Not one but two blowouts

[way2roll]

Heading out for a trip last week and within 10 miles had a blowout on our FW. More of an explosion actually. Mounted the spare and 5 miles later the one in front of it exploded. Had to have someone come out and mount it on the rim on the road. The dates on the tires were 09/2019 so not that old, no dry rotting and I always check pressure before heading out. No TPMS warning - just BOOM. But when I researched the brand - Ridgway Sport St - I realize should have swapped them out as soon as I bought the FW new. Affectionately referred to as tire bombs and boy were they right. I have never seen a tire explode like that. They literally blew apart and the tread peeled off like a re-tread. Thankfully there was only minimal damage to the skirting and everything functions without issue. I sprung for decent 14 steel ply tires rated for way more than the weight of my FW all around and re-started our trip the next day. I wasn't gambling anymore with the other 2, I felt that warning was enough for 4 brand new tires.

Calling the insurance company today and will see what the damage will cost to fix, but the FW is usable in the interim. Doubt there is much recourse from the tire company since they were 3 years old, but I did read about class action lawsuits on that brand. I'd say I am surprised you pay that much for a decent FW and they put horrible tires on it, but I'd be kidding myself.

I've read the posts on cheap tires before and rolled the dice. Guess my luck ran out. But both blowouts were uneventful in terms of being able to pull off the road with plenty of shoulder and level grass and no one got hurt and very minimal damage - so in some ways we got off lucky. Lesson learned.

[Lantley]

StirCrazy wrote:

Durb wrote:
I've heard that if you have a blow out, drive immediately to the tire shop and replace the other tires as they are getting ready to go too. Could be automated manufacturing consistency causing a flaw to be continually and identically duplicated. I've had light bulbs on the same line burn out within 30 seconds from each other.

You might consider replacing the spare too. Glad you didn't have too much damage.

some people just have more money than they know what to do with. if you have a blow out and your tires are all 8 years old ya its time to look at chaning them out, but at 3 years old, even 5 years if they look like there in good shape why throw the money away.

You learn to take notice of the first warning sign. If one tire fails mysteriously, for seemingly no reason you learn the others are going to fail soon as well. You learn that the brand new tires were never in good shape. Pretending that they are good simply because they are new only leads to more heartache and trouble down the road
Sure you could take the I'll wait and see approach, but the issue becomes collateral damage.
Blown tires can cause major/costly body damage to the RV.
If it wer just tires maybe you gamble. But when you consider the potential for collateral body damage, it's much easier to cut your losses and get new tires. BTDT.
It only took one of my OEM tires to fail for me to bail on the others and upgrade to Sailun's.
No tire issues since dumping the brand new OEM tires.

[Endricken]

I've had good luck/many years with Michelin XPS Ribs (on the front axle) and Bridgestone Duravis 500's on the rear axle as a so far successful experiment in "longevity/durability". But they're expensive as just over $300 each...

[theoldwizard1]

Years ago I bought a new boat and trailer. Both Carlisle tired failed within less than 2 years. I bought two bias ply tires made in Vietnam, the cheapest I could find. 15 years later, they looked like new !

[StirCrazy]

Durb wrote:
I've heard that if you have a blow out, drive immediately to the tire shop and replace the other tires as they are getting ready to go too. Could be automated manufacturing consistency causing a flaw to be continually and identically duplicated. I've had light bulbs on the same line burn out within 30 seconds from each other.

You might consider replacing the spare too. Glad you didn't have too much damage.

some people just have more money than they know what to do with. if you have a blow out and your tires are all 8 years old ya its time to look at chaning them out, but at 3 years old, even 5 years if they look like there in good shape why throw the money away.

[mooky_stinks]

Just wondering if you honestly checked tire pressure before leaving, since it was never mentioned. I’m not insinuating you didn’t. Just curious.

[way2roll]

MNRon wrote:
Lots of heavy 5er's come with inadequate low quality E rated tires. Many don't have problems; but some tire scrubbing, overloading, running fast, road hazards, sun, or just every day bumps can make them very dangerous. Some replace with LT's, many just replace with good G rated ST tires. They don't have to be expensive, Sailun makes a good G rated ST tire that I've run on two heavy 5ers very happily for tens of thousands of miles.

