JimInMich wrote:
The main reason for this post was me thinking out loud how the 16yo Bridgestones held up a lot better than the 17yo Michelins, when in my mind, Michelins are the best tire money can buy.
Only the Michelin disciples believe that and mainly because of all the marketing hype. Not only that, but Michelin supplies a lot of the RV industry at evidently cut rate prices, so that one might replace them with their brand, when due. Thing is, everyone who swears by them and pays the extra, hasn't lived long enough to have properly tested all the rest, soooooooo.....and if it has a good ole US DOT number on it, it's good enough for me.
Just so you know, Michelin had some terrible years for sidewall cracking and around 2002 were the worst, I believe.
BTW, I've only had two blowouts ever, both were on the rear, both were Goodyear and both were in NY state. Now that ought to tell you something, eh? Don't ask me what, but something. The first was on a 6yr old and could have been from an unseen road hazard. The second was 5yrs old and shortly after I got this coach, so I'm betting sitting for long periods with the jacks up and having no covers installed. Still no real dry cracking though, so it must have been because it wasn't a Michelin. Now, I don't know what the faithful might do, once Michelin moves to China, along with most others that already have and one of the chief complaints about tires on these forums.
Now who would have thought that the French would be able to initialize and maintain such a reputation and hasn't Firestone won Indy enough times to make them just as famous?
We're running genuine Chinese Hercules now, it is the fourth largest tire maker worldwide and has been owned by Cooper since the 60's. We've had excellent service from them in the past and expect no less from our present purchase, but one never knows and time will tell, I guess.
