When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Topic: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much? (Read 1488 times) previous topic - next topic

When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

November 08, 2016, 05:28:45 pm

While cleaning my Foretravel the other day, my wife noticed a piece of tread missing from the outside dual on the passenger side. These tires all have a DOT date code of 1142. The missing part is about 3/16" wide at its widest point, 1 1/4" long at its longest point, and less deep than the depth of the grooves in the tire.

I do not know how this happened, but suspect one of the "crushed" rocks in my RV pad may be the culprit. The load was a mixture of large and small rocks and I had hoped the bigger ones would migrate down, but only the smaller ones did. These rocks would have been good for the lower half, with smaller ones on top. Unfortunately, he had them delivered in one of those long beds that tilt up. Next Spring, I intend to lay on additional crushed rocks, 3/4" plus fines; that should make my "pad" much easier to walk on and sit on. (You can see some of the larger rocks in the second picture.)

I do not have any experiences with these large tires, and what is acceptable, and what is not. I would appreciate any and all advice, comments, observations, and suggestions that this august body is willing to provide.

Thank you,

Trent

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #1 – November 08, 2016, 05:55:01 pm

Kind of hard to tell from the photo, but date code appears to be 4211 (42nd week of 2011). That puts the tire at 5 years old.

While you could have a tire professional inspect it, you might also choose to fit two new tires on the front and move the front to that side in back. May even keep the good old rear for a spare.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #2 – November 08, 2016, 05:57:01 pm

I can't believe that parking on gravel of an odd size would cause that kind of damage.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #3 – November 08, 2016, 06:20:14 pm

Looks like a cut from something embedded in the gravel. When dealing with gravel the use of 3/4"minus would be what I would use, after it is down and rolled be sure to "walk" it and pick up anything large that shouldn't be there, that is what will bruise the cord.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #4 – November 08, 2016, 06:55:53 pm

I replace my tires at the 5 year mark. There are lots of threads/opinions about that here. For us it's just added piece of mind.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #5 – November 08, 2016, 07:15:23 pm

If it was on the steer axle I would be concerned, but the drive axle should be no problem... unless the chunk had a deep cut into the rubber under tread belting (outside or before reaching the cord layers)

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #6 – November 09, 2016, 07:18:52 am

I agree with Saddlesore. On a drive tire that is cosmetic.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #7 – November 09, 2016, 10:03:40 am

I have chunks of rubber missing from my tires too. It's just a fact of life. There's debris on the road and I sometimes hit it, especially when driving at night or in traffic. Heavy truck tires are very tough. Unless the cut is deep and goes into the cord it won't matter. Pay special attention to it when you visually check your tires each morning before you start driving. Check your air pressure with a good air gauge each morning too of course.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #8 – November 09, 2016, 11:42:13 am

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 08, 2016, 05:55:01 pm

....While you could have a tire professional inspect it, you might also choose to fit two new tires on the front and move the front to that side in back. May even keep the good old rear for a spare.

I agree, replace, "Better Safe than Sorry!"

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #9 – November 09, 2016, 11:47:17 am

I blew a spare years ago on the front, it scared the pucky out of us! The spare looked perfect, but it had sat, wrapped in canvas, on the roof. I got about 50 miles when it blew. .........note to self......."only use a spare to get to the nearest tire store".

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #10 – November 09, 2016, 01:31:29 pm

Knowing the issue is the main thing..
Keep on eye on the cut and act accordingly (check it every time you stop, along with the others.)
That cut is not out of the ordinary.
FWIW; I've run a great many miles with cuts much worse than this example. pc

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #11 – November 09, 2016, 08:38:55 pm

It's good for the trucking industry if you replace your brand new tires every time you drive a hundred miles or they sit for three years, whichever comes first. Somewhere there's a poor indie trucker who will love you forever as he hauls way heavier loads on the brand new tires you were afraid to use.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #12 – November 10, 2016, 10:00:17 am

I think that he means that some run tires for ten years but if you do you may need a shoulder harnesses, helmet and a Hans device.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #13 – November 10, 2016, 12:38:35 pm

I was gonna write something clever but the Wanderlodge that's been following me around the whole country for several years just showed up here in Teksis so I'm gonna go talk to someone who actually travels in their coach... I'm sure you guys will still be here sitting in front of the computer later when I get a chance.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #14 – November 10, 2016, 02:20:34 pm

Many posters here travel a great deal. And no need to worry about posting something clever.

Quote from: RRadio – November 10, 2016, 12:38:35 pm

I was gonna write something clever but the Wanderlodge that's been following me around the whole country for several years just showed up here in Teksis so I'm gonna go talk to someone who actually travels in their coach... I'm sure you guys will still be here sitting in front of the computer later when I get a chance.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #15 – November 10, 2016, 02:49:35 pm

Quote from: RRadio – November 10, 2016, 12:38:35 pm

I was gonna write something clever but the Wanderlodge that's been following me around the whole country for several years just showed up here in Teksis so I'm gonna go talk to someone who actually travels in their coach... I'm sure you guys will still be here sitting in front of the computer later when I get a chance.

