How to Handle a Flat Tire or Blowout on Your RV or Trailer

A blowout on a trailer or motorhome feels different from a car — you’ll usually notice a loud bang, a sudden vibration, or the rig pulling toward one side. What you do in the first few seconds, and what you decide to do afterward, both matter.

If it happens while you’re driving

Resist the urge to brake hard. Ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel steady, and let the vehicle slow gradually while you look for a safe, level, wide spot to pull off completely — not just onto a narrow shoulder. Hazards on as soon as you suspect a problem.

Think carefully before changing it yourself

This is where RVs and trailers genuinely differ from passenger cars. Many travel trailers and motorhomes are heavy enough that the factory jack, if one is even included, isn’t rated for the job — and changing a tire on a slanted or soft shoulder with a rig that outweighs a car by several thousand pounds carries real risk if the jack fails or the vehicle isn’t fully stable. If you’re comfortable with it, always chock the wheels that are staying on the ground, use a jack rated for your rig’s actual weight on firm level ground, and never get any part of your body under the vehicle while it’s on a jack alone. If any of that isn’t the case — sloped shoulder, no rated jack, a dual-axle trailer, or just not wanting to do it roadside — calling a mobile tire or RV service is usually the safer and more practical choice.

Why RV tires fail more often from age than tread wear

Unlike a daily-driven car, RVs often sit for months between trips, which changes how their tires age. According to NHTSA, tire rubber deteriorates over time from sunlight, temperature, and simply sitting — a process separate from tread wear — and the agency specifically calls out RVs, along with 15-passenger vans and collector cars, as more vulnerable to this because of how infrequently they’re used. Many tire and vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing tires at six to ten years old regardless of remaining tread. You can check a tire’s age from the DOT code on the sidewall — the last four digits give the week and year of manufacture (for example, “2319” means the 23rd week of 2019).