Tire Failure-Update IV

I think you should replace that tire.

I had two blowouts with those BFG tires and collected $$$$ from Michelin for damage repair.

Hard to tell what caused something like that. I replaced 235/85R16 BFG Commercial TAs on the fiver with Michelin XPS Ribs summer before last. They were 8 years old with over 90k on them and zero failures.

As an example of unknown causes, I threw a retread on a rear truck tire a year and a half ago. I was planning on replacing them at the end of that trip and just wrote it off to age and wear. The three weeks later I was lubricating the TrailerSaver hitch and found a 3" long 1/2" bolt with a washer welded on it in the hitch frame. Obvious wear from bouncing around on the pavement and nothing off my equipment - most likely the culprit in the tire failure!

There were a number of BF Goodrich Commercial TA's recalled. Your tires fall in the correct date range but wrong size. I would certainly check with BF Goodrich. They were recalled due to tread belt separation.

While many with large trailers use LT tires it doesn't preclude failures as you have experienced. What was the weight rating on the tire? Did you experience any road hazards that you were aware of?

I'm surprised to see what looks like rust on the between-the-layers surface of the tire...is that normal?

I pulled 2 5ers for about 8 years before getting a MH.

My point in my post was that if you don't have the CORRECT load range tires, irregardless of commercial or trailer, you WILL experience problems and failures. Just because your axles are not overloaded doesn't mean that your tires aren't. When the tires are overloaded, they create more heat, which can cause the laminates to come apart.
My point: check the load range of the tires. If the range is correct, look elsewhere for the failure.

Commercial TA's are not overloaded at 4500# per axle. Just guessing, but it sounds like road hazard or a single tire production failure. Was the trailer damaged?

Yes, they make ST (Special Trailer) tires. Unfortunately most of them are worthless due to lack of quality control at the offshore plants.

A large number of fiver owners have tens of thousands of happy miles on Commercial TA setups.

Are these on your 5er? If so, are the tires TRAILER Tires? There is a difference. Also, what is the load range stamped on the tire? While commercial tires may seem compatible, if the weight of the vehicle is more than the rating of the tire, what you showed can be the result. Not saying that is the case, but a consideration.

I have seen tires worse than that on my fiver. That is till I started putting Michelin XPS Rib tires in 2005. Then all my fiver tire troubles disappeared.