Wow.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #16 – November 10, 2016, 03:13:45 pm

With dry air or nitrogen and correct storage and pressures and maybe an inspection I fully intend to run ours ten years at least.

Not for everyone and maybe not all brands or use or storage. Just me. My neck. Too many years in the biz to prematurely change good tires.

Dry air is the key in my experience. Never introduce water into the tires. Some tire mounting materials degrade into and/or release water vapor into the tire. Every failed tire I looked at as a foretravel manager had rusty cord belts inside. Everyone.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #17 – November 11, 2016, 06:52:31 pm

My comment was rude and I apologize. I just don't like being told I'm gonna die if I don't buy new tires every few years. I've driven all over this beautiful country on 10+ year old tires that are now half worn. I'm still alive... Buy new tires any time you want and I'll drive on mine as long as I want.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #18 – November 11, 2016, 07:43:19 pm

Scott

Old tires are kind of like your fan blade. It works fine until it doesn't, then at best its inconvenient. At worst it is torn up fiberglass or flesh or both.
I respect however your right to choose. I was going for 7 years on my tires, left front let go at 6 years. I was lucky, just 6 k in damage.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #19 – November 11, 2016, 08:44:13 pm

I just replaced 5 tires- three eight years old and two nine at Herman Power Tire in Nacogdoches. They wouldn't give me anything for the older take-offs due to micro-cracking, but gave $50 each for the younger tires. They only saw dry air. Pressure checked daily while traveling, correct pressures by wheel load.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #20 – November 12, 2016, 12:36:19 am

Newer does not insure safety. So if you have experienced a catastrophic failure (blowout) please try to provide all of the known facts for everybody benefit. Tire pressures may well be unknown due to leaks and/or pressure increases due to road conditions. Newer tires experience more tread distortion due the distance to the supporting structure which generates more heat, sometimes good thing sometimes bad.
OK for us to learn we need the following.
Age of tire
Millage or remaining tread depth (less depth less distortion and heat generated)
We're you travelling on asphalt or concrete (significant surface temperature difference)
You're vehicle speed
% of corner load vs tire load rating
Ambient temperature

Manf. Information of the lifespam of the tire is conservative for legal reasons.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #21 – November 17, 2016, 07:21:23 pm

I just lost ANOTHER brand new trailer tire with less than 10,000 miles on it, 45 psi in it, carrying less than half its rated load, at 60 miles per hour or less, in cool November temperatures, on smooth pavement, and the tire is not marked as being made in China. The new tires develop a bubble in them after a few thousand miles as the tread separates from the cord. This time it was on the edge of the tread. Last time it was directly in the center of the tread. Neither tire blew out because I visually check my tires every time I stop. This time I stopped to top off my diesel tank before entering beautiful Zion national park on the east end and driving through the tunnels. I spotted the bubble, which a TPMS cannot possibly see, and immediately changed the tire before driving any further. I certainly didn't want to blow a tire inside the mile long tunnel with a long line of cars behind me. So there you have it. Brand new tires guarantee nothing, but checking your tires and not depending on TPMS catches most tire failures before they happen.

I turned down Everglades national park and accepted a mechanic position at Zion national park for this Winter. Today my boss pointed out that the national park service needs a mechanic for a temporary duty at a park in Hawaii for 120 days and he said I can go if I want to ...all expenses paid and I can leave my coach here at Zion while I'm gone ...hmmm, decisions decisions

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #22 – November 18, 2016, 06:35:10 am

What brand, size and load range are your trailer tires?

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #23 – November 18, 2016, 07:21:51 am

Quote from: RRadio – November 17, 2016, 07:21:23 pm

Today my boss pointed out that the national park service needs a mechanic for a temporary duty at a park in Hawaii for 120 days and he said I can go if I want to ...all expenses paid and I can leave my coach here at Zion while I'm gone ...hmmm, decisions decisions

I don't think it would take me very long to make that decision!

Re: When is Minor Tire Damage Too Much?

Reply #24 – November 18, 2016, 07:32:27 am

When was the tire made?

I had bought a tire from a tire store for my boat trailer since it had a problem. Two years later the tire comes apart and I take it back to the tire place since I had the warranty on it. They tell me it was over 10 years old and they were not going to warranty it. I then remembered that they had trouble finding a tire back when I got it so I bet someone had sitting on shelf forever and were glad to sell it. Now every time I buy trailer tires I tell them I want the date tire was made on the invoice, I then go and double check to make sure I am getting new tires.

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