You know, I hate it when other people are always right.

You hear people saying (and me too) always be critical of your tires once you pass 4 years old on them, especially in an RV that can sit for periods of time without moving. Well, I guess their advice and that I have given are quite right. I blew a tire on my fiver this weekend. Running about 65 on the interstate, heard a little pooooosssshhh, but felt absolutely nothing. Everything tracked just like normal - - straight as an arrow. Looked in the rear view mirror to see cars and trucks dodging all over the interstate trying to miss parts of my fiver and pieces of rubber flying everywhere. Wow, what a mess a tire can make of your trailer. Took out my wheel well liner, pieces of the undercovering (5/8" plywood) wiring, bent up two steel brackets that are welded to the frame - - quite a mess.

For your info - - tires are just four years old, always pumped up right to the recommended pressure and have about 17,000 miles on them. They look great, no cracks, no flat spots, not rounded off, usually covered when stored, always coated with UV protectorant. I had just felt them for temperature about 1 hour before this event.

So, four new ones will be going on this week - - planned on replacing them before heading to Alaska this summer anyway - - just making me do it sooner. So, check them tires close and keep track of how old they are. Not worth it when they tear up the trailer.

TirelessBob

 

Glad you were ok and it didn't 'cause any major catastrophes!

I'll have to remember to check mine out in the spring and probably put some new brakes on the 'ol fiver too!


Tony

 

Maybe snow would be good for them... maybe they're getting too hot in sunny Sarasota. Just kidding.
Glad no one was hurt.
Nat

 

Wow that stinks! We went to Mississippi last summer and while there I notice a couple of small bubbles close to the rim on one of my 5th's tires. I had all four replaced as soon as we got back to St. Pete. I do not look forward to the day I'm sitting in sand spurs changing a flat with crazy people apt to run off the road and take us out. I've even thought of upgrading to E rated 16s to lessen the possibility.
This past weekend we were down in Nikomis with the 5th wheel at my dad's property. I didn't think we were going to get out of the mud and wet grass to come home. It was anything but sunny. Cold, windy and wet. It was white knuckle scarey crossing the Sunshine Skyway bridge. High wind warning lights were flashing. The cross wind was enough to push us into the other lane a couple of times. I only ran 50mph on the bridge. The thought of a gust of wind toppling the trailer over the rail and taking us with it was about to give me angina. Then later that night the DOT closed the bridge due to high winds. There was six accidents just northbound on I-75 between Nikomis and the I-275 exit to the Skyway. What a Christmas weekend.
Glad you're ok and the trailer is fixible.

 

We had a story on the news a couple weeks ago.

Just because you buy the tire "new" doesn't mean it is "new".
It could have been sitting in the tire stores wharehouse for months or years.
Especially for odd size tires that don't get replaced often, like trailer tires.

There is a "born on date" on every tire.
It requires some deciphering, but it is there.

Here's a link to the story which contains another link on tire code deciphering.

http://kutv.com/siteSearch/local_story_323124242.html


phox

 

Bob,
I had a similar incident; heading to CA, tire just gave out. 27' TT, she tracked ~ok~ but the cap let loose and wrapped around the axle thereby impaling itself on the u-bolts holding the leaf springs together. It took me hours of beating on that tire to get it off. The cords sure are strong.

Point being, it showed NO signs of wear. I have taken to replacing at the slightest signs of cracking.

Phox is right, I looked at the last tire I bought and the date code was already 1+ years old. A major tire chain told me take it or leave it.

Glad no one got hurt,
Tom

 

Hannibal - - you were in my backyard. I live in Nokomis - - I say Sarasota because who on earth ever heard of Nokomis. Yeh, I heard it was nasty here too, not quite as cold as up in Jax. Been on Skyway in high winds. Pretty neat the way they warn you not to use it with high vehicles in the winds.

I have heard the stories about tires sitting around before they are sold. The question always is does a tire rot as quickly sitting inside out of the weather? What can you consider the difference time wise? How do you read the time stamp? As I noodled this, I was putting some time stamps on how old my tires really are - - trailer is a 2000 sold early in the early spring - - how long were the tires sitting around before the frame was made - - how long before the frame was used? That could make the tires a good 5, even 6 years old.