If you have a heavy 5er with E rated tires I'd recommend replacing them soon with G's.

Our FW isn't overly heavy but yes, I went with G rated tires.

[Likes_to_tow]

Many reputable RV manufacturers are putting the Goodyear ENDURANCE on as standard equipment now. I switched to them two years ago and have made two long trips out West with no tire issues! Yes get rid of the China Bombs!!

[MNRon]

Lots of heavy 5er's come with inadequate low quality E rated tires. Many don't have problems; but some tire scrubbing, overloading, running fast, road hazards, sun, or just every day bumps can make them very dangerous. Some replace with LT's, many just replace with good G rated ST tires. They don't have to be expensive, Sailun makes a good G rated ST tire that I've run on two heavy 5ers very happily for tens of thousands of miles.

If you have a heavy 5er with E rated tires I'd recommend replacing them soon with G's.

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
Heading out for a trip last week and within 10 miles had a blowout on our FW. More of an explosion actually. Mounted the spare and 5 miles later the one in front of it exploded. Had to have someone come out and mount it on the rim on the road. The dates on the tires were 09/2019 so not that old, no dry rotting and I always check pressure before heading out. No TPMS warning - just BOOM.

Typical for ST tires load C/D/Eyears ago when they all were made in the usa. Before US tire mfg sent them overseas we called them ST maypops.
Then ST made in china load C/D/E started showing up but with the same results...but folks named them china bombs.

I learned about ST tires when they all were made in the USA. With five trailers on the road 24/7 with 28 15"/16" tires on the ground using 2 sometimes 3 spare tires it didn't take long to realize ST weren't made for the long run. Do everything right per the tire mfg and still had sidewall zippers (blowout) and tread loss then a blow out and many run flats tire till it shreds all the tire at nite til the steel wheel ran on pavement making a beautiful nite time sparks show.

So...welcome to the ST tire bomb victims club :). Hope your on better rubber now.

[MFL]

jdc1 wrote:
Tire "scrubbing" happens too. Most people don't realize what a tight U turn does to a tire, weakening the sidewals to the point it detatches from the bead. That's how my last "blown" tire left this earth. It ripped the cap (tread section) off the tire too.

One of the reasons tire engineers say to inflate ST tandem axle trailer tires to max sidewall psi.

My FW actually came with quality (Provider) ST tires OEM. I think some are now coming with GY Endurance too, so manufacturers may be stepping up, on tires.

If OP blew first tire, may have overloaded second tire, as it gave up shortly after first?

Jerry

[Durb]

I've heard that if you have a blow out, drive immediately to the tire shop and replace the other tires as they are getting ready to go too. Could be automated manufacturing consistency causing a flaw to be continually and identically duplicated. I've had light bulbs on the same line burn out within 30 seconds from each other.

You might consider replacing the spare too. Glad you didn't have too much damage.

[Lwiddis]

Tires or road hazard? I believe tires are blamed for more than their share. Truck tires on a trailer sounds good but IMO they aren't built for the stresses that a trailer puts on them. Any studies other than "on my trailer..."?

[jdc1]

Tire "scrubbing" happens too. Most people don't realize what a tight U turn does to a tire, weakening the sidewals to the point it detatches from the bead. That's how my last "blown" tire left this earth. It ripped the cap (tread section) off the tire too.

[StirCrazy]

way2roll wrote:
Heading out for a trip last week and within 10 miles had a blowout on our FW. More of an explosion actually. Mounted the spare and 5 miles later the one in front of it exploded. Had to have someone come out and mount it on the rim on the road. The dates on the tires were 09/2019 so not that old, no dry rotting and I always check pressure before heading out. No TPMS warning - just BOOM. But when I researched the brand - Ridgway Sport St - I realize should have swapped them out as soon as I bought the FW new. Affectionately referred to as tire bombs and boy were they right.

sounds like you hit a road hazzard. I personaly hate the phrase tire bomb as tires don't just blow up, theres alwasy a reason, weather it be heat from runing them under inflated, road hazzards, age, but at 3 yers that isnt a factor here.

Steve

[agesilaus]

We moved to LT (truck tires) and have had zero problems since