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Topic: Tire blow out (Read 681 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire blow out

Today we had our first experience with a blowout. It sounded like a gunshot! Front left tire shredded. Good Sam to the rescue, and had help there within 45 minutes. The fix took considerably longer. Blowout at noon, on our way at 5. Mechanic not sure about the integrity of the rim, so we waited while he changed it.  We bought a spare on a steel rim. As soon as we get home, replacing all tires. We bought the RV from MOT, and the tires looked fine. In retrospect, we should have replaced all of them then. Driver side fender gone. While we were waiting (on I-75 in Georgia) saw our first Foretravel go by.

We're staying at CG an extra day to regroup. Now a proponent of spare already on a rim!!

Bob and Vicki
Bob, Vicki & Lilly
2003 Foretravel U320 40'
2008 Honda CRV - Toad
Build #6138

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #1 –
Did you check the tire air pressure as part of your preflight inspection that morning? What was the pressure? Did you whack each tire with a hammer to check the bounce every time you stopped during the day?
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Bob & Vicki –
As soon as we get home, replacing all tires. We bought the RV from MOT, and the tires looked fine. In retrospect, we should have replaced all of them then.

So sorry to hear this happened, but glad y'all are ok!

Out of curiosity, what was/is the date code on the tires?  For replacements, consider the FMCA tire program Michelin Advantage if you're members there or (same basic program) the one offered through Prevost Community Prevost Community Fuel Discount Program & Michelin Tire Advantage Program
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #3 –
Yes, that's part of pre-travel check list. The tires are dated '07, planned on changing them this winter. This road service call makes changing them last winter a better idea, as my dear wife suggested.
Bob, Vicki & Lilly
2003 Foretravel U320 40'
2008 Honda CRV - Toad
Build #6138

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #4 –
Wow I am glad it is only an eyebrow.  Those are not too expensive to fix.  I am glad you did not suffer more damage as well.  Now you will have tires of different sizes. You might keep the new one as a spare and get 6 new ones to put on the coach. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #5 –
Time and time again I have heard of blowouts with tires over 6 years..PLEASE, at least change out your front tires @ 6 years. Have seen damage in the tens of thousands of dollars.  FWIW....
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #6 –
What brand of tire??  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #7 –
Tires are Michelin. We're going to rest tomorrow, clean the tire skuffs off the RV, and regroup.
Bob, Vicki & Lilly
2003 Foretravel U320 40'
2008 Honda CRV - Toad
Build #6138

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #8 –
Have had an almost new one suddenly blow. Never could figure out why as it was in a million pieces by the time I stopped. They could be made the day before but road debris can cause sudden failure.

I hate having the spare taking up room in the only compartment we have but won't move the coach without having it on board. Have had 3 flats with motorhomes/buses.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #9 –
Was that a truck or RV tire?
I think the Michelin RV tires had some sidewall problems.
JD.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #10 –
John,

It was a truck Michelin. I have been driving on Michelins since they were OEM on Citroens in the 1950's and think they are a great tire, always have been, always will be. The huge technological advantage they had then is gone today with many other brands making equal tires. My problem is the high cost because of massive advertising. Michelin's labor cost here is much less than in France. I'm just not willing to pay for the name. Bridgestone has gotten to be in the same category, a very excellent tire but a Rodeo Drive price to go with it. As competitive as the home market is in Asia, lesser quality tire companies lose business in a hurry. Any company can make batch mistakes in manufacturing. Look at the Firestone/Bridgestone failures on Ford Explorers a few years ago.

Doing research on sites like Tire Rack will point to differences in both price and quality between brands in passenger car and light truck tires. Companies with big rigs and buses want a tire that lasts a long time and has a high quality casing for capping or re-grooving down the road so the word gets around quickly about bad products. Same with emergency responders that need the highest quality tire available. I have never heard of one brand being the top choice when public safety was at stake.

Radials have a much different construction than the old bias belt tires and unless you have a rear failure, the sudden loss of pressure means a front tire will probably destroy itself by the time you get the coach stopped by the side of the road making the cause of the failure difficult or impossible to determine. My three RV/Bus failures were all rear tires and all because of something stuck, slashed, or otherwise damaged the tire. My truck failure was driver's side front. It made a funny rotational noise for about one second or so and then a huge bang.

As far as companies that make a different tire for RVs vs their truck line, sidewall construction for a softer ride may be a factor but they should all have pretty much the same ingredients added to the rubber to protect against UV and air pollution as the air quality in many Asian cities is beyond belief. We usually walk Koda at least 3 miles as day here but have had to stop and sit in some cities there because I just could not breathe without some difficulty.

So, in my view, well over 90 percent of tire failures come from something lying in wait on the road. They may fail immediately or down the road from the damage. This includes pothole damage from under inflated tires. Michelin makes an excellent product and whether it is a tire, a Michelin Green country guidebook, map, restaurant review, it's first rate. On the other hand, if I thought for a moment that buying a less expensive tire would in anyway compromise our safety, I would spend the extra bucks in a second.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: Tire blow out

Reply #11 –
I have had 3 blowouts, one due to the inside rear tire going flat over night(air value stuck after checking), one due to hitting something on the road;BO happened less than 50 miles down the road, last one as I rolled up to red light in Atlanta,TX(don't know why,tire was old but little cracking).  I can also say I have driven(with my brother) from Edmonton Alberta, Canada to Lufkin,TX in his 93 U240 that had been stolen and sat in a outside storage lot for 2-3 yrs.  The Michelin Tires had sidewall cracks so bad I could put my thumb nail in the cracks. We drove all the way home with no problems.  My blowouts were on my 95 U240 which is now wearing sumitomo tires.  I run them at 95psi on the rear and 85 on the front.  They are now coming on 6 years old with no sidewall cracks at all.  It is kept in a pole barn, no sun on the tires.
Pat/Blue Angel
1995 U240 36ft
MC# 16511
Build# 4653