The gods were smiling on me UPDATE

[joshuajim]

I took the tire to Discount in Cottonwood. The problem was a separation (see pics).




Now the second part of the story. I take my paperwork to the front desk to show them the road hazard payment. The guy sez, not Discount Tire! He puts my phone and name in his computer and it only brings up older tires that I bought years ago.

I call the Discount tire in CA and ask them about this. Well apparently when Discount Tire expanded into CA, there was already a registered Discount Tire. In CA, the nationwide Discount Tire goes under the Americas Tire logo. The manager appologized as I was not told that the warranty was only good in CA.

Fortunately, the CA store will refund me the prorated amount when I bring it back (it's probably 90 percent tread). So other than having to haul a dead tire to CA, it's six of one, a half dozen of another.

[joshuajim]

It wasn't a puncture. There was about 4" of a "crack" in the tread and separation at the point in the picture. It may be separated along the rest of the crack, but I didn't explore. The inside of the tire looks perfect.

[gmw_photos]

My bet is that tire was cut/damaged by running over road debris, like a piece of sharp metal.

[lbrjet]

A Maxxis failure.. Suprised no one has told you it must have been your fault.

[joshuajim]

I took the tire to Discount in Cottonwood. The problem was a separation (see pics).




Now the second part of the story. I take my paperwork to the front desk to show them the road hazard payment. The guy sez, not Discount Tire! He puts my phone and name in his computer and it only brings up older tires that I bought years ago.

I call the Discount tire in CA and ask them about this. Well apparently when Discount Tire expanded into CA, there was already a registered Discount Tire. In CA, the nationwide Discount Tire goes under the Americas Tire logo. The manager appologized as I was not told that the warranty was only good in CA.

Fortunately, the CA store will refund me the prorated amount when I bring it back (it's probably 90 percent tread). So other than having to haul a dead tire to CA, it's six of one, a half dozen of another.

[Lynnmor]

I installed the Gorilla brand metal stems on all 4 of my snowmobile trailer wheels. They look the same as the ones pictured above. After just about a week parked in temperatures sometimes below zero, all four were under 60 lbs from the required 90. I found that the stems were leaking at the wheel. It appears that they settle in and loosen over time and temperature changes. The nuts were much looser than they were at installation.

[joshuajim]

time2roll wrote:

joshuajim wrote:
they installed a pop in witbh the steel center on this spare.

You mean a high pressure pop-in like this?



Never read a post of these having issues.

That is what WAS installed in the tire that I had changed to a bolt in before I left on my trip. The image is what was leaking from the rubber gromet at the rim.

So now you have read of one failing.

[krobbe]

time2roll wrote:

joshuajim wrote:
they installed a pop in with the steel center on this spare.

You mean a high pressure pop-in like this?



Never read a post of these having issues.

The weight of the sensor was breaking these on my truck. Had to go all metal or "bolt in" as the Op called it.

[time2roll]

joshuajim wrote:
they installed a pop in with the steel center on this spare.

You mean a high pressure pop-in like this?



Never read a post of these having issues.

[joshuajim]

krobbe wrote:
If you don't have all metal valve stems, then the flat could be from the weight of the TPMS sensor cracking the rubber. I bought the TST 507 before my last long trip. Somewhere in Kansas on a Sunday the TPMS alerted me on a tire slowly losing air. Pulled into a gas station and found it was a cracked rubber valve stem near the rim. Luckily I was 10 minutes from a Costco. For a whopping $11.00 they replaced all 4 on the Burb with longer "metal" stems. (They didn't have the short ones in metal) They worked fine until I got home several thousand miles later. Next day, one of the tires is flat. Yep, another cracked valve stem. The "metal" valve stems were rubber where it attaches to the rim. Only the stem part was metal. So with a little research I bought all metal valve stems for the truck and trailer. No worries now. Linky

Per my post, all the stems were bolt in metal stems.

[krobbe]

If you don't have all metal valve stems, then the flat could be from the weight of the TPMS sensor cracking the rubber. I bought the TST 507 before my last long trip. Somewhere in Kansas on a Sunday the TPMS alerted me on a tire slowly losing air. Pulled into a gas station and found it was a cracked rubber valve stem near the rim. Luckily I was 10 minutes from a Costco. For a whopping $11.00 they replaced all 4 on the Burb with longer "metal" stems. (They didn't have the short ones in metal) They worked fine until I got home several thousand miles later. Next day, one of the tires is flat. Yep, another cracked valve stem. The "metal" valve stems were rubber where it attaches to the rim. Only the stem part was metal. So with a little research I bought all metal valve stems for the truck and trailer. No worries now. Linky

[DanNJanice]

joshuajim wrote:
I've been towing trailers for over 21 years and have never had a flat. We were planning our annual trip to Cottonwood Az and about a month ago I thought maybe I should get a TPMS. I went ahead and ordered a TST 507.

A couple of days before we left, I aired up the Maxxis to 65# as usual. The next day I went to grease the suspension and found one of the tires was quite low. Did some checking and found that the stem was leaking. The tire was originally a spare that I bought at a different time from the other 4 which all had bolt ins and they installed a pop in with the steel center on this spare. At the time I noticed it but thought it would OK. So I took it back to Discount and they installed a bolt in on Saturday, (we were leaving Sunday) figuring it would be hours for them to get to it. Got there and the place was empty with 2 technicians standing around. It took 10 minutes and no charge. OK dodged bullet one.

We head out and everything looks good. Reported presures and temps are all good. About 3 hours into the trip, we are headed up CA 95 toward I40. It's a narrow 2 lane with dirt sholders and heavy semi traffic. We get to a turn off south of Needles which is about 2 miles long and takes you over to I40 Just after I make the turn, the pressure alarm goes off.

I look at the monitor and the right rear pressure is dropping like a clock counting down. I look for a place to pull over and about 200' ahead is a very wide asphalt area. The only paved sholder on that entire road. By the time I pull in, the pressure was down to 19#.

It only took 15 or so minutes to change it out and we were back on the road. Had I not bought the TST, I would have had a blown tire on I40 with who knows how much damage.

I took a quick look at the deflated tire and could not see a nail or other damage. I'll take it to Discount in Cottonwood tomorrow for a full inspection.

Some times the gods just smile on you.

You are pretty much doomed now. Putting on the TPMS means you have doubted the gods who have smiled on you all these years. You will be lucky to have any trips without a flat now 🙂

[Alabama_Jim]

Thank God all is well. May he grant you many fun and safe trips. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[bluie5]

I too have a TST 507. Never have I had a blowout before I bought it but wanted the piece of mind as our trips were getting longer in distance and more frequent. Haven't had a blowout or anything since buying the TPMS and it's nice to not have to worry about it.