunny CA, I’d just top off the tires and drive to the tire shop. But no, I’m in cold New England with temps in the 20’s and the RV is currently behind a snow bank!

It’s 23 miles to the tire shop, mostly highway miles. Is it safe to drive those 23 miles with the tires slightly under inflated?

Thanks.
 
80 to 81 isn't off enough to be of any concern at all. And if the tanks are empty and you don't have it loaded with lots of other stuff you'd be fine down to 70 or so. The tires will warm up within a few miles even when it's cold out.
 
When thinking about questions like this consider the inaccuracy of every PSI gauge out there and the likelihood that you can’t really know the true numbers involved. Then relax and realize that close enough is close enough
 
Thanks to both of you. Now all I have to do is clear a path out of the snow at the storage facility. The joys of living in New England!
 

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This is one of the biggest things I found and one of the really wonderful things about RV I learned once I got fully into using TPMS.
One I got one setup and used it for long enough to get the alarm settings right to avoid them warning me every day, I stopped worry about getting my tire pressure exactly right!
It will vary on all the different RV, loading and tire sizes, but for my use, the pressure varies so much and for so many different reasons, that I no longer see any reason to obsess over getting it set right because it will be different in half an hour anyway!
If you've got an RV setting in the yard on a nice cold clear day, try checking the pressure with a good digital pressure gauge and compare the sunny side with the shaded side to see how your RV tires work!
If it works the same as mine, you may see little reason to check the pressure that close if it is going to change as soon as you start driving or the sun hits the other side!
Which pressure is absolutely correct? The sunny side or the shady? When the fresh water is full or when empty? Is the pressure correct when the wife and kids are along or is it after you leave them at the house?

Sorry! But I gave up chasing that bouncing ball once I watched the TPMS!
Your experience may vary so enjoy whichever fits you best!
 
Suppose you filled thet 87 psi at about 70 degrF outside , so cold also inside tire temperature.
Then it changes 1 psi per 5 degrF.
So at 30 degrF 8psi lower is 79 psi.
My pigheaded camp states that you dont need to correct that , but are allowed when colder ambiënt temperature, but not when warmer ambiënt temperature ( 100 degrF ambiënt 87+ 6 psi= 93 psi, certainly dont lower to 87 then)

Main goal is to not overheat any part of tire-material when driving the speed constantly, for wich pressure is determined.

Then second , maxload of your tires is most likely given for reference-speed of 160 kmph/ 99 mph, wich you most likely stay way below. But check tires for that, speedcode Q and higher are all given maxload ( or loadindex) for that max 99 mph.

Suppose you drive max 75mph ( 120 kmph), you may add 4 loadindex steps( about 12% more maxload) to whats given on tire sidewall, to calculate with for the needed pressure, and leads to lower needed pressure .

So if you determined the 87 psi , based on real weighed loads and builded in a reserve for things like unequall weight, pressure loss in time etcetera, 81 psi wont give tire-damage, and you mind your speed a little, wich is not that difficult in the snow. Mayby only 50 mph possible, wich allowes adding even 8 li steps is about 25% more maxload, so even would calculate a lower pressure about 20% lower)

So in short, 81 psi, if determined needed pressure carefully 87 psi, no problem, certainly in the conditions now.

Rule of tumb for speed/ maxload relation is for every 10 kmph/ 6.2 mph other max speed ( wich you wont go over for even a minute) , 1 loadindex step different.
Higher speed> lower loadindex.
Lower speed > higher loadindex.
Already goes wrong for trucktires with lower speedcodes like K or L there 2 li steps per 6.2 mph.
In Europe, where I live, tiremakers give on trucktires, and Continental groop sometimes also on C-tyres ( eur equivalent of LT ,C stands for Comercial) an additional service description , is extra other loadindex for other max speed, so officially used system by tiremakers, in wich you see that rule of tumb.

And because laws of nature are the same in US and Europe, you can use this system also for LT and truck-tires.
 
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Thanks to both of you. Now all I have to do is clear a path out of the snow at the storage facility. The joys of living in New England!
Wow, that sure looks like my old 32 foot winny. You didn't happen to buy that from a guy in RI did you? I sold it to a guy in RI. lol
 
I’m planning on getting new tires for my 2019 Sunstar 29VE next week. I just went to the RV today to check the tire pressure. The TPMS states that they are 80-81 psi cold. The yellow sticker in the RV lists the cold inflation pressure as 82 psi. I typically fill them to 87 psi cold. If I lived in sunny CA, I’d just top off the tires and drive to the tire shop. But no, I’m in cold New England with temps in the 20’s and the RV is currently behind a snow bank!

It’s 23 miles to the tire shop, mostly highway miles. Is it safe to drive those 23 miles with the tires slightly under inflated?

Thanks.
The air pressures listed on the Federal Tire Placard in/on the RV are recommended pressure for the vehicles maximum GVWR. So unless you have your MH loaded to maximum gross weight rating, it will be fine to drive as-is. I doubt you'll be driving at high speeds anyway.
The enemy of tires is heat from sidewall flexing while rolling, weight increases that flexing. Just drive the minimum speed limit to a tire shop.
 

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