Start With Your RV Type

Before you start browsing, the first thing to nail down is what type of RV or camper you have. Motorhomes and towable campers take completely different tires, so getting this right from the start saves you a lot of hassle.

If you drive your RV, it's a motorhome, either Class A, B, or C. Class B and C motorhomes are built on van or truck chassis, so they use light truck (LT) tires, the same category used on heavy-duty pickups. Class A coaches are larger and typically need commercial-grade tires. Your owner's manual and the tire placard on your motorhome will tell you exactly what size and type you need.

If you tow your camper (whether it's a travel trailer, fifth wheel, or pop-up), you'll need Special Trailer (ST) tires. ST tires have stiffer sidewalls than regular passenger or light truck tires, which helps keep things stable and reduces sway when you're towing. It might be tempting to grab LT or passenger tires because they're easier to find or a little cheaper, but they aren't built for the same demands and aren't a safe substitute.

Load Rating Matters More Than Brand or Price

One of the most important things to get right when buying RV or camper tires is the load rating. Your tires need to support the actual weight of your fully loaded camper, and that means accounting for everything: full water tanks, camping gear, food, bikes on the rack, and whatever else you tend to bring along. That number is almost always higher than the dry weight on a sticker.

The load index printed on the sidewall of a tire tells you the maximum weight it can support. When you're replacing tires, always match or exceed that number. Going below it puts you at a higher risk for a blowout, and a blowout on a fully loaded camper at highway speed is a serious situation you want to avoid.

You might notice two numbers on the sidewall, something like 120/116. The first number is the load index for a single tire, and the second applies to dual rear wheel setups.

For most towable campers and light truck motorhomes, load range E (10-ply rated) is a solid place to start. Larger or heavier setups may need load range F or G. When in doubt, go up rather than down.

Highway or All-Terrain

For most RV and camper owners, highway tires are going to be the best fit. Campgrounds typically have paved access roads, and the bulk of your driving happens on the highway anyway. Highway tires are quieter, more fuel efficient, and built for exactly that kind of use.

If you regularly find yourself navigating forest service roads, dirt campsite access paths, or loose gravel to reach your destination, all-terrain tires are worth considering. They're built to handle those surfaces more reliably than highway tires. The trade-off is that they tend to be louder on the highway and can take a small bite out of your fuel economy. Be honest with yourself about where you actually drive before making the call.

Old Tires Are a Real Problem

RVs and trailers spend a lot of time sitting still, sometimes for months at a stretch. The whole time they're parked, the tires are still aging. UV exposure, ozone, and temperature swings all break down the rubber over time, and a tire can look perfectly fine on the outside while the structure inside is already compromised.

The general recommendation is to replace RV and camper tires every 3 to 6 years, regardless of how much tread is left. To check the age of your current tires, look for the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits tell you the week and year the tire was manufactured. If you're approaching or past that six-year mark, replace them before your next trip.

A few things can help slow that aging process: keeping your tires covered when your camper is parked, maintaining proper inflation throughout the year, and storing off bare concrete when possible.

A Note on Cheap Tires

There's a category of budget RV tires that the camping community has nicknamed "China bombs." They're inexpensive, widely available, and have a well-documented history of failing prematurely. The part that surprises a lot of people: some of these tires come pre-installed on brand new campers straight from the factory. Before you head out on your next long trip, it's worth looking up the brand of tires on your camper and reading what other owners of the same type have experienced.

When it comes to replacements, brands like Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental, BFGoodrich, and Toyo all offer reliable options for RV and camper use. Just make sure you're reading reviews from people with a similar camper type to yours before making a final call.