Well, I joined the blown tire crowd over the 4th holiday.I had just installed a TST monitoring system and within 120 miles, tire exploded. As the monitoring system was new, I was watching tire pressures and temps closely, nothing unusual when the tire blew. Was luckily near a closed rest area, pulled over quickly, and changed tire. The tire did some damage but I have repaired it.I have had flat tires on cars before but not on a trailer. This thing just exploded; don't know if the tire went over anything or just blew up. Just happy it happened where it did.Was glad I carry a 12 compressor with me because the spare only had 20 lbs in it. Although the compressor takes a while it is nice to have.And before you ask, 225x75 15 ST, about six years old(mfg date 08).On return trip while accelerating on the on ramp, a truck with a Cardinal fifth wheel let us in and quickly disappeared down the road. About 20 miles later, saw pieces of tire on the road and the Cardinal pulled over a little bit down the road with the left rear flat. He was just onto the shoulder with his left wheels on the shoulder with no more room to pull over at that section of highway. Hope he made out alright.

We had a tire blow on us last summer; the tires in question were probably about 2 years old, but had seen heavy use. Fortunately no other damage to the trailer, and we were lucky to have an entire lane to wait in for help - that area was under construction, with the left lane blocked off for many miles. I think that tire had been one that had shown signs of unusual wear, and was most likely related to prior problems with the wheel hubs on that same camper. Glad you came out ok; hope the Cardinal did the same.

When you say you installed the monitoring system, did you have to dismount the tires and place the sensor on the rim, or is this some sort of valve-stem item?If you had to break the bead on the tire, do you think that increased the risk of failure, being an old tire?Or maybe you installed new tires while at it? Not implying that is the cause of failure, just pondering ;)BTW, glad you're okay. These things really can fly out of the blue.

I think a lot of tire issues that are blamed on tire construction, wrong pressure, speed, age, etc. are really road hazard issues. Hard to know if you hit anything.In 15 years RVing I have had two tire failures on the road: one a trailer tire in a construction zone, who knows what I hit.Fall of 2012 out side of Austin I lost a drive tire on the Volvo. Attributed it to tire age on a recap. Then a few months later while doing maintenance I found a 3" long, 1/2" bolt with a welded washer loose in the frame of my hitch. It had obviously been bouncing around on the road and I am willing to bet that it was the actual cause of the tire failure.

This supports what many of us have known for years; when it comes to junk tires there doesn't have to be any smoking gun. IE no low tire pressure, speed, age or anything else. They simply come apart inside because they're well.. junk.

Makes you wonder if you should have invested in better tires rather than a TST system, eh? Ditch those STs and get real tires.

exploding tire | Good Sam Community

Roadpilot
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
I had a tire failure on the tag axle of my MH. I had checked the pressure in the am and it was good. The tread came off and when they removed the tire, the pressure was still good, It was not a recap. I bought tire sensors after that and used them for 4 years. I had the kind that screw onto the stem. I found they don't provide a good seal and leak slightly. It was a pain to remove them to full the tire. After 4 years I removed them and always check tire pressures. All the tires hold pressures now. I think I'm better off without them.
edstep
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
Just wondering with your new TST system did you have the flow through sensors and if so where they attatched to rubber air valves. If so the whipping action of the flow thru sensor may damage the air valve.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jul 13, 2014
op says wrote:
I have had flat tires on cars before but not on a trailer. This thing just exploded; don't know if the tire went over anything or just blew up. Just happy it happened where it did.

Your story is a typical ST tire issue when we look across the trailering spectrum (all trailers and not just a RV trailer).

We can do everything right with no road hazards/curbs or other dreamed up scenarios and still these issues will pop up especially when using ST tires beyond their recommended short life expectancy

If you stick with a ST tire remember their recommended to be changed from just 3 years and definitely after 5 years even when the tread looks like new.

Time to move on up to a better tire type for your trailer.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
JIMNLIN wrote:
op says wrote:
I have had flat tires on cars before but not on a trailer. This thing just exploded; don't know if the tire went over anything or just blew up. Just happy it happened where it did.

Your story is a typical ST tire issue when we look across the trailering spectrum (all trailers and not just a RV trailer).

We can do everything right with no road hazards/curbs or other dreamed up scenarios and still these issues will pop up especially when using ST tires beyond their recommended short life expectancy

If you stick with a ST tire remember their recommended to be changed from just 3 years and definitely after 5 years even when the tread looks like new.

Time to move on up to a better tire type for your trailer.

X2
wandering1
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
ScottG wrote:
This supports what many of us have known for years; when it comes to junk tires there doesn't have to be any smoking gun. IE no low tire pressure, speed, age or anything else. They simply come apart inside because they're well.. junk.

How do you know they are junk? :S
Beaker
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
Just wondering with your new TST system did you have the flow through sensors and if so where they attatched to rubber air valves

Yes they are. Put on one day and the next day 2 tires were down around 20 lbs. Called TST and they knew what the problem was. These newer sensors have an extend collar with a hex screw to lock them on.
With the rubber air valves, they do not screw on far enough. TST would send a different type or said I could grind down the collars so the sensors went on far enough, which is what I did and they are fine now.

The sensor was still attached and the valve fine. That tire just exploded.
azjeffh
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014
Beaker,

I've use a Pressure Pro TPMS system since the first day I bought my trailer and have experienced the same as you, tire blowout with no sensor warning....twice.

First time was a Tow Master LRE (15") tire approx. two years old. It took off my trailer's fender skirt and did some body damage.

Second was a Michelin LTX A/T 2 (17"), approx. 3 years old (less than 30k miles). Did $2.8K damage to my truck.

When I had the Tow Master go I switched over to 16" LTs (225/75R16), BFG Commercial TA. Just replaced them last week (27 months old) because of a split on one tire between the sidewall and tread.

I agree you should buy quality tires, just not sure what to recommend. I've been thru Maxxis LRD & LRE, GY Marathon LRD, Tow Master LRE and the BFG's on the trailer. Have yet to find one that I can endorse.

Good luck.
Beaker
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
I agree you should buy quality tires, just not sure what to recommend. I've been thru Maxxis LRD & LRE, GY Marathon LRD, Tow Master LRE and the BFG's on the trailer. Have yet to find one the I can endorse.

I've run ST for 15 years. First flat, although I had one throw the tread.
MrVan
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
Beaker wrote:
I agree you should buy quality tires, just not sure what to recommend. I've been thru Maxxis LRD & LRE, GY Marathon LRD, Tow Master LRE and the BFG's on the trailer. Have yet to find one the I can endorse.

I've run ST for 15 years. First flat, although I had one throw the tread.

?

What GVW is your 5th wheel?
pyoung47
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
I've had a couple of blow outs. One was a spare with only 50 miles. I've also hAd three wheel failures. Bumping curbs, scraping the sidewalks, sharp turns are all terrible on any tire. I'd gladly go to 16 inch tires, but don't have the clearance.

Forum Discussion

exploding tire

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Exploding Grill

Tires

tires, tires, tires

Tires

Tires, Tires, Tires!