RV Tires and Tire Failures
Safety and RV Tire Failure
RV tires are more susceptible to failure from defects because they endure heavier loads, more diverse road conditions and longer periods of time out of service. Tire safety should be of the utmost importance to every RV motorist, because their tires are subjected to a greater variety of conditions than passenger vehicles. RV tires that are used at or near maximum loads during hot weather are more susceptible to explosion. While parked, RV tires sit out of service for long periods of time; how they are stored can seriously compromise their condition. These factors push the limits of RV tires, rendering them unsafe for use.
Goodyear G159 Tire Failure and Recall
Consumers have reported that the Goodyear model G159 tire in size 275/70 22.5 fails without warning, causing serious, damaging RV accidents. This popular Goodyear tire was not designed for use on recreational vehicles, but still wound up on more than a few. It features a serious design flaw that could potentially cause a catastrophic RV wreck, leading to severe injury or death. The G159 Goodyear tire has a history of de-treads and failures as a RV tire, and we urge motorists to discontinue them.
RV Tire Failure resulted in the deaths of two people, when their RV tire de-treaded or delaminated and the steel belted tread was thrown off inside the wheel well and punctured the unguarded propane fuel line causing a massive fire while driving down the highway. The elderly couple were unable to escape the burning recreational vehicle and burned to death. (Willis Law Firm Case)
Goodyear and some RV manufacturers have initiated limited recalls and tire replacement programs for the G159, but there are thousands of RVs still in use today equipped with this defective tire model. Fleetwood, Monaco and other RV manufacturers used the defective G159 Goodyear tires on several of their Class A RV models manufactured between the mid-1990s and 2004. If you drive a RV with Goodyear tires, check to see if they are of the defective G159 model.
Lawsuits have already been filed to recover damages caused by these tires, involving RV owners who suffered serious accidents and injury resulting from one or more instances of G159 tire failure. If you or someone you know have been injured in a RV wreck, RV crash or RV accident because of a defective tire, you may want to speak to a lawyer or attorney about a potential products liability lawsuit.
Recreational Vehicle Tire Safety
Please note that, unless otherwise specified, the term "RV" here applies to recreational vehicles, motor homes, travel trailers, 5th-wheel travel trailers and slide-in campers for pickup trucks. More information about your specific vehicle and its tires should be contained in the owner's manual supplied by the manufacturer. Additional information concerning your tires is available from your local tire dealer, or the tire manufacturer itself.
If you own a recreational vehicle, remembering the following important safety guidelines will help you obtain the best performance from your RV tires:
Maintain proper inflation pressures
Avoid excess loading
Inspect tires regularly
Drive with care, and at appropriate speeds
Serious injury, even death, may result from tire failure originating at tire underinflation and/or overloading of your RV. To make sure you maintain the correct inflation, check the air pressure regularly. At least once a month, before each trip, and each morning you drive during a trip should suffice.
Check your RV tiresโ inflation pressure "cold." A cold tire is one that hasnโt been driven on for at least three hours, which is the optimal time to get an accurate pressure reading. A tire that has been driven on for short distances โ even just 1 mile โ is no longer considered โcold.โ Heat generated during driving increases air pressure above the proper cold inflation pressure. This is normal, so never "bleed" air from a hot tire, since this could dangerously underinflate it.
The proper inflation pressure for your RV tires should be determined based on the actual loads on the tires, which can only be determined by physically weighing the vehicle. This changes from trip to trip, depending on how the vehicle is loaded. Once you have your RV weighed, consult a tire chart to find out the correct pressures for your tires; relevant tire charts can be obtained from your dealer, and most RV tires will have a maximum pressure explicitly stated.
The load range for a tire is also printed on its sidewall in letter code. A tire chart will explain these letter codes, and help you determine the ideal load range for your RV.