Is there another tire that is good for trailers that is any better than the Goodyear? And, the other thing that is important here is these are "G" rated tires for the weight of that monster - - that is the equivalent of 12 ply. OUCH

 

This tire delima is a ongoing one isn't it?? I learned the hardway to Bob a few years ago on a vacation, I had to spend the first three days rewiring the side of our fifth wheel to have a/c and the fridge to work. After that episode I have installed 1/4 in plate steel in front of and behind all four of my tires on the Rv's I have owned, and if I ever upgrade to a new trailer in the future I think I will attempt to build a set of steel wheel wells to prevent the tire dammage that they do to the plastic ones that are on most trailers. The RV industry buys up tires in large lots and sets on them till they are used that was the problem with my last set of Goodyears. Goodluck,,Rick

 

Titan makes a trailer tire that has earned some praise on some of the RV forums....

 

Kandgo,
I lay under mine quite a while this morning noodling how to put this critter back together. There is a steel bracket welded to the frame coming out to support the lower skirt and underbelly covering. I thought how can I put something that will not create a nice pocket for the spinning rubber strips to catch and not tear it out. So far, no brainwaves. But, the juices are flowing. I will dream about it a couple nights and wake up kicking and screaming with my wife laying on the floor ready to call the police for spousal abuse.

Some things about these RV's are great - - others I think I could do a better job. And this one is not a cheapy. I know they must do some things to cut back on weight.

Mechanos - - I will try and find something out about this Titan - - I am somewhat limited by that weight rating on a 16" tire - - not many around.

 

I have had one blow since I installed the metal plates it does help, especially around the tires where the plumbing and gas go up thru the sides, the inner plastic holds up fairly well considering how violent the tire gets with it, I am serious when I upgrade in a few years if they do not offer any better protection I will build me some steel wheel liners and will plate front and back of each wheel. I am sick of the tire issue. Goodyear has replaced two sets of mine and paid damage in one instance. I have finally had good luck with the larger Goodyear trailer marathons, I know they have admitted to me back in the early late 90s they had a rash of 205s and 215 marathons go bad and they told me the reconfigured the design and now I would'nt run any tire that is just rated for my needs, I always go up the weight size when I replace any tires, I have also started storing my trailers on a concrete pad and covering them and also deflate some of the air out of them to help in the dry cracking and it has seemed to help emmensly. Goodluck,,,Rick

 

In our case when I lost a tire last year it peeled the .125 steel apart like a sardine can. I can only imagine what a fiberglass surrounding would look like after a good self destruction. Also mine showed no cracks or flaws and werent very old. I have learned a sitting a tire can build condensation or moisture between the two contact patches. This eventually starts in on the steel belts rusting and its soon all over. I place my tires on some PVC or plastic sheet to help this. Unfortunatly we have no pavement or concrete to park on here so it really helps.

 

FiverBob,
I distribute industrial V Belts and even in the IDEAL conditions rubber only has a shelf life of 7 years. Some of these belts used in high quantity sets can be capable of transmitting hundreds of horse-power. If the manufacture can't say that belt is good after 7 years I do not know how a tire manufacture could say thier tire is any better after the same amount of time. I wouldn't buy a tire that was more than about 12-18 months old...
Tom

 

Could you put a tandem fender off a utility trailer inside the fender well? or add a lift kit?

John

 

John,

I can't see how a lift kit will help. That tire really slaps out a long way when it lets loose. I think the steel surround is the best bet. I am taking the trailer into a welding shop to have the steel bracket replaced and welded back onto the frame. Then, I will talk to them about setting in some steel plates on top and the sides of the well - - both sides. Nothing I can do about the fibreglass well cover - - it would look stupid with steel there, so I will leave that alone - - easy replaced.

A little disturbing that manufacturers can't anticipate things like this and build it right in the first place. And Carriage is not a cheapy.

Tfeore, I think you are right - - but, how do you read the date code - - no one has answered that one yet.

FrustratedBob