Just last week there was a fire from a blown tire on a Class A now another one.This one was country stars Lady Antebellum's MH. Just too much of a coincidence seeing two of them go up in flames just from a blown tire in such a short span. Time to start thinking there might be something to this that should be looked into?MH's just shouldn't burst into flames from a blown tire.:R_...Garland police say the driver stopped the bus after the tire blew, and the vehicle caught fire on Interstate 30 just east of Dallas. Police confirm that nobody was injured....Good photo of the blown tire area on this news video.>http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Bus-Fire-Blocks-I-30-in-Rowlett-Police-300079591.html

It's scary when you think about it...

Great news, no one was hurt. Wonder if they had a TPMS system? If not, maybe a TPMS system would have may a difference?

Just in the last couple weeks on RV.net: 2 Class A tire fires and 1 Class A slam-dunking a guard rail driven by a mechanic while being serviced. Observation: Either these types of things have been occurring all along and because of the lack of media and technology methods, has not been made public (or national), or this is a new phenomena and something is happening.Personally, I think these type of things have been occurring since the wheel was invented, we're just now hearing about this more and more because of advances in communication technology. Still, it's scary thinking about an RV fire ... which could happen to any of us, regardless of what type of RV we own.I have personally seen 2 different RV fires (trailers), at campgrounds. It wasn't a pretty sight. I've seen 1 CLASS-C wreck on the road, and seen few photos on the internet of flipped truck campers, flipped and wrecked pop-ups. I personally know a family that wrecked an Excel 5er, it flipped because of sway (really ... yes), and several years ago a close family friend who flipped his travel trailer and absolutely turned his camper into tooth-picks. His family was save, but they never owned another camper again. So I think these things have been around all the time, it's just the ease of media which is bringing this to our attention. It just goes to show you, that CLASS-A's are not invincible or immune from the same dangers as that guy who owns the little Pop-up.

Some bus type rear engine RVs use a 100% ethylene glycol based coolant fluid which is flammable when exposed to temps about 650-750 F. Most antifreeze can be flammable if in a strong enough concentration. They cool the rear-engine bus types with non-diluted antifreeze for better 'cooling' capacity.While most concern about antifreeze is based on its extreme danger as a poison - it can also burn and ignite without an obvious ignition source. Read the full warning label on your antifreeze.I've been told it takes about 30 seconds of a tire running after a loss of pressure (not necessarily shredding) - and it WILL catch fire when the vehicle stops. The rubber is that hot. Stopping the vehicle will make any minor fire grow quickly.If the tire shredding has broken any coolant, oil or fuel lines in the rear engine area - those add to the flames.I've never seen an RV on fire alongside the highway, but have seen three 18-wheeler trailers burning - all caused by a fire from a blowout/ flat.I know two people who have lost class A diesel pushers in fires and after the fire, it was determined it was coolant leaks which cause the fire.Most people I know who own diesel pushers are aware of the danger of fire from a flat tire, and all the fluids near the rear engine. It seems to be trailer folks who don't realize the danger of fire from a flat tire/ blowout.

Good explanation. I had 2 blowouts on my MH. After seeing these I am VERY thankful both myself and my MH are still here in one piece.

'Another' Class A Fire from blown tire? | Good Sam Community

down_home
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2015
I'm still amazed that RV Manufacturers don't design a steel or other wheel well or can. Once they have the basic design all they have to do is incorporate it with design software into the next units. Not rocket science and not expensive. Two to three hundred dollars and no more worries about Customers coaches being destroyed and possibly lost lives and a positive selling point. I'm sure with more effort on an Individual's part, like me, if I were younger, cut design and install wheel wells just like we made larger cans for slicks on drag cars.
Two hundred more pounds of steel or possibly plastics would not labor a diesel.
Jagtech
Explorer
Apr 25, 2015
Ductape wrote:
Who really knows at this point if the blown tire CAUSED the fire or RESULTED from the fire. Could just as easily be brake or bearing problems.

Tire blew and debris ruptured fuel or oil line.

Ran over hard debris in the road that killed the tire and also got the fuel tank or fuel line.

Was the tire the chicken or the egg?

X2... agreed!
The tire may have failed due to a badly overheated brake or bearing. Unless one drives excessively on a flat tire, it won't get hot enough to cause a fire.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2015
Blown tires are a rather common occurrence in fires starting in tractor trailer combinations (this is ususallly the trailer) So I don't see this as all that unusual especially when fuel lines and other flammables are present and so close to the tires as is the case with most MH's

I think it's easy to make too much of this. Most fires in tractor trailer trailers while on the road are from blown tires.

It happens frequently. Unfortunately the results are tragic for the folks involved but I wouldnt say it's unusual.

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