"Tire shield" for protecting dual wheels from stone damage?

> Do the math

Good analysis!

> Super singles

I read up on these a bit. Sounds like this is more of an option for fleet operations. The engineering implications, especially for drive wheels, are large. Big changes in geometry.

> Tractor trailers

Two tire techs told me, when duals on dump trucks and road tractors are operated in an environment with large loose stones this problem occurs. When they are not, it doesn't.

bshpilot wrote:
why not run "super singles" ? how come tractor (trailers) don't have this problem?

Good thought!

This gets around a rock wedged between the duals problem. However, this might require carrying two different size spares if the front wheel wells don't allow enough clearance for super singles in the front.

Duals can offer some safety or reliability redundancy in the rear that singles in the rear can't ... even if loaded heavily.

I once drove our Class C very slowly for about five miles with a flat outside rear dual. Talk about a squishy feeling on the good grossly over-loaded Michelin inside dual tire ... but that same tire went on for tens of thousands of additional miles with no problems. Way to go Michelin!

However our Class C is a small one (24 foot), so each Load Range E rear tire is a ways from being fully loaded. I was able to get to a repair facility so I didn't have to use road service or try and change the tire myself. I was also driving those five miles with that blown out rear tire on a highway - not offroad over rocks.

Also, a few years ago I drove our Class C on an extremely rocky 4X4 road in Death Valley. I drove very slowly so as to be able to pick our tire paths carefully, so it can be done ... at least if you're careful enough or lucky enough not to wedge a rock in between the duals.

why not run "super singles" ? how come tractor (trailers) don't have this problem?

JaxDad wrote:
Do the math folks. I'm sure lots of folks have done the 4 corner weight thing.

What do you think the forces involved would be in preventing a rock (that will not crumble under load) from going up between the duals would be?

It's got to be strong enough to cause an 11,000 (or more) pound vehicle to ride up over it instead of just pushing up between the tires.

Never going to happen.

Agreed, in addition to the lack of airflow mentioned above, which creates a bigger blowout risk anyway.

Do the math folks. I'm sure lots of folks have done the 4 corner weight thing.

What do you think the forces involved would be in preventing a rock (that will not crumble under load) from going up between the duals would be?

It's got to be strong enough to cause an 11,000 (or more) pound vehicle to ride up over it instead of just pushing up between the tires.

Never going to happen.

> I know it happens but I don't think it happens often enough to make for a viable product offering

Agree, although apparently it is a not uncommon problem on quarry hauling trucks, etc. It just depends on the environment in which you drive.

No incentive for tire companies to sell such a product. It's just an unusual niche. Even tire valve extenders, which arguably affect every user of duals, are an underserved market.

> Foam ring

Yes I agree. Might try this at some point

> Spacer

Seems like that would be a significant change to lug stud lengths and overall wheel geometry.

pnichols wrote:
I wonder why a foam ring (of very high quality durable and stiff foam material) of a little less diameter than the tires and a little greater diameter than the rims couldn't merely be installed, after removing the outer tire, and then compressed into place "forever" as you reinstall the outer tire and tighten the lug nuts?

This ring would of course flex all the time with the sidewalls while at the same time nearly 100% prevent the wedging of rocks in between the tires.

A possible reason why it would not work well is heat dissipation. I don't know enough about the specifics of tire technology to know how much of an issue that would be. Presumably for many class C motorhomes where the tires are near their maximum rated load it's more of a concern than with a less heavily loaded vehicles.

One simple way to reduce the likelihood of damage from stones wedged between the dualies is to install a spacer to increase the gap between them.

I know it happens but I don't think it happens often enough to make for a viable product offering. That maybe why you're not seeing anything offered.

I've used DRW as tow vehicles and occasional daily driver for over 20 years with at least 150000 miles of travel and have only had one rock caused flat but the rock hit on the sidewall of the outside tire.

I wonder why a foam ring (of very high quality durable and stiff foam material) of a little less diameter than the tires and a little greater diameter than the rims couldn't merely be installed, after removing the outer tire, and then compressed into place "forever" as you reinstall the outer tire and tighten the lug nuts?

This ring would of course flex all the time with the sidewalls while at the same time nearly 100% prevent the wedging of rocks in between the tires.