My first tire blow-out found me

[gitane59]

Northbound on I75 just outside Tifton Ga we had a rear curbside trailer tire detonated with a load bang and lot's of rubber flying out behind our trailer. The H-rated Sumitomo 17.5 tires were just over 6 years old and had over 30K miles on them and I was planning on replacing them at the end of this season. Guess I waited just a little too long. It simply looked like the tread peeled off the tire carcass and the air escaped with a bang after that. I had validated air pressure at 105 PSI and visually inspected all tires just that morning. I think I trusted this type of tire just a bit too much.
A Georgia Champ roadside technician happened upon me about 15min later and assisted me to install the spare and I was able to get 4 comparable Falken RI-151 tires ordered and installed the next day in Tifton.
I was very fortunate to only have a damaged J-panel and a destroyed plastic tire fender out of the deal. My hydraulic levelling jack fluid lines were only 8 inches from the failed tire and my hydraulic brake flex line was about 10 inches from the exploding tire and neither received any damaged.

[gitane59]

allen8106 wrote:
I just don't understand all these blow outs. I've been towing campers off and on for over 30 years and have never had a blow out.

Our current 5ver has nearly 23,000 miles on it with 18 trips at 500-2300 miles without a single blow out. I know that's not a lot of miles in some circles. The OEM tires were U.S. made Marathons and we are currently running Maxxis. Never a blow out, I just don't get it.

After my blow-out a fellow camper start chatting with me about my blow-out.
He had a 18 month old triple axle tow-hauler and had suffered 6 blow-out's in the first 12 month's of ownership all using Marathon's. So you should consider yourself very lucky.

Regarding my 17.5 tire blow-out I to am surprised at it's failure. Using the manufacturer's inflation chart I always ran them at 105PSI which provided 4225lb per tire capacity which is well above the actual weight on the 8K lb axle's. The maximum amount of weight on the axles will be around 13500lb's well below the 16000lb plus capacity

[JIMNLIN]

The OP has traveled more miles than you before he had his first blowout after all.

He has a '10 trailer and says he has pulled it around 23000 miles = around 2800 miles a year.
Hell no wonder he hasn't had any tire issues.

I would bet the Sumitomo tire was a fluke. Check out nuwaowners.org and other heavy rv trailer owners websites would be a good place to find out which brand 16" and 17.5" load G tires are working the best.

[fj12ryder]

allen8106 wrote:
I just don't understand all these blow outs. I've been towing campers off and on for over 30 years and have never had a blow out.

Our current 5ver has nearly 23,000 miles on it with 18 trips at 500-2300 miles without a single blow out. I know that's not a lot of miles in some circles. The OEM tires were U.S. made Marathons and we are currently running Maxxis. Never a blow out, I just don't get it.

Well people rarely start a thread by stating they haven't had a blowout. So what you're reading are people that have had blowouts. Many people have them, and many people don't. You're not the exception, more likely the norm.

The OP has traveled more miles than you before he had his first blowout after all.

[allen8106]

I just don't understand all these blow outs. I've been towing campers off and on for over 30 years and have never had a blow out.

Our current 5ver has nearly 23,000 miles on it with 18 trips at 500-2300 miles without a single blow out. I know that's not a lot of miles in some circles. The OEM tires were U.S. made Marathons and we are currently running Maxxis. Never a blow out, I just don't get it.

[pcm1959]

Interesting to here of this - especially the guy with the TS fiver. Its rare to hear of issues with the 17.5 tires.

[old_guy]

only one? every time DW and I went camping we had a blow out. even the new tires we replaced blew out. I went to a tire store and told a friend of mine enough already. he put larger wheels and tires on the TT and I haven't had a blow out since

[lee_worsdell]

I had a blow out drivers side on i79 south of erie. No damage also but had to change it being one ft of the interstate. Took about an hour had to wait for traffic to past each time . Went and bought sailun also great so far its been a year with about 6000 miles on them. heading to Bristol next week so touch wood for another good trip with them.

[md_procouple]

Hey Oldbird1965, We have had great results with our Sailun's, on our second set the first lasting 6 yrs. I think you will be surprised on how much use you get from them. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!

[oldbird1965]

I had 12 blow outs in nine years on my Travel Supreme even after switching to 17.5's H rated. Even put mor/ryde IS on, I don't know why. Bought Sailuns and will see how they do.

[Jim2007]

Hi..I have had two blow out. Both were a several years ago and neither one caused damage to the 5th wheel ... just lucky . .. jim2007

[ScottG]

Glad the damage wasn't worse.
I've had two blow outs. The first did no damage at all and the second only took out the plastic fender thingy.
I consider myself pretty lucky.