Blow Out What To Expect

Doran Monators saved us and rig don't leave home without them

We lost a tag axle tire. I heard a noise as the tread tore up the rear quarter panel and the exhaust. Stopped right away. I had checked the pressure just before we hit the road. When the tire shop pulled off the tire I checked the pressure again and it was correct. Just the tread had departed. The tire was 7 years old.

So what have we learned today kids?

Yes most likely you will hear and feel a blowout.

No you won't know a slow leaker has gone till someone tells you or at your next stop.

Yes you can thump the tires to check inflation.

No you won't know you picked up a piece of debris or a nail until someone tells you or at your next stop.

Yes it is possible to lose the entire wheel and not even feel it. Don't ask how I know.

Yes there is a way to greatly reduce the chances of any of the above happening. It's called a TPMS. Nothing it's foolproof, but it is the best $200 to $300 you will ever spend.

In 2012 we lost 3 tires on the road, one on I-81 in WVA and 2 along I-10, one in MS and one in FL. I felt a change in the ride each time and thankfully got off the road before they blew. Each had actually shredded but caused no damage. In each case we were glad we had Roadside Assistance. It may seem like an unnecessary expense until you need them and in some areas it can be very difficult finding the proper replacement tires for an RV.

down home wrote:
We lost a right rear axle tire, on our Fifth Wheel back when. It tore up the plastic skirting and left big pieces of the tread. We heard it but not like you would a 22.5 in tire, on our MHs. Control wasn't a problem as the front wheel and tire took the weight without notice. The blown out tire might have taken the front one but it didn't.
the tires were not old, at all. They were a couple of years. I had noticed a lot of checking or little breaks around the tire but Goodyear said they were fine. Sure soaked up a lot of Armor all, I don't use any more.
Lots, of stories, here and elsewhere, of blown tires taking out a lot, of the underbelly, tanks, lines, etc on some TT and Fifth Wheels. They really should put in a wheel well perhaps of quarter inch steel. imo

One of my plastic wheel wells was half gone from a previous owner's blowouts. I replaced the plastic wheel well with .125" AR400 plate steel. It is the stuff they use for garbage truck compaction hoppers, abrasive resistant and hardened.

We lost a right rear axle tire, on our Fifth Wheel back when. It tore up the plastic skirting and left big pieces of the tread. We heard it but not like you would a 22.5 in tire, on our MHs. Control wasn't a problem as the front wheel and tire took the weight without notice. The blown out tire might have taken the front one but it didn't.
the tires were not old, at all. They were a couple of years. I had noticed a lot of checking or little breaks around the tire but Goodyear said they were fine. Sure soaked up a lot of Armor all, I don't use any more.
Lots, of stories, here and elsewhere, of blown tires taking out a lot, of the underbelly, tanks, lines, etc on some TT and Fifth Wheels. They really should put in a wheel well perhaps of quarter inch steel. imo

Blow outs:

Well, IMHO, if it is indeed a blowout, you will know it. I have had a few over the years and in every case it is a sudden thing accompanied with a shotgun in the ear sound, as previously mentioned.

If a tire went flat and you didn't notice, almost guaranteed it wasn't a blowout.

I had one in 2003 that I never felt or noticed. Couldn't have been a blowout but rather a leak until it went flat and then proceeded to come apart and create all kinds of havoc.

In my case I totaled my Prowler TT after spending upteen dollars fixing it up nicely. Yep, wrote it off on its maiden voyage...:(

Had one a couple years ago coming from Alberta to the BC coast. Coming down the BC Coquiahalla highway near Merritt and all of a sudden BOOM!, like someone fired off a shotgun in my ear. Darned near soiled my upholstery over that one!!
In the mirrors and see my drivers side rear tire on my FULLY loaded flatdeck going all over the place.

Yeah, if it is a blowout, you'll know it. Anything else is a slow flat that goes un-noticed.

I've had blowouts and they were so bad I thought the trailer had become unhitched from the truck. I've had blowouts where the entire fender well, electrical and plumbing were ripped out of the trailer.

So for a suggestion, please check out a tire pressure monitoring system. I use one now, and hope that it will at least give me a minute or two of notice that my tire is going to fail.

TST Monitor
Tire Minder System

Blow outs:(
There are various possible reactions you will feel or notice when you have a tire blow:
1. you might feel like you just ran into a small gust of wind head on which feels like you are slowing down for a second but nothing dangerious.
2. You might feel a little side to side wiggle from your trailer but it is not a reaction where you feel like the trailer is going out of control.
3. When you look in your side mirror you will see white smoke and possibly pieces of rubber flying around.
4. While driving, II look in my side mirrors about every 10 min. of so just to visual check the tires.
5. To minimize damage to your RV or rims, try to pull over as soon as safely possible.
6. At every rest stop, I use my little trucker aluminum bat and thump each tire listening to make sure the sound is about all the same. I then put my hand on each axle hub to check the tempture for heat.
7. I have never felt like the RV (5th. wheel) was ever going out of control.
8. Finally, I make sure my GS Road Side Service is on my speed dial:):):)

Hi,

I have had two blowouts on the dual rear wheels of my motorhome. Yes I did hear them, but no input to the steering wheel. They did tear up the sheet metal covering the dual wheel wells. I was able to make the repairs myself with some sheet metal.

Just had to stop, change the tire, and back on my way. Yes I did have the tools to change the tire. It is pretty easy.

Fred.