phawes
North Carolina
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I use my 5th wheel usually twice a year for 2-3 weeks each. Before traveling, I always check my tire pressure and it is usually down only a little below the prescribed 65 psi. The tires are original and a few months over five years old. The RV is in a storage yard and I park it with the tires on pressure-treated 2x10 boards. It has been in storage about six months since out last two-week trip. Yesterday, I found that three of the tires were completely flat and the forth is extremely low. I can see no damage and the side walls are not cracked.
What could have caused the tires to have gone flat? If they hold air after I pump them back up, are they safe?
Paul Hawes
North Carolina
2007 Crossroads Cruiser CF30SK
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bpounds
Whittier CA
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The fact that they are 5 years old tells me all I need to know. You need to replace them.
They might be flat due to age checks, or they might have been aired down by a prankster. Most likely it is due to age of the valve stems.
BTW, did you get the age off the sidewalls? Or is that how long you've owned the trailer?
2006 F250 Diesel
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Bad valve stems is the most likely cause. They do rot and depending if they are low or high pressure ones could fail faster.
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phawes
North Carolina
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Thanks. I did not think of valve stems.
The age is that of the trailer. I need to return to the storage yard to read the tire label.
I have read that RV tires should last seven years. They look fine other than being flat on one side.
The tires on my former tag-along lasted over 10 years before one blew out.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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Bad valve stems, pranksters........I would air them up and see if they hold pressure.
If they do.......take the rig to tire shop and at least have new valve stems installed. But I would be shopping for new tires also.
Trailer tires rarely wear out....they age out.
And sitting for long periods ages them more so......the stuff in tire materials is better distributed when tires are spinning vs sitting.
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John Bridge
Houston
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Also, I think something should be said about the quality of the tires, not necessarily their age. Very cheap tires leak more than top quality tires. 
Like others, though, I would first suspect the valves.
Semi-"retarred" in 2006. :-) 2008 Newmar Cypress 5th wheel, 2008 Dodge diesel dually to pull it with.
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janechucknicodemus
Oregon
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"Trust not want not".. Get new tires,,,5 year old rubber and sitting that long at a time. These are shot. OR you can always put the green slime stuff in each one , fill them up and go...
But don't drive on a high way.
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phawes
North Carolina
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Thank you all.
I am now shopping for good tires AND valve stems.
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JesLookin
Appleton,WI
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Joined: 01/11/2005
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I would say vandalism. Pump them back up & monitor closely to see if you actually have a problem. I'd also look closely to the area where the tire was all crunched up & touching the ground. That is where I would expect to see damage from sitting flat.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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My best guess is vandals. Air them up and see how they do.
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