Truck tires

[GTO66]

I've had very bad luck with tires on my dually due to separation issues. I'm only getting 15k to 20k before this happens and 3.5 to 4 years. I only have the camper on the truck about 3500 miles a year, and the truck is always in the garage if the camper is off which is most of the time. The camper is a 2000 alpenlite 1150 limited, and weight is around 4800 lbs ready to travel. Sticker on the camper states 3600 lbs. I've owned this camper since 2004 and had the rig on the scales back then. I remembered I was under the capacity then however I'm unable to locate the form now. I plan to have it on the scales on my next trip, but thats not till august. The tires have all been E rated and are run at the 80 psi cold while carrying the camper monitored with a TSP system. The first set were BFG commercial. The second goodyear wrangler. I have a lesser name brand on the front WEstlake that are 5 years old and appear to be wearing well, they were the only one available at the time I had a failure while traveling. Wondering if others have had issue and what brand seems to be working for others.......Thanks

[vern_kelly]

Weight of the camper should not be an issue on the dually truck. Each E rated tire at 80 lbs cold should handle over 3000 pounds each for 12K. Hence the GVWR of the dually truck. Weighing the truck empty and with the camper loaded for each axel is important. Highly recommend!

On my setup with my lance 10 ft. 95% is on the rear axel and only a measly 5% on the front. I had separation problems for several years (fortunately never blew one always a rear tire) and finally found my air pressure gauge was off reading high by 4 LBS. Replaced that and bought a good one. Since then no problems. I have single rear wheel drive which means my margin is small. Potholes, speed, and ambient air temperature play a big part on tire temperature as well. Always experienced the separation on a hot afternoon or rough pavement (which is the norm in Cali) The shock of hitting potholes can easily cause separation when loaded. I drive at about 60 mph and have been running Hankook Dynapro HTs for the last 7 years.

Just replaced two front after 6.5 years due to cracking on the sidewalls. In a sunny hot environment like Florida and the southwest the sun does take a toll. Garaging should help that though. Rear axel weight empty on my dodge 2500 is only2540 and with my camper is 5840. obviously I run 80 in the rear but only 50 in the front when loaded. Air bags level the Truck with camper and I have auxiliary load leaf springs well just touching the stop. Handles well.

Tires are the weak link for us truck camper people! Use a couple different air guages to verify.

[Grit_dog]

Bedlam wrote:
The tread separation may have been due to lateral forces put on steer tires verses what happens in the rear.

I would be wary of using spacers on a heavily loaded DRW since it will add leverage to the wheel studs.

^This.
And I can’t imagine why it’s even a consideration for an OE size wheel and tire setup.

[Bedlam]

The tread separation may have been due to lateral forces put on steer tires verses what happens in the rear.

I would be wary of using spacers on a heavily loaded DRW since it will add leverage to the wheel studs.

[Grit_dog]

To everyone….
That’s
Because
Stock
Tire
Size
On
Diesel
Dooleeeze
Is
Generally
Barely
Adequate
Or
Possibly
Overloaded.

It’s a known liability with diesel dooleys for years now ever since the trucks got much heavier and the tire systems for dooleys has stayed basically the same.

[deserteagle56]

jimh406 wrote:
I like Toyo tires. They aren't the cheapest, but last well.

I had the Toyo H/T "Touring" tires on my dually. Shortly after I had them put on I got a recall notice as some batches were having tread separation problems. So I took the truck back to the dealer who checked and said my tires were not part of the recall. A year later, the driver's side front tire tread separated. A few months later, the passenger side front tire tread separated. But the rear tires, put on the same time and carrying the weight of my Bigfoot camper 90% of the time, have had no separation problems. There were no abnormal wear problems with the front tires, and no issues with the truck's front suspension so I don't understand why the separations on fronts only unless it was just coincidence.

[Grit_dog]

Thoughts? You don’t need a spacer for duals. You said it yourself in other words.
What’s the tires size/load rating and what’s the truck and what kind of GYs blew up?

By virtue of the fact that it happened to multiple tires and on both axles, tires aired properly and cared for, you’re likely just too heavy for your tires. period. Or am I missing something?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of something. Especially since you’re alluding to maybe 5 tires or more in less than 10 years and low miles.
Think about it. And figure out your weights.

[GTO66]

Thanks for the replies. Since they prorated three of the four Goodyear tires on the rear. and the other has 15k miles I plan to run them for awhile. I'm aware Westlake tires aren't supposed to be a top tier tire,but so far they have out perform supposedly better brand tires. The rims and size are stock and I have around an inch between the duals when loaded. Temperature and psi is monitored with a TST system. The BFG separated on the front first,then two later on the rear. The wranglers were only on the rear, since the front were nearly new..... Buzzcut1 I thought about a spacer between the rears. Could your provide the type your using?? Thanks to all and anymore thoughts appreciated.

[Buzzcut1]

I had separation issues on my Dually. PO had put aftermarket wheels on an it put the sidewalls of the rear tires too close to each other and they would overheat. There really should be well over an inch of space between the closest part of the two tires under load. I ended up putting in a spacer. I haven't had a blow out in 5 years since I did it vs one inner dually a year on the right side ( high crown loads).

[jimh406]

I like Toyo tires. They aren't the cheapest, but last well.

[monkey44]

We've had BFG T/A Radials on my PU for years - 285-E - and never had a problem with weight. We keep them at 75-80 psi rear, 65-70 front. Been using them on our construction trucks (three) for just as long until we retired.

Been camping-RV'ing with Truck Camper since 2002 - Lance 845 on its back. Truck is HD2500 SB - 6.1L w/410 RE ... Hope that helps. Just one opinion. M44

[Grit_dog]

Your experience is not normal. And you don’t say which axle has tire separations or both.
Nor do you say what size of tire/rim.
But if you’re on 215-85-16s or similar pizza cutters, you are far closer to being at max tire capacity on the front axle than you are on the rear axle, even with the camper loaded. And if it’s a diesel and/or you have any additional weight on the front axle you might even be overloaded on the front tires
If your original tires on the truck new were the commercial TAs I’d blame the cheap junk sub par tires that mfgs put on many/most vehicles.
Second set, you are not specific what model of Goodyear tire, as there are many wrangler models, but were they LR E and a quality model? IE no not cheap OE/Wallyworld looking models.
Personally I’d not run off brand tires like Westlake either.

No it’s not normal or usual to have tires separate. Period.
It’s either weight, cheap tires or the worlds worst luck. Since it appears the tires are treated pretty well.