Michelin tire sidewall issue
What years did Michelin have the sidewall "zipper effect" problem? If they solved the problem, what year was it solved? Thanks-- Mick
Forum Discussion
I had XRV tires on my coach which I purchased new in 2003. At exactly 61 months I noticed all kinds of cracks on the side walls. I was traveling through Albuquerque N.M and I called Michelins because I was afraid to have a blow out, and at the time there were all kinds of what was called zipper blow outs on these XRV tires. This forum was loaded with RVers complaining about the Michelin XRV tires. Michelin company told me that the tires I had were already one month over the pro rated warranty, but they said to take the RV to a Michelin dealer there in N.M. I did and they put a little gauge to measure the length of the cracks. They said they were still not in the condemnable rage.
So when I got to Las Vegas I bought some new Toyo Tires and had them installed at Discount Tire. Five years later I bought a second set of tires even though they looked good, but everybody says tires need to be changed every five years and Toyo pro rated by the wear of the tread. I got them for about half price. But on the second set they would not install the tires at Discount center because some young man had gotten hurt real bad up in Oregon I believe he said changing those big tires. But he did say that the reason why he got hurt was because the rim was what they called a split rim and that they are very dangerous to change out the tire. It had nothing to do with the tire itself, but Country Coach since they used to install their new coaches with Toyo tires in Oregon decided to drop the Toyo tire installation.
Toyo tires are very good tires and I will only use that brand. Michelins might have corrected the zipper problem they had, but I did not like the way they handled it. They would never admit that they had a problem even though there were all kinds of blow outs.
It reminded me of when Ford had the problem with Firestone in 2001. They would not admit it either, yet several fatalities happened killing many people.
So when I got to Las Vegas I bought some new Toyo Tires and had them installed at Discount Tire. Five years later I bought a second set of tires even though they looked good, but everybody says tires need to be changed every five years and Toyo pro rated by the wear of the tread. I got them for about half price. But on the second set they would not install the tires at Discount center because some young man had gotten hurt real bad up in Oregon I believe he said changing those big tires. But he did say that the reason why he got hurt was because the rim was what they called a split rim and that they are very dangerous to change out the tire. It had nothing to do with the tire itself, but Country Coach since they used to install their new coaches with Toyo tires in Oregon decided to drop the Toyo tire installation.
Toyo tires are very good tires and I will only use that brand. Michelins might have corrected the zipper problem they had, but I did not like the way they handled it. They would never admit that they had a problem even though there were all kinds of blow outs.
It reminded me of when Ford had the problem with Firestone in 2001. They would not admit it either, yet several fatalities happened killing many people.
