FLEETWOOD RV BOUNDER, Owner'S Manual

Page: 34 / 97

05-9
On The Road
Tire Air Pressure
The most important factor in maximizing the
life of your tires is maintaining proper inflation.
Driving on a tire that does not have the correct
inflation pressure for the load of the vehicle is
dangerous and may cause premature wear, tire
damage, and/or loss of control of the vehicle.
A tire that is underinflated will build up exces-
sive heat that may go beyond the prescribed
limits of endurance of the rubber and the radial
cords. This could result in sudden tire failure. A
tire that is underinflated could also cause poor
vehicle handling, rapid and/or irregular tire
wear, or an increase in rolling resistance which
results in a decrease in its fuel economy.
Overinflation will reduce the tire’s footprint or
contact patch with the road, thus reducing the
traction, braking capacity, and handling of the
vehicle. A tire that is overinflated for the load
that it is carrying will also contribute to a harsh
ride, uneven tire wear, and will be more suscep-
tible to impact damage.
Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure for
each loaded wheel position on your vehicle is of
the utmost importance and must be a part of
regular vehicle maintenance.
Federal law requires that the tire’s maximum
load rating be molded into the sidewall of the
tire. If you look on your tire’s sidewall you’ll
see the maximum load allowed for the size tire
and load rating, and the minimum cold air infla-
tion pressure needed to carry that stated maxi-
mum load. Utilizing less air pressure means a
lesser load can be carried by the tire.
The amount of air pressure you need to use
depends on the weight of your fully-loaded vehicle.
So, you cannot determine your correct air pressure
unless you know your vehicle’s actual weights.
Your vehicle may be equipped with an on-board
“tire pressure monitoring” system. The individ-
ual tire pressures are displayed on the monitor
when the feature is selected. This tire pressure air
monitoring system is to be used for “Reference
Only.” To accurately determine the individual tire
pressure a reliable and calibrated gage in good
working condition should be used. Consult your
Fed Certification Tag for proper tire inflation
pressures. Check the “Owner’s Information
Packet” for proper tire inflation pressures. Follow
guidelines in this owner’s manual for checking
air pressure. Consult your monitor system’s own-
ers manual for additional information.
Underinflation
When an underinflated tire is run at normal high-
way speeds, it flexes too much and builds up
heat. This heat damages the inner liner, casing
and outer sidewall of the tire. If not remedied
quickly, the tire will be irreparably damaged.
In extreme cases, the sidewall of the tire is
destroyed, both from the excessive heat it endured
due to the weight of the vehicle pressing on the tire
casing without the cushioning load carrying effect
of the correct air pressure, and the crushing/cutting
action of the wheel as it rolls on the underinflated
sidewall. According to guidelines put out by the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), any tire
that has been run at less than 80% of recommended
air pressure for the load it is carrying should be
inspected for possible damage.
When one tire in a dual configuration comes out
of service due to underinflation damage, the other
tire in the dual configuration should be inspected
immediately. If the unserviceable tire was under-
inflated, that means the serviceable tire was carry-
ing more and more of the load for that wheel
position. Consequently, it too may have suffered
some casing damage due to
overloading.
Air Pressure Check
You should check the air pressure every two
weeks or at least once each month and before any
major trip. Your RV tires’ air pressure should be
checked every “drive” morning on long trips. On
short trips of a day or less driving each way, your
tires should be checked before you leave on your
trip and again before you start your trip home.
Check your tires when they are “cold” and have
not been driven for more than one mile. The
stated load capacity for a given cold inflation
pressure is based on ambient outside tempera-
ture. If you must check your tires when they are
warm or hot, do allow for a slight increase in air
pressure and make sure they are within a couple
of pounds of each other on the same axle.