Blowout Results

[JumboJet]

Friends of mine had a blowout on their 2014 Tiffin Zephyr July 12 on I-10 near Tallahassee, FL. The MH ended up in a ravine destroyed. They both survived and are now out of the ICU. One of their small dogs died later at a vet clinic.

Be careful out there and wear those seat belts!

[Blaster_Man]

I'd like to know the cause of the blow out. Based on the year of the coach, the tire should not have been old. What about tire pressure, inflation and speed of the coach?

To me, that video by Michelin makes no sense. With the good power steering in today's vehicles, you can control the vehicle without contributing to a more serious accident by going faster. I wonder if the host has ever had a real blow out and not a staged blow out. We had a RF tire blow last May. I tapped off the cruise and coasted to the side of the interstate. We were cruising at 60 and the last thing I wanted was more speed.

[Dennis_M_M]

Feel sorry for them, but the rest of us need to watch this video regularly so it becomes instinctive! A steer tire failure does not have to result in an accident!

Michelin Blow-Out Video

[GMandJM]

We could learn alot from horrible their experience, if they're willing/able.

[stugpanzer]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
At the risk of sounding insensitive, would the driver be the kind of person that would answer a few pointed questions? Did a front tire fail? In order to learn something that would help save me from losing control of my motorhome in the event of a blown tire, I would like to know exactly how he reacted the instant he knew the tire failed.
The photos indicated that the driver did not perform any of the first 3 steps in the procedure that has been discussed on these forums many times. It sure makes me curious.
Am I the only one who would love to hear answers to these questions from someone who survived this type of accident?

Well, at least we know this one was not caused by a tire older than 5 years.

Agreed I would like to know as well. Also, did they have a steering stabilizer? I have a SteerSafe and if they had one I would be interested in knowing if they had something like that.

How fast were they traveling? We have had conversations on these forums about 'proper' speeds to go and I, for one, never exceed 60mph and I am curious on the speed they were going when this happened.

Is this the report about the accident? LINK

If so, then it was a front tire blow-out.

[Cloud_Dancer]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, would the driver be the kind of person that would answer a few pointed questions? Did a front tire fail? In order to learn something that would help save me from losing control of my motorhome in the event of a blown tire, I would like to know exactly how he reacted the instant he knew the tire failed.
The photos indicated that the driver did not perform any of the first 3 steps in the procedure that has been discussed on these forums many times. It sure makes me curious.
Am I the only one who would love to hear answers to these questions from someone who survived this type of accident?

Well, at least we know this one was not caused by a tire older than 5 years.

[Ivylog]

OP, are these pictures after it was put back on it's wheels? It bothers me that I do not see any steel tubing sticking out from the walls. It looks more like the remains of a TT than a MH from the floor up.

[Pangaea_Ron]

sdianel wrote:
OMG! Doesn't Tiffin put Michelins on their DP's? Not blaming the tire brand, we just put Michelins on our DP. Just curious.

It must have been terrifying, I'm glad that they survived.

You should have seen the sidewall checking on my 22.5 Michelin XRV tires before I replaced them after 7 years and 34,000 miles.

[mabynack]

I've had six blowouts - two on my last trip. On two occasions the damages were in excess of $1500. I've seen where a couple of tire manufacturers are working on an airless tire. I'm hoping that they can perfect it and offer it for RVs.

[et2]

rjxj wrote:
Good to hear that they are ok. I cant imagine the horror as it happened. Millions of miles are safely traveled in motor homes each year but I'll take my chances in one of the big 3 engineered vehicles and not something that disintegrates and smears down the side of the road.

Then I suppose you'll never fly either. Just hooking up your trailer to your truck puts you or other drivers on the road in danger. What happens if your trailer comes off and kills some other persons family... or yours? I'm not understanding the logic behind it.

[GMandJM]

sdianel wrote:
OMG! Doesn't Tiffin put Michelins on their DP's? Not blaming the tire brand, we just put Michelins on our DP. Just curious.

Yes

[GMandJM]

Wow...that's scary! Please wish your friends a full and speedy recovery from us.

Any word on what caused the blow out?

Do you know if they had a TMPS and/or Tyrons?

Sorry they lost their pet. How sad.

-J and G

[RV_daytrader]

Glad they are OK....wow, half million $$$ coach!

[sdianel_-acct_c]

OMG! Doesn't Tiffin put Michelins on their DP's? Not blaming the tire brand, we just put Michelins on our DP. Just curious.

[Bruce_Brown]

Ouch! I'm glad they survived, I'm sorry for the loss of their dog. This looks bad (obviously). Any idea on the cause of the tire failure yet?

Without being insensitive to the matter at hand, I truly wonder if Comfort Drive would have helped. I cannot overstate how well this works and how much it eliminates wheel upsets.

I hope to never find out.

[mike_brez]

et2 wrote:
Yikes! They come apart pretty easy don't they. Glad they made it. Too bad on the dog. We're they wearing seat belts? If so did they remain in the seats?

Not all of them.