"I guess it was my turn!"

[Bill-N-Donna]

Pictures are worth a thousand words!
I didn’t know I had a problem until someone pulled up beside us and started honking and pointing. I have no clue as to how long it had been going on but I suspect it wasn’t for very long.





I would like to say this! These tires were on our camper when we purchased it used in 07. I know from reading the forum most people would change them at an interval of every 5-6 years due to the age of them. I don’t know how old they actually are. I watch for dry rot and tire wear. I have not been real concerned with the age of them because they appeared to be in good shape. No sign of dry rot, etc… These are General tires and this is the first problem I’ve had with them.

I don’t know what caused this but I do have a theory. Just before we left I released the tire chocks on that side and the camper tried to roll a very small amount. The top part of the chock became twisted between the tires. I had to pull forward to release the tension to remove the chock. My theory is that it may have caused a leak by pinching a small rock or something. This is only a theory I really don’t know what happened. We made it home without any more problems. I’m debating whether or not I should go ahead and replace all of them just for good measure.

On Edit: Changed photo link

[pbahlin]

I'd get the date code from the tires. If they're 5 years old I would change all.

[kingdaddy]

Wow, now THAT'S what I call a flat tire! Fortunate there wasn't more damage to the trailer...I would absolutely change out all the tires! Be interesting to know how old they actually are too.

[maximo]

If your camper is a 2001 and you got it in 2007 and never changed the tires they could be 11 years old. If the tires were put on new just prior to you buying it the tires could be at least 5 years old now. I would change them all.

Frank

[indy roadrunner]

Here is how to determine age of tire.

Tires Manufactured Since 2000
Since 2000, the week and year the tire was produced has been provided by the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number with the 2 digits being used to identify the week immediately preceding the 2 digits used to identify the year.

Example
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107 Manufactured during the 51st week of the year
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107 Manufactured during 2007

[Waynem]

Bill,
As stated, if old tires replace them.

Having said that, consider now that you rode for an undetermined amount of time on one tire. By doing that you doubled the load on that tire, and may have exceeded the tire manufacturers recommended weight load. This will most usually cause a problem on that tire. Just looking at them may not determine if you have stressed the side walls. Only a reputable tire company with the electronic equipment would be able to determine for sure, but a good guess is that they are stressed. With that in mind, my personal opinion is that as a minimum both of the tires on that same side should be replaced. Remember, your safety is riding on them.

Good luck.

[richfaa]

Sounds like a wake up call to replace all tires. We have the Generals on the 3400 for two years now. They are actually 3 years old. We als have the TPMS which would have warned us of that failure.

[kramperD]

Glad you're okay!

[Bill-N-Donna]

I looked at the DOT# on the blown tire, amazingly I could still read it. Not sure what it all means but here is the number. Looks to me like July of 01. IF that’s the case I certainly will be changing them. This is the number on the tire. ”DOT ADOR 1JC 0701”
Now what tires would be best?

[CORattler]

Wow! Glad you are OK. Looks like minimal damage to the exterior side of the RV. You'll definitely want to carefully inspect the back side of the wheel well and brake wires as well. I agree with others that all tires need to be replaced. Which brand? That question will elicit many responses I'm sure. Fortunately, there's lots of posts on the forum for that subject. You can see in my signature what I decided to replace my Marabombs with.

[stiles watson]

As you have just learned, Looks have very little to do with it. Rubber has a life span. I am sorry for your blowout. In my opinion, you were fortunate regarding the amount of damage caused unless the picture does not reveal it all. Two blowouts on my first Big Sky (2003)caused $2500 each in damages. By-the-way, they were Generals and looked good until they separated and like you, someone had to tell me.

[DarMar]

Again, as Stiles stated, it appears you were fortunate to not have much damage done from the way this went down. If the rest of the tires are the same (01) code that is pretty amazing life from an rv tire and now it's decision time. Keep us posted.

[Waynem]

Bill,
0701 is the 7th week of 2001. That would put the tires being manufactured in the 3rd week of February of 01. Those tires have exceeded their lifetime. Shoot them, and replace them.

[Delaine and Lindy]

Sorry for you incident, tires that blow out are a hazzard to 5th wheels or any veh for that matter.. I seriously would look into a Pressure Pro System, a monitor system would have warned you of the loss of air pressure. Thank goodness there weren't more damage.

[Art-n-Marge]

Yup Bill and Donna, as Wayne corrected the 07 is the WEEK of the calendar year 2001 that these tires were manufactured per Indyroadrunner's explanation. These tires are 5 months older than the July, 2001 you calculated.

Sometimes the DOT code is only 8 characters long because the longer code is on the inside of the tire. The short version will always state the location of manufacture and the date code. In the code you posted, these tires were made in Kentucky in the good ole USA.

This one is a no-brainer. You are LUCKY this is your first problem. It's probably true that maybe the mishap with the chock help move things along, but these tires are over 10 years old!

Let us know what you get as replacements! You can at least be proud that you got that many (very lucky) years from them. That should be some kind of tribute on how you take care of your tires.

[exav8tr]

I would say that ten years is a prety good track record. Maybe, just maybe, another set of the same is in order. LonnieB, the resident tire expert might be along shortly to give his advice. By the way, your rims should be able to handle the Goodyear G614RST which has a max weight of 3750 lbs and a max pressure of 110 psi. However with the weight on my trailer I only air them to 95 psi according to the Goodyear Tire and Loading chart.