Is it safe to drive on tires made in 3415? They do NIOT show any cracking inside or not and have very few miles on them. The tires in question are the steer tires. The rears were made in 3418
Everyone will have a different opinion.
If it was me and tires look good, have had proper air in them, then I would go at least another year or two. I just replaced tires that were made in 2013
If you have seen the damage and the loss of control that rapid blow-out on steer tires causes, then safety over-rides economy.
I do fronts every 5-6 years, rears at 7 normally. Tires are Toyo.
You gonna back out the drive or go across country?
The only trip planned for this summer is about a 1000 mile trip from Alberta to B.C.
I will re assess buying tires after this after this discussion....
Tires are a crapshoot. You can have a blowout with brand new tires. You can travel across the country on 10 year old tires and have no problem. All you can do is analyze the situation in light of your own personal tolerance for risk. Do whatever you feel is likely to tip the odds in your favor. Personal experience will surely influence your decision. Perhaps you have witnessed the damage a blowout can cause. Some members believe their peace of mind from replacing tires "early" is worth the additional expense. Other members push tires to the (age) limit because they have always gotten away with it so "Why waste money".
DWMYH
I replaced our 2008 Coopers a couple of months ago. I still have a like new Firestone on the outside rear. Some tires have a terrible reputation for longevity and others just the opposite. The Firestone looks like it was just made, the Coopers had a lot of small cracks. Bridgestone says their casings after multiple times recapping should be retired after 15 years.
I know the stories about moisture in the casing rusting the steel, rot, etc, etc. Small cracks are OK, deep ones not.
The only big tire I had a blowout on was about 3 months from new. Another zipper failure from what I saw.
When you put new tires on your coach, someone else gets the old ones.
Between the two, regional tires would seem to last longer than long run. Thicker sidewall (stiffer), they chuck rocks better, etc. Our new regional H rated, M speed tires ride great.
Pierce
I began to wonder about our Michelin's at 7 yrs so I added a tire monitor system. At least with that I would know of any overheating situation or an unusual pressure change. Ran them another 2 years but I never covered them which would have helped.... IMO.
Tire covers help, especially in a location with high air pollution. Never a bad idea to monitor the tire pressure. Sometimes a problem may not show up with low pressures and increased temperatures. The sidewall suddenly blows out.
I have not heard of that many Michelin tire failures lately. The XRV series had huge problems but the RV manufacture may have been partly to blame for recommending low pressures and perhaps fitting a smaller size than needed for the weight of the RV. Sort of like the Ford/Firestone problem back when the Ford Explorer was introduced. Bad tire factory, bad tire pressure recommendation (26 lbs) and poor suspension. The reason for the change to independent rear suspension on the later Explorers.
Pierce
Of course, why the question. You may want to replace them in a couple of years, though.
I often wonder what the weight difference between our "little" 22,300# 36' GV narrow width coach without slides and only about 4,000-5,000 miles a year usage might play a factor in tire replacement/blowouts when compared to a (what? 55,000#) 40' 320 with slides and 10,000 miles a year.
I have to think a 34' GV would be a lot easier on tires than the heavier coaches.
I know of a 34' GV coach in Florida with tires about 18 years old and still running/looking good.
As is said: DWMYH.
I think the key here is to look at the casings that recappers use. OTR trucks use up the tread in a hurry and many companies recap the tires. The recappers have a definite opinion of what casing are good and can be recapped multiple times and those damaged removing from the wheel and preparing for the new cap. Seems to me the best casings would have the least blowout problems over a lengthy lifespan.
So, while the coach you know about in Florida tires are still looking good, many brands will crack and rot. Sun and smog also have a bit to do with it. Our coach is a lot heavier than yours. I expect taking weight off the tires and bumping the pressure up would be a good thing in the off season. Tire manufacturers give advise on the pressures to use in the off season.
On our coach, most tires were past their prime with cracks and tread that had chunked off in a few places. The Firestone looked absolutely like it had just be installed without even a crack or blemish and was still shiny looking. Not pushing Firestones but this was a good indicator of casing quality to me.
Pierce
18 year old tires. Hope I never get close to that coach.
Originally I was going to replace the two front tires this year, but I happened to check the date code and they were made the last week of 2015, so I'm going to wait until next year. Good thing, too, as I had to replace the rear a/c and the tow bar this year, neither of which was planned.
No matter how good your tires are there's always the oncoming lane full of rednecks
and people that don't know what tire condition or air pressure is all about.
And how about those logging trucks?.......
they're always a real rush on a two-laner.
No idea of the age of this 18 wheelers tires but just to show how an obviously inexperienced driver can lose control in a front tire blowout. Tragic results for the other drivers.
Two killed in I-10 crash involving cattle trailer; westbound lanes closed... (https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/crime_police/article_0b44c534-de6d-11eb-96b4-97952959bfa5.html)
And as an aside we just drove 1300 miles in the Lexus and I can't understand why anyone would slowly pass an 18 wheeler on a 4-lane. Get around them as quickly as you can so you don't suffer the same fate as above.
Here's one of the trucks that were hit in the opposite lane, one guy died, 15 calves in the trailer died, other guy miraculously survived.
Here is a good bad bunch of tire failures and what can and does happen.
Pierce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZji-YDnBvo
Just an update.....did not want to roll the dice and take any chances so purchased new fronts. Bridgestone R213 295/75 22.5. H. To replace the xze2 275 g rated tires. They are the most recent addition to the Bridgestone family (2021) And so new I can not find any tire pressure index online. Does anyone have suggestions on run pressure for these?
Go to the Foretravel axle weight page and see how much weight it's rated for. Then check your Bridgestone sidewall X2 for pressure. That page shows all Foretravels by the year/model.
Pierce
Maybe the tire chart has not been posted widely online yet. Might want to contact Bridgestone tech support line directly and have them recommend tire pressure for your coach weight/tire spec and to email the tire pressure chart to you. I would not think the company would internally make the "clear to ship" product call without creating the recommended tire pressure table for your tire. A call to Hermann Tire in Nac, tx may also be able to help you as they sell Bridgestones.
#Bridgestone R213 295/75 22.5. H. To replace the xze2 275 g rated tires. They are the most recent addition to the Bridgestone family (2021) And so new I can not find any tire pressure index online. Does anyone have suggestions on run pressure for these?#
I THINK THIS IS IT CORRECT?
https://commercial.bridgestone.com/content/dam/bcs-sites/bridgestone-ex/products/Databooks/TBR/Bridgestone-TBR-Load-And-Inflation-Tables-08-08-2018.pdf Pg 94 of chart or 5 of 10 pages on PDF View.
That chart does not list the R213 tire. I will have to give the tech support a call and I will try Herman's tire tomorrow
Peter
I've had a Michelin tire fail after 3,000 miles and (exactly) one year due to a defect, so a failure can happen with any tire, especially if there is a road hazard. I installed a Saf-T-Plus steering stabilizer to help keep the steering wheel in my grip should a front tire fail. Fortunately, I have never had to test it, but it, like insurance, is peace of mind. I highly recommend it.
https://www.safe-t-plus.com/
Our Coopers were made in 2008 and replaced a couple of months ago. Aged with lots of tiny cracks. Still have a Firestone on made in 2009 that looks like new. Bridgestone/Firestone recommends replacing casings used for recapping after 15 years.
Only one zipper blowout and that was a 6 month Michelin. They did replace it for free.
Pierce