Community Forums

Wicked Whippets · 07-09-2009, 02:43 PM

A few days ago I bought new tires and then headed out to a dog show. When I returned I cut apart a couple plastic office chair mats and placed them under the new tires before I parked it at the storage lot.

As I was doing this it occurred to me that I was doing this to protect the tires, but I didn't really know from WHAT.

So, what is the benefit to placing a plastic barrier under the tires?

DandS · 07-09-2009, 03:14 PM

I have read that you should provide a vapor barrier between the ground and your tires for longer storage periods. I do this when my coach is stored during the winter months at home.

powerboatr · 07-09-2009, 04:03 PM

yep the big thing is having them not stand in water when it rains,
when we are stopped for awhile i run up on boards just to keep the water that blows in on the concrete from hanging out with the rubber.
my goodyear grv tires state they need no covers for the sidewalls.....but we do anyway and apply dressing on both sides to preclude any drying out.

wa8yxm · 07-09-2009, 05:15 PM

If you do all the protection stuff, vapor barriers, don't park on this or that surface, even go so far as to raise the axle and park it on blocks so the tires only touch the rims.

Well, about 72 months from new you should consider replacing your tires due to age. (The chances of failure go way up about then) there is some discussion on the exact age.
/
If you don't do this stuff.. They should last you around six years.

Rich_in_Tampa · 07-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerboatr

yep the big thing is having them not stand in water when it rains, when we are stopped for awhile i run up on boards just to keep the water that blows in on the concrete from hanging out with the rubber.

Doesn't it just make the tire sit on wet wood instead of wet concrete?

randco · 07-10-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

Doesn't it just make the tire sit on wet wood instead of wet concrete?

And with the method shown in the picture by the OP, water would accumulate on the mat around the tire.

Makes no sense to me....

Ray,IN · 07-10-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

If you do all the protection stuff, vapor barriers, don't park on this or that surface, even go so far as to raise the axle and park it on blocks so the tires only touch the rims.

Well, about 72 months from new you should consider replacing your tires due to age. (The chances of failure go way up about then) there is some discussion on the exact age.
/
If you don't do this stuff.. They should last you around six years.

And, if one reads the Goodyear website, some of their MH tires only have a 4 year warranty. Here is the Goodyear RV tire guide: http://www.goodyear.com/rv/pdf/rvbrochure.pdf BTW, Goodyear http://rvtravel.com/blog/rvsinthenew...odyear-rv.html has a silent recall on their G159 22.5" tires.

Wicked Whippets · 07-10-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randco

And with the method shown in the picture by the OP, water would accumulate on the mat around the tire. Makes no sense to me....

I agree. When it rains (only a few times a year in Arizona) the "dent" in the plastic mat will gather water. I'm wondering if I should drill a couple small holes in the mat where the tires make the depression or does this defeat the purpose of the barrier.

I also agree that no matter what I do, with the level of ozone in the area where it is parked, the tires will begin to crack in 4 or 5 years.

AFChap · 07-10-2009, 08:10 PM

In addition to parking on a vapor barrier, I think it is even more important to cover your tires to shield them from UV rays.

According to what I have read in various places, concrete is the worst surface to park tires on. Some souces say concrete will wick moisture/oils out of the tires. Other sources say that ANY surface that allows your tire to sit in water will allow the tire to wick moisture into the tire and rust the steel belts. Whichever it is, I use vapor barriers under my tires when parked on concrete, and I cover the tires whenever parked for longer than a day. I just replaced my original tires at 7 yrs of age, and they showed no weather checking at all.