Inspecting & Pressure - Holiday Navigator 2003 Owner's Manual

Driving & Safety
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspecting &
Pressure
2 • 7 0
Regularly check the tire pressure. A nail or screw can lodge in a tire and
create a slow leak. The object may eventually be spotted on a front tire or an
outside rear dual. However, if there is a slow leak on an inside dual, it will probably
go unnoticed. If you begin driving unaware that an inside dual tire is low on
air pressure or is flat, very quickly (in most cases a few miles) the outside
rear tire will heat up due to carrying double the load. This can lead to failure of
the outside tire resulting in two flat tires on the same side of the same axle.
Check the tire pressure every two weeks or at least once a month and
before any major trip. Check the tire pressure every "drive" morning on both
long and short trips (driving a day or less). Check the tire pressure before
leaving on a trip and again before starting your trip home. Check the tire
pressure before storing the motorhome for any length of time. More importantly,
check the tire pressure when removing the motorhome from storage.
Check the tire pressure when the tires are "cold" and have not been driven
for more than one mile. The rated load capacity for cold inflation pressure is
based on ambient temperature. If you must check the tires when they are warm
or hot, allow for a slight increase in air pressure. The pressure should be within
a couple of pounds of each other on the same axle. Never let air out of a hot tire.
When checking the inflation pressure, use a high-quality truck tire air
gauge with an angle dual head. This type of pressure gauge can check the
pressure of the inner dual wheel that has the valve stem pointing outward and
the outer wheel has the valve stem pointing inward. Nothing should restrict the
ability to easily check the tire's air pressure daily when traveling in the motorhome.
Use valve stem caps with a positive seal to prevent air escaping from the valve
stem. If there are extension hoses on the valve stem, make sure they are good
quality reinforced stainless steel braid. Attach hoses securely to the outer wheel.
Optimum tire performance is achieved at proper inflation pressure for the
load carried. Do not mix tires of different tread patterns on the same axle. The
difference in traction could cause rear end gear fight and mechanical damage
to the drive train. Never mix tires of a different size or construction on the
same axle.
Higher than recommended pressure can cause:
• Hard ride.
• Tire bruising or carcass damage.
• Rapid tread wear in the center of the tire.
Lower than recommended pressure can cause:
• Tire squeal on turns.
• Rapid and uneven wear on the edges of the tread.
• Tire rim bruises and rupture.
• Tire cord breakage.
• Excessive tire temperature.
• Reduced handling quality.
• High fuel consumption.
N A V I G A T O R 2 0 0 3