Cheap tires + Speed = Blown tire

[Hammerboy]

Last year around this time I posted how everybody on the highway whether car or truck and trailer were blowing by me and I passed maybe 2 people over several hours on the road with my cruise set at 67 mph. Some here even criticized me for going 67 as to fast.

Today on the way home from a trip in Indiana I have my cruise set now at 65. Coming up from behind me on the highway and passing me is a 1/2 ton truck pulling a trailer that was 30 ish feet long and moving along at a good clip - 75 mph+. He no sooner pulls in front of me and a tire on the drivers side blows. I never seen an actual tire blow before but it was quite a site to see all kinds of **** in the air. It looked like a snow storm of white stuff which I'm not sure what it was other that maybe insulation from a laminated floor perhaps. He realized it right away and pulled off safely on the side of the road.

Any way this made me even more of a believer in maintaining a proper speed and I need to upgrade my tires soon.

Dan

[hotpepperkid]

colliehauler wrote:
Heat and speed are hard on tires not to mention the scrubbing on tight turns. Thumps up to Jayco for putting American made tires on thier trailer.

We will never know what happened, they could have hit road debris, valve stem failure, low pressure, or poorly made tires. I agree most mfg put the cheapest tires available on them.

Scrubbing if very hard on tires. They arent ment to be pulled sideways

[dodge_guy]

wilber1 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


You wouldn’t think so, but looking at my throttle position parameters on the tablet throttle opening and engine load are approx. 12% less at 75 as opposed to 65!

So you go faster with less throttle? How do you slow down?

Just trying to be funny, but your math doesn't take into consideration that the engine is taking 16% more gulps per minute. It also doesn't take into consideration that the fuel air ratio might be different to provide the needed horsepower to maintain the higher speed.

All I am trying to say is that it takes more power to push thru the air as speed increases. It takes fuel to make that horsepower and higher torque (which is just higher cylinder pressure from an increase of air and fuel).

That all makes sense, but the fact is when the engine is running at its peak torque that’s where it’s most efficient. When going slower the engine is lugging which means more throttle opening and more fuel being dumped in to try and maintain that momentum.

What matters most is that at 65-67 or so I get less mileage than at 75!

Then you would be better off using a lower gear and going slower. You would get the higher RPM you want without having to overcome the extra drag. Overcoming drag requires HP and HP costs fuel.

Not now. I would have to run slower in 3rd which I`m not going to do. My setup is very capable and very stable the way it is. not going to change a thing I`m happy with it the way it is!

[wilber1]

dodge guy wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:

dodge guy wrote:


You wouldn’t think so, but looking at my throttle position parameters on the tablet throttle opening and engine load are approx. 12% less at 75 as opposed to 65!

So you go faster with less throttle? How do you slow down?

Just trying to be funny, but your math doesn't take into consideration that the engine is taking 16% more gulps per minute. It also doesn't take into consideration that the fuel air ratio might be different to provide the needed horsepower to maintain the higher speed.

All I am trying to say is that it takes more power to push thru the air as speed increases. It takes fuel to make that horsepower and higher torque (which is just higher cylinder pressure from an increase of air and fuel).

That all makes sense, but the fact is when the engine is running at its peak torque that’s where it’s most efficient. When going slower the engine is lugging which means more throttle opening and more fuel being dumped in to try and maintain that momentum.

What matters most is that at 65-67 or so I get less mileage than at 75!

Then you would be better off using a lower gear and going slower. You would get the higher RPM you want without having to overcome the extra drag. Overcoming drag requires HP and HP costs fuel.

[Ralph_Cramden]

Lynnmor wrote:

Ralph Cramden wrote:


And because 99% of people on RV forums could never admit to doing anything whatsoever wrong themselves, nor could it ever be road debris or a curb hit, it's always a "blowout" and due to those **** Chinese ST tires.

I think tire issues are due to running over forum BS that was left on the road.

I think that a big part of the problem is those folks that blame the victim and defend the garbage.

You would LOL. I would have expected nothing different.

[Lynnmor]

Ralph Cramden wrote:


And because 99% of people on RV forums could never admit to doing anything whatsoever wrong themselves, nor could it ever be road debris or a curb hit, it's always a "blowout" and due to those **** Chinese ST tires.

I think tire issues are due to running over forum BS that was left on the road.

I think that a big part of the problem is those folks that blame the victim and defend the garbage.

[Ralph_Cramden]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

RobWNY wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Hammerboy wrote:
I don't know for a fact they were cheap Chinese tires. It was an assumption as it looked like a pretty new entry level trailer that was going way too fast in my opinion.

Reasonable assumption. Entry level trailer=entry level tires.

Jayco is using Goodyear Endurance tires. Even on their entry level trailers. My neighbor just bought a new single axle 20 foot trailer. It has the Goodyears on it. Neighbor said every Jayco he looked at had the Goodyear Endurance tires on them. Just because it's a newer entry level trailer, don't assume it has Chinese tires on it.

I have a 34' Jayco 5th.
It had GY Marathons on it from the factory.
Besides the failures Marathons were having, I could see obvious 'defects', and replaced them.

In discussing Jayco's choice of tires with their Tech folks, the rep admitted that tires were purchased from the low bidder - which met the desired specs. (Bean Counters!)

Are the "new" Carlile and GY Endurance tires an improvement? Time will tell.

Trailer tires have *ALWAYS* been a niche market, and always will be!

Chinese tire mgrs are very capable of producing quality tires. The
products meet the desired specs. Even Michelin has mfg facilities in mainland China.

YOU need to research what is -or is not- a quality tire, no matter what the country of origin..:S

~

And because 99% of people on RV forums could never admit to doing anything whatsoever wrong themselves, nor could it ever be road debris or a curb hit, it's always a "blowout" and due to those **** Chinese ST tires.

I think tire issues are due to running over forum BS that was left on the road.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

RobWNY wrote:

2oldman wrote:

Hammerboy wrote:
I don't know for a fact they were cheap Chinese tires. It was an assumption as it looked like a pretty new entry level trailer that was going way too fast in my opinion.

Reasonable assumption. Entry level trailer=entry level tires.

Jayco is using Goodyear Endurance tires. Even on their entry level trailers. My neighbor just bought a new single axle 20 foot trailer. It has the Goodyears on it. Neighbor said every Jayco he looked at had the Goodyear Endurance tires on them. Just because it's a newer entry level trailer, don't assume it has Chinese tires on it.

I have a 34' Jayco 5th.
It had GY Marathons on it from the factory.
Besides the failures Marathons were having, I could see obvious 'defects', and replaced them.

In discussing Jayco's choice of tires with their Tech folks, the rep admitted that tires were purchased from the low bidder - which met the desired specs. (Bean Counters!)

Are the "new" Carlile and GY Endurance tires an improvement? Time will tell.

Trailer tires have *ALWAYS* been a niche market, and always will be!

Chinese tire mgrs are very capable of producing quality tires. The
products meet the desired specs. Even Michelin has mfg facilities in mainland China.

YOU need to research what is -or is not- a quality tire, no matter what the country of origin..:S

~

[dodge_guy]

time2roll wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
That all makes sense, but the fact is when the engine is running at its peak torque that’s where it’s most efficient. When going slower the engine is lugging which means more throttle opening and more fuel being dumped in to try and maintain that momentum.

What matters most is that at 65-67 or so I get less mileage than at 75!

You need a lower differential gear or stay out of overdrive. This will get your RPM up and speed down to improve your efficiency even more. Not to mention safety.

Wind resistance rises exponentially with speed. Far more energy is needed at 75 vs 65 mph.

I had 3.73`s. even in 3rd the rpms were too low at 65. I had to run at least 70 to get it to perform decent, however my mileage was terrible at 6.5mpg!

[zcookiemonstar]

Well maybe we could all just take this as a reminder to check our tires. Trailer HM or TV. While we are at it how about those bearings, brakes and lug nuts!

[time2roll]

dodge guy wrote:
That all makes sense, but the fact is when the engine is running at its peak torque that’s where it’s most efficient. When going slower the engine is lugging which means more throttle opening and more fuel being dumped in to try and maintain that momentum.

What matters most is that at 65-67 or so I get less mileage than at 75!

You need a lower differential gear or stay out of overdrive. This will get your RPM up and speed down to improve your efficiency even more. Not to mention safety.

Wind resistance rises exponentially with speed. Far more energy is needed at 75 vs 65 mph.

[donkeydew]

i to drive 62-65 in the right lane but with most of the speed laws in the west 75 to 80 mph i have no problem with any body wishing to do the speed limit, it is their time and money not mine so have at it. if it becomes to much of a problem the states will follow california and set two speed limits,it has been several years and no changes so i guess all is well.states are happy,drivers are happy,only the tire police are upset.

[down_home]

Sometime between 02 and 05 we lost two Goodyear Wrangler tires on our Fifth Wheel. Well taken care of. One tire took off part of the skirt on passenger side in Ky.. One on left side let go on Interstate 69.
A Dealer poorated, should have replaced the two and the two remaining, with higher rated LT tires.. You could see tiny little breaks all around the sidewalls. Used Armor All a no no.
I worry with our tires on Mh. AAll replaced with new Michelins,on the rear but the old GY670s were as new once pulled and looked at. I could have gone many years without concern.
Michelins only rated 5 years while GY670s were rated 10 years but tend to river on steer axle.
State trucks constantly on the Interstate loaded down with blow tire bits and pieces of semis and other heavy vehicles.
They don't care despite the death toll and destruction covered by our insurance.
However our Mhs and Towables do not have sturdy wheel wells or cans, and blown tires destroy the RVs and cause them to wreck with many fatalities.
How much more would steel or other can on the four corners cost?
If I had the money I would find someone to craft some for our MH. 200lbs even would not make a difference weight wise and should would give more peace of mind.

[paulm]

Is Goodyear still making a special tire for motorhomes?

[myredracer]

Also a believer in proper treatment of ST tires - stay below their speed rating, never tow under-inflated or overloaded, stay off road shoulders and don't curb the tires. Also the more reserve load capacity you can get, the better. Anything to reduce internal heat buildup will reduce the risk of a failure.

I use the GPS as a speedometer for better accuracy. We ordered LRD tires when we bought our TT and have about 30% reserve capacity. I regularly check tire pressure and set them cold before heading out. 5 seasons and over 20K miles on our Chinese Marathons, soon to be replaced with the new Endurance. Many TT manufacturers install tires with almost no reserve load capacity.

It wasn't until we drove through Utah last summer that I saw so many TTs & FWs being towed at ridiculous speeds of 75 - 80 mph. Newer ones, old ones, short ones, looong ones. Saw an old 50/60s Airstream blow by us while we're doing 65 like we were standing still. Caught up to them at a gas station down the interstate. Sure 'nuf, bald tires...

Thing is, nobody educates a new TT buyer on how to properly treat and care for ST tires. Even a simple sticker above the tires would help.