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Old 10-14-2007, 01:15 PM   #1
Craig A
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MISSION tires again

After less than 6000 miles on my Mountaineer I had to get rid of the Mission tires. I was very leary of them from everything I had read about them so I was very careful to maintain correct pressure and check for tread separation. Three of them always looked fine, but one was "rounded" instead of flat across the tread. After a 1300 mile trip in the last week, I pulled into Tropical Palms in Kissimmee and the "rounded" tire lost air overnight. Never found anything in it to cause it to lose air, but paranoia got the best of me and I replaced them with some BFG Commercial TAs (LT245/75/16E). How many of you have LTs instead of STs on your Montana?
 
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Old 10-14-2007, 01:37 PM   #2
LonnieB
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Not yet, but soon. Very, very soon.

Craig, I believe your tire had a belt separation problem, and wouldn't have gone much farther before blowing out. Good thing it went flat while you were parked.
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Old 10-14-2007, 01:58 PM   #3
Glenn and Lorraine
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Definite belt separation. That's the exact description of what happened to my 2nd Mission. The 1st and 3rd tires had separation in the sidewall. The 4th tire was dumped with no further investigation of it's fitness for the road.
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Old 10-14-2007, 03:39 PM   #4
noneck
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In answer to your LT question...count me my Monty is running on LT's
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Old 10-14-2007, 03:49 PM   #5
Montana Sky
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I have LT's on mine.
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Old 10-14-2007, 03:49 PM   #6
pud2
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Craig i just replaced mine and when they were dismounting them we found that they DIDN'T HAVE the HIGH PRESSURE VAVLE STEMS IN THE RIM. I went back with the high pressure stems.
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Old 10-15-2007, 03:59 AM   #7
SlickWillie
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Wonder if the NHTSA has had many complaints on the Missions? Looks to me like all the Chinese tires are crap. The Sportsmen TT we had (2001) shelled the tread on one tire (Nanking)when they were about 3 years old. Went to replace it, and all the treads were separated on all the tires. I think the Michelins will go on our Mountaineer from the TV. It's a shame to have to replace the tires on a year old RV.
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Old 10-15-2007, 04:22 AM   #8
richfaa
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Wonder if the NHTSA has had many complaints on the Missions? Looks to me like all the Chinese tires are crap." That would be a bunch of tires as not many brands are made in the good old USA... We replaced our Missions with Cooopers (they are made in the good old USA) after about 15K miles. The Missions gave us no trouble and had normal wear but we did not feel confident in keeping OEM tires, any brand, after 15K miles of high speed driving. We did have problems with loosing air on the Missions but found that to be due to the OEM rubber stems. Replaced them with high quality metal stems and no trouble after that. We have the Doran monitor system and are watchful of proper tire pressure.
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Old 10-15-2007, 12:27 PM   #9
Craig A
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I spoke to Keystone today and they agreed that LTs performed better on rigs over 10K lbs and STs were OK for those less than 10K lbs. I also mentioned that my spare was a LT Tacoma but all 4 on the ground (originally) were Missions. He suspected that the dealer exchanged them and the brand of the spare is what was originally on the trailer.

Stopped by Suncoast RV in Pinellas Park today and they were taking delivery of a Big Sky and it had Missions. Seems like they'd learn.
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Old 10-15-2007, 02:01 PM   #10
RMccord
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Looks to me like all the Chinese tires are crap." And probqably got lead in them toooo.
Yep they are a known issue with Montana. Don't know how they are going to address that but I think it is fast approaching time. Far too many problems just in this rather limited community of Montana users. Imagine all that are not saying anything because they think their issue is isolated.

Bob
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Old 10-15-2007, 02:34 PM   #11
mail2us
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RMMccord indicates from his conversation with a Keystone Rep that Mission Tires are being looked at.

It would seem to me that Mission needs to go! This can be a major safety issue and Keystone should be above this. I don't really care where the tires come from but quality better be plugged in on tires.

Unfortunately, my new 3400 has Mission Tires. I discussed this with the dealer and he indicated Keystone is aware of it. So that is 2 people who have told me "Keystone is aware".

I love awareness! Action is what I really love!!!!!

Dennis
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Old 10-15-2007, 02:40 PM   #12
Ozzie
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I can tell you I bought a set of Titan tires for mine last go around.
I run 15's unfortunately. But the point is, I thought I was buying American, and under the bead it says made in China. They hid where it was made. I ended up with Goodyear this time, and decided to go with the warranty and USA store coverage.
I will say though, after doing much research on tires, that the Chinese have been at it for a while now. They make tires even for Goodyear - at Goodyear's specs. It wouldn't surprise me if they made as good of a tire as the good old USA these days.
Believe me, I want to buy American, but try to find a product made in the USA...
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Old 10-15-2007, 02:47 PM   #13
mail2us
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Ozzie and others...I have no problem, like many of you "buying chinese" but many or any other country, (but partial to USA) but many American companies are giving specs to the Chinese that are so loose that it's no wonder we have lead in about everything.

Goodyear and many others are not demanding the quality they once represented by shipping the labor elsewhere.

I think the key is we all must do more homework and not buy products that become inferior with experience.

Keystone alreay should be ahead of this in the Mission tire issue. The consumer is often behind the curve as an individual consumer.

This forum is also ahead in many respects but so many Montana owners that communicate!!!!

Dennis
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Old 10-16-2007, 04:26 AM   #14
LonnieB
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Just for kicks, I went through my warehouse this morning to see how many different countries my tires come from. This is only a sampling, as there wasn't enough time to look at everything.

Firestone - Brazil, Costa Rica, USA
Bridgestone - Japan, Canada, USA
BF Goodrich - Canada
Michelin - USA
Maxxis - Thailand, China
Toyo - Japan, China
Cooper - USA
Goodyear - USA

Goodyear, Michelin, and BF Goodrich all have tires made in other countries too, I just don't have any in stock.

Ozzie, you are right, China has been in the tire business for quite awhile, as have several other countries. For the most part, I believe they build a quality product on the higher end tires, it's the lower end stuff that needs improvement.

Evidently, Keystone is aware of the Mission tire problem, and I'm sure they will be taking steps to correct it. However, it may be a daunting task. In my opinion, the problem will be around as long as they continue to use ST rated tires.
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Old 10-17-2007, 09:26 AM   #15
sreigle
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Craig, our Missions have around 11,000 on them and are wearing very nicely. I have to agree with the others yours probably had a belt separation. I've had that happen in many brands of tires. It's not unique to Mission.

I have used LT tires on fifthwheels without problem. So have many others. Keystone put LT tires on Montanas for a year or so awhile back. When I replaced the Goodyear Marathons on our prior Montana I went with an LT (BF Goodrich) tire. When these Missions wear out I'll replace them with LTs also.
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Old 10-22-2007, 05:21 AM   #16
CanDo
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Our experience with Mission tires is not good. We had a blowout (apparently ran over a piece of metal) on Route 93 just outside of Eureka, Montana, 6 miles from Canadian border. They had no replacement tire in the town, so we used our spare. Drove all the way down Route 37 to Libby, MT, where we were able to buy a spare.

Next, after about 6500 miles, just east of Willcox, