Tire Blowout Questions

dieselenthusiast wrote:
What are the signs that you have lost a tire on a tandem axle? Can you feel it? I'm looking into getting the TPMS for my trailer, but was curious if you can feel it when a tire blows.

I've posted earlier in this thread that I had two flats inside of 6 months of each other. One was just that, a flat. I discovered it while making a left turn and glancing back at the TT tires while in the turn. I changed it, no big deal. That was Jan, 2013.

In June 2013 while on a return trip from Las Wages I had a blowout that caused damage. Less than 10 minutes before the blowout, I was stopped for a potty break. I did my usual routine inspections to make sure all was okay. Tires and temps (using a Fluke Ti 100 thermal imager) all in check, nothing appeared to be out of order.

To answer the question though, for me.., the indication was the big boom and the look in the mirror! I didn't feel any drag or or pull to one side or the other, nothing! Just a big boom and smoke from the tire skiding that followed. I of course slowed down to a stop to minimize any further damage from a flopping tire.

dieselenthusiast wrote:
What are the signs that you have lost a tire on a tandem axle? Can you feel it? I'm looking into getting the TPMS for my trailer, but was curious if you can feel it when a tire blows.

The only time I ever had an issue was when I blew a tire on my old trailer (it was much heavier like 11or 12 thousand) going around on off rand that was tighter than I thought. Blew one of the outside tires on my TT and had to actually get on the gas to keep it from pushing the rear out on me. Found out later that when the tire blew it took out the brake wire. All the other times it happened on the highway and it really was nothing just slowed down and pulled over

dieselenthusiast wrote:
What are the signs that you have lost a tire on a tandem axle? Can you feel it? I'm looking into getting the TPMS for my trailer, but was curious if you can feel it when a tire blows.

Lets set some terms.

Tire Failure - something goes wrong and the tire either goes out of shape or starts losing air - hopefully your pre-tow check is going to spot this.

Deflation - a tire goes down or has low pressure - you won't feel it towing. If you don't catch it - the tire may blowout, or it may catch fire.

Blowout - an explosive failure where a tire comes apart suddenly. You will likely feel it when it happens. But if you don't recognize it then - you might not feel the slight pull while towing if the other tires remain properly inflated.

It really depends upon the TV and the trailer. How close your are to the max limits of each weight wise, how good your anti-sway hitch is, how many axles you have on the trailer. Obviously it will harder to feel on a three axle trailer than a two axle trailer.

Another indication can be stuff 'streaming' from the trailer.

An explosive blowout can easily damage the bottom of the trailer, ripping out the underbelly and letting the insulation stream out. Those trailers with decorative plastic 'fender's around the wheels can have those torn off.

$20-25,000 damage to a Class A DP from an explosive blowout of an inside dual tire is all to common.

Saw a toy hauler once where a blowout opened up the side of the rig - and they noticed when they saw bedding start streaming out the side of the rig in the rear view mirrors.

The purpose of a pre-tow check is to make sure the tires are properly inflated, to feel each tire and see if there are bumps, out-of-round, or non-flat across tread - etc. Those are warning signs of problems. Check the tread to see if the wear is not even - another warning sign.

Of course you've already made sure your trailer is not overloaded, the load is balanced, and you drive within the speed ratings of the tires.

A TPMS is a warning system of low pressure, high pressure, high heat - etc. A TPMS will not prevent problems - but hopefully warn you of a problem so you can get stopped in a safe place.

I also recommend a check at each stop - feel each tire, use an infrared thermometer to check heat on the sidewalls and tread (the TPMS temp might not catch some issue). Check the temps on the hubs and brakes.

Now about blowouts, again there are different types.

Road Hazard - I don't care what type of tire you have. If the vehicle in front of you drops a piece of metal and your truck runs over it, the first tire on that side of the trailer might be cut wide open, or the second tire if the first tire hits the metal first.

This can also be a pot hole, running onto the shoulder, rock, etc.

Those blowouts can be explosive and damaging. And there is nothing you can do to prevent them except avoiding road hazards.

Tire failure blowout - 'Cheap China Bombs' do not fail suddenly without warning. Tires take time to weaken, break belts, separate belts, etc. Proper pre-tow checks, every stop checks and a TPMS will give you sufficient warning of a problem almost always in time to avoid an explosive failure. But you have to be able to recognize warning signs and take action immediately - not put it off until later.

You are still out the cost of a replacement tire - and there might not be many options to purchase depending upon where you are. Your trip has been interrupted for hours due to the tire problem.

But your rig and family are safe and not damaged.

--------------------

I was driving a small Subaru on a 300 mile trips on the interstate once (summer 1995). There was a light vibration. It got worse the farther I traveled. I stopped twice to check the tires. I saw nothing wrong and the tire pressure was fine. I did notice one tire felt slightly warmer and seemed to have a hump on the outside part of the tread.

Traveling at 70 mph, the car suddenly jumped into the air, spun completely around and shot off the side of the highway, through the ditch, over a 4 foot high cable catch fence, across a service road with two way traffic between a bobtail coming one way and a sedan coming the other way, over a bar ditch and into an apartment parking lot.

The impacts broke both tie-rods. The left rear tire had lost the entire tread and took about 1/2 of the fender with it - but was still full inflated.

I have no idea why the car didn't hit anything solid, didn't flip, didn't throw me out. All I can think of is the Lord didn't want to take me home that day.

But I got real serious about tires after that.

I have several warnings - vibration, heat, shape - and didn't know how to recognize them.

I do now.

Cyclops69 wrote:
Thanks for the info JBARCA I will defy do my research on the side wall flex. I have the LTX on my 1/2 ton suburban and they are doing well. I may think about going with a Michelin xps rib since reading your post seems a better tire for towing.

Thanks again

Good for you and glad it helped. Just wanted to point out the difference in application verses the LTX.

JIMNLIN wrote:
Good tire and one that Michelin has recommended for use in a RV and commercial trailer position. The only other LT tire of all their lines and other brands were the BFG Commercials and the Uniroyal HD-H. These tires were recommended to me by their tech folks when asking which tire they recommend for a multi axle trailer with 5.2k and 6k axles. The LTX line was never recommended for a trailer position.

Give them a 1-800 but do not ask for a direct replacement for a ST -16 E tire. They can't recommend their LT E in this case as the LT E has 3042 lbs capacity vs the ST E at 3500 lbs. Its a liability issue for them.

Its not necessary for a tire mfg to advertise their LT or a P for using on a trailer. Hell, before the ST tire hit the streets all we had were P and LT types for our trailers.
In fact Michelin XPS Rib adds used to read for commercial trailer service. Michelin says they dropped the trailer part in their adds as some owners would not want to put a recommended trailer tire on their pickups.
Always contact the tire dealer or tire mfg as to which line of their LT tires they recommend for using on a trailer. Some tread type make better free rolling tires in a trailer position than other tread patterns.

Thank you. The statement in blue is a key understanding of the question.

You cannot/should not/may not pending the situation be able to have an exact size to size change between ST and LT. The question is what type of tire does the manufacture recommend can be used on a trailer application. Then the load rating has to fit. And yes, it often means in some cases you have to upsize the LT's, change wheels and fender clearances to fit the load rating.

Good point! It is how you ask the question to the answer you are getting.

djgarcia wrote:
When ever I have experienced a flat on the trailer, it feels like taking your foot off the gas pedal or as if you just ran into to a head wind unexpectedly. I have never experienced a sense of loosing control, you just slow down and pull off the highway. Then you call Good Sam to put on your spare:)

Ha ha, yeah, I have Good Sam Roadside Assistance but never use it, but I'm not complaining! I've towed a lot of miles with a lot of trailers and haven't had a blowout. I saw a horse trailer pass me the other day and it had the wheel (with blown tire) scrapping on the ground and the guy still passed me doing 70 mph. Either he had no clue he had lost a tire or he didn't have a spare so he just kept on trucking. I just don't want to be that guy and have no clue!

What are the signs that you have lost a tire on a tandem axle? Can you feel it? I'm looking into getting the TPMS for my trailer, but was curious if you can feel it when a tire blows.

When ever I have experienced a flat on the trailer, it feels like taking your foot off the gas pedal or as if you just ran into to a head wind unexpectedly. I have never experienced a sense of loosing control, you just slow down and pull off the highway. Then you call Good Sam to put on your spare:)

What are the signs that you have lost a tire on a tandem axle? Can you feel it? I'm looking into getting the TPMS for my trailer, but was curious if you can feel it when a tire blows.

Cyclops69 wrote:
Thanks for the info JBARCA I will defy do my research on the side wall flex. I have the LTX on my 1/2 ton suburban and they are doing well. I may think about going with a Michelin xps rib since reading your post seems a better tire for towing.

Thanks again

Good tire and one that Michelin has recommended for use in a RV and commercial trailer position. The only other LT tire of all their lines and other brands were the BFG Commercials and the Uniroyal HD-H. These tires were recommended to me by their tech folks when asking which tire they recommend for a multi axle trailer with 5.2k and 6k axles. The LTX line was never recommended for a trailer position.

Give them a 1-800 but do not ask for a direct replacement for a ST -16 E tire. They can't recommend their LT E in this case as the LT E has 3042 lbs capacity vs the ST E at 3500 lbs. Its a liability issue for them.

Its not necessary for a tire mfg to advertise their LT or a P for using on a trailer. Hell, before the ST tire hit the streets all we had were P and LT types for our trailers.
In fact Michelin XPS Rib adds used to read for commercial trailer service. Michelin says they dropped the trailer part in their adds as some owners would not want to put a recommended trailer tire on their pickups.
Always contact the tire dealer or tire mfg as to which line of their LT tires they recommend for using on a trailer. Some tread type make better free rolling tires in a trailer position than other tread patterns.

Thanks for the info JBARCA I will defy do my research on the side wall flex. I have the LTX on my 1/2 ton suburban and they are doing well. I may think about going with a Michelin xps rib since reading your post seems a better tire for towing.

Thanks again