We just had Ripley shod with a completely new set of tyres.

After our 10,000 kilometre trip across Australia her previous set was beginning to look a little worn. Not quite in the danger zone (the minimum legal tread depth in Australia is 1.6 mm) but smooth enough to warrant a re-shod.

Two things I definitely would like to avoid are:

1. a flat tyre on a busy road or on a section of road with not enough level space to pull over safely. Nightmare.
2. spending a magnificent night in some picturesque location only to find we are stuck the next morning. Nightmare in pleasant setting.

Ripley is a heavy girl, and she is front wheel drive. Many people have warned me to watch for potential situations where lack of traction when trying to get up a slick or slippery incline could quickly lead to a wheel spinning fiasco.

I hear stories of front wheel drive motorhomes getting stuck on relatively mild slopes simply because it rained overnight and the grass (or dirt) became super slippery.

So best to err on the side of caution.
A new set of tyres fitted and at correct inflation pressures (because as you know, under inflated tyres significantly increase the rolling resistance and results in poor fuel economy and a shorter lifespan of the tyre) and Ripley is a happy camper.

---

Tire Geekage:

Owning Ripley continues to be an ongoing learning curve.
For example, I have never really paid much attention to tire codes. These are usually printed on the sidewalls. And when purchasing new tires this is the information the supplier will be interested in.
Ripley’s code was:

225 / 75 R 16

• 225: The first number is the tyre diameter in millimetres.
• 75: The second number is the tyres aspect ratio. In this case, the distance from the base of the tyre to the rim is 75% of its width.
• R: Indicates the tyre is of a radial ply construction.
• 16: Indicates the diameter of the wheel rim.

As you can see from the picture above, there are other codes (and they seem to vary slightly between brands) that indicate the safe load bearing capacity of each tyre as well as maximum speed rating.
For more information you can check here, or Google the manufacturer of your particular tire.

---