Motor Home Tire Failures

[bluwtr49]

One of the more contentious threads on the forum are various topics revolving around Motorhome tires and they have gotten me wondering if perhaps a little survey might bring useful data to light.

I would like to ask anyone who has experienced blow out or tire failure requiring a replacement on a motor home tire to share with us some info on:

1) Make, Model and size of the tire
2) Tire location and age
3) Estimated cause of the failure (this might be tough)

I would also like to request that responses be limited to your own or a close acquaintance where you have knowledge of the facts. Also, lets keep the responses limited to class A motor homes only.

Thanks in advance and hopefully we will get some useful info that may help future purchases.

[C-Leigh_Racing]

Has been stated on the RV sites & the web,
under inflation & the tire running hot,
air pockets in the casings during tire MFGing,
oils leaching out of the rubber over time,
and just plain ol road hazzards on these wonderful maintained highways across the USA.

Would have to say, from all I've read about, high tire heat & the tire coming apart from that for around 80% of the failures.
How many of you that have had blowouts, had one during raining.
Neil

[10forty2]

Blowout #1 (October 2014)
1) Make, Model and size of the tire
Older Goodyear G??? (Can't remember model but it's been discontinued) 245/70R-19.5.
2) Tire location and age
Driver's side inside rear dually. 10 years old
3) Estimated cause of the failure (this might be tough)
Old tire on coach when purchased

Blowout #2 (December 2014)
1) Make, Model and size of the tire
Goodyear G647 245/70R-19.5
2) Tire location and age
Driver's side outside rear dually. Date code 2214..less than 500 miles on it.
3) Estimated cause of the failure (this might be tough)
Defective tire. In claims process now.

First blowout occurred on the return trip home after an otherwise uneventful journey. Second blowout (actually it was tread separation) was on the way to our destination. All tires had been replaced following the first blowout.

[Wrong_Lane]

One failure

Goodyear G670 19.5 6 years old. Inside left duel.

Cause, sidewall failure, tire tech said likely the failure was the result of under inflation due to a faulty valve stem. No tire monitor system and tire inflation was good prior to starting out that day.

It was an original equipment tire

Good Sam to the rescue. On the road again in under three hours which I considered acceptable for road side service in Northern Maine

[janstey58]

Too many variables! Just my .02

[Executive45]

Replaced all my tires in 2011. Tire date 1911 in Texas. Goodyear G670, 295/80/22.5.

The driver's side outside rear dual blew last August in Georgia. Tire was inflated properly and weight was not a factor. Appeared I ran over something as the blowout was right in the middle of the tread. CoachNet responded and replaced the tire with a Goodyear G670 date code 2614. Extended warranty paid for the cost of replacement. Some minor wiring damage to one of the dock lights. Spent the time waiting for the tow service using rubbing compound and wax to clean up the exterior from the rubber.....Dennis

[2gypsies1]

New motorhome with Michelins. Drove six years and replaced all tires with Michelins. Took a trip to Alaska and four years later, no problems. 65,000 carefree miles.

[lunch_surfer]

I had 1 and it was the tire, even Michelin rep agreed. I am not really blaming the tire, but was no cause for mine, just thankful it did not happen at 65mph.

[rgatijnet1]

Daveinet wrote:
I'm really not sure what this survey accomplishes. For a survey to any remote scientifically valid conclusion, one must survey total miles driven on every brand of tire being considered. In other words, the only valid statistic would be a failure per mile for X brand of tire. ANY OTHER CONCLUSION IS COMPLETELY INVALID. If 80% of OEM tires are of one particular brand, the reported failures will be disproportional for that brand. You need to have a separate survey for everyone who has not had a blowout to report the particular brand and how many blowout free miles they have driven.

From previous posts about tires don't forget to ask whether the driver checks his tire pressure by hitting them all with a bat, or he waits until he gets a warning from his TPMS and then inflates the offending tire at the next stop, which may be many miles down the road. :B

[Daveinet]

I'm really not sure what this survey accomplishes. For a survey to any remote scientifically valid conclusion, one must survey total miles driven on every brand of tire being considered. In other words, the only valid statistic would be a failure per mile for X brand of tire. ANY OTHER CONCLUSION IS COMPLETELY INVALID. If 80% of OEM tires are of one particular brand, the reported failures will be disproportional for that brand. You need to have a separate survey for everyone who has not had a blowout to report the particular brand and how many blowout free miles they have driven.

[darsben]

bluwtr49 wrote:
Thanks for the replies but I would appreciate it the the narrative could be kept to a minimum with the focus on the info requested.

Not that they are not interesting it just make digging the pertainant info out a bit more difficult.

What I'm hoping to achieve is a resource for tire buyers to look at factual info on which brands have documented failures.

Just listing bands with failures is counter productive unless the HX of the tire, Weight on axle is known. Why bame a good tire for a different defect.

I have had 4 blowouts over the last ten years none of which I would attribute to the tire

[bluwtr49]

Thanks for the replies but I would appreciate it the the narrative could be kept to a minimum with the focus on the info requested.

Not that they are not interesting it just make digging the pertainant info out a bit more difficult.

What I'm hoping to achieve is a resource for tire buyers to look at factual info on which brands have documented failures.

[Tom_N]

Another bit of info that would be very helpful is to state if you bought the tire new or it came on a used motorhome that you purchased.

From what I have read many tire failures were tires that came on a used motorhome. My contention is that most motorhomers neglect their tires.

Walk around used motorhomes at a dealer and you'll see many tires that are low on air.

[kalynzoo]

Two blowouts, over 24 years ago, on the Holiday Rambler, Goodyear 19.5 tires. The first blowout, actually a complete tread separation, was on an outside duel, I was able to limp about 20 miles into town. The tires were 8 years old at the time but they had good tread and I was young and inexperienced. The second blowout was on the way home from the same vacation, just outside of Las Vegas, when the inside duel on the same side blew, taking out some skirting and a few electrical connections. The cause was probably associated with excessive strain from the earlier 20 mile drive. I now replace my tires, even in excellent condition, every 6 years. Yes, very expensive, but I consider it the cost of maintenance.

[sch911]

1 Blowout GoodYear G670 19.5" replaced with a new set of Hankook AH11's....