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Topic: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout (Read 1885 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #25 –

Great outcome Jon,
Our 2-axle coach weighs 30,000. We use XZA-3 load-range-H tires on all wheel positions. We aim to carry 100 psi in all tires, but on a cold day, it will vary.
Weighing our coach at all 10 points shows me that 100 psi has a good safety margin to handle the cold mornings and hard turns, etc.

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #26 –
100 PSI will be my new starting point also despite the placarded 90 PSI from Foretravel.  484 Tire Service (road service that changed out the tire) recommended running at the max 110 PSI as shown on the tire sidewall.  I might try that for awhile to see how the ride quality is affected but I'll probably end up at the 100 PSI cold setting.
Jon Harris
1995 U300 Unihome
Cat 3176
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
...
Weighing our coach at all 10 points shows me that 100 psi has a good safety margin to handle the cold mornings and hard turns, etc.

10 points to weigh on a two axle coach? Please amplify. I would expect a maximum of six points to weigh, and a practical limit of four.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #28 –

We like to weigh and record 10 points for comparison from time to time. Multiple point weighing verifies that the sum of left and right add up to axle weight.
Often when a wheel is off the scale to weigh only one side, the wheel off the scale can be carrying some of the weight of the wheel on the scale.

We weigh:
1- left front
2- left side
3- left rear
4- right front
5- right side
6- right rear
7- front axle
8- both axles
9- rear axle

Then we run totals to find lost pounds. Sum of parts should match total.
Microsoft Excel helps.
1+2=7
3+6=9
1+3=2
4+6=5
7+9=8
2+5=8

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Jon H –
100 PSI will be my new starting point also despite the placarded 90 PSI from Foretravel.  484 Tire Service (road service that changed out the tire) recommended running at the max 110 PSI as shown on the tire sidewall.  I might try that for awhile to see how the ride quality is affected but I'll probably end up at the 100 PSI cold setting.
Jon,
    I have basically the same coach and same Michelin tires Load range H (2 years old). Initially I tried 110 psi but found that the coach wandered quite a bit and I thought I might have a loose steering box. After reading some articles about handling I backed the pressure down to 100 and it handles great without the front end wandering.
Rick

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #30 –
What would be the difference with the XZA-3 tires?
I had serious road damage to my right rear outboard tire. It had very bad superficial sidewall damage and tread damage. I think I ran across a cement pad up on departure from Gila Bend AZ.  Did not discover damage until Balmorhea, TX
Do not know for sure but think I drove it about 650 miles on it. It was load range LRG.
Just lucky I guess
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #31 –
This is a real interesting thread. My 225, close to fully loaded, weighs 20,740. Front: 8,080; Back: 12,660. I am running Michelin 235/80R 22.5 XRV. The Michelin site indicates the fronts should be 87 psi and the rears should be 70 psi. The FT info plate, of course, indicates higher inflation on both ends and this discussion seems to recommend even higher rates. So, are we saying, in light of lots of anecdotal evidence of blowouts, that the Michelin recommended tire inflation rates are incorrect and should be ignored? Thanks.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #32 –
jor,

This is a call you have to make on your own.  The "softer" the tires are the more flexing they will do and the more flexing they do, the more heat they build up.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #33 –
Based on my very limited ( thankfully ) experience with Michelin and sidewall blowouts I can only offer this observation; Don't expect Michelin to be open and receptive to any cause that indicates a defective tire. You need to be agressive and persistent at the local and corporate level in order to escalate your claim and generate a knowledgable technical review.  The conclusion that I have come to, as a result of this experience, is that running at the minimum recommended operating pressure leaves very little margin of sidewall flexing safety - despite the softer ride.
Jon Harris
1995 U300 Unihome
Cat 3176
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #34 –
It's just interesting to me that the manufacturer's recommendation is so far off. For example, on cars and pickups I always inflate according to the recommendation unless a particular condition calls for more pressure. With all of these blowout problems in the RV community, I wonder why Michelin has not addressed the issue. I'm sure they have heard about them as I don't see any shrinking violets in this group of posters. At any rate, in light of Jon's and others' experiences, I think I'll kick up the pressure on those duals. Thanks.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #35 –
I was fortunate that my 1st motorhome blowout was on the rear as there were absolutely no handling issues at all.  Coach didn't swerve and continued straight down the road under complete control. I am absolutely certain that there would be new puckers in the drivers seat cushion had the blowout occurred on a front tire - certainly much more critical than the failure of one of the duals !
Jon Harris
1995 U300 Unihome
Cat 3176
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #36 –
I was told by my local truck tire dealer that Michelens are known to be more prone to blowouts, Bridgestone more prone to premature UV damage and more rapid tire ware and Goodyear's to be the most reliable overall. They also recommended running any tire at its maximum air pressure unless one noticed premature wear in the center of the tire. That deficiency is found much less often in heavy load tires versus car and light truck tires.

I put the Goodyears on my U225 and the U300 came with Michelins. I do have some concern about the Michelins so I bought Pressure Pros for each and run them at at least 100 psi.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #37 –

The unicoach tends to a heavier nose as the generator hangs in front. I do 100 front and 95 rear. On my U280 I ran 90 front and 85 rear.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Michelin XZA-1+ Blowout

Reply #38 –
Final update on this incident. Notice received today from Progressive Insurance, National Subrogation Unit, that they had unsuccesfully exhausted their efforts with Michelin in attempting to collect for body damage repairs resulting from the blowout of the XZA-1 tire on my coach.  This despite the fact that Michelin had (finally after many communications) agreed to refund the full purchase price of the tire acknowledging that failure was not due to any improper operation. Based on my experience in this occasion there's not much likelyhood that the next set of tires on the coach will be from Michelin.
Jon Harris
1995 U300 Unihome
Cat 3176
The selected media item is not currently available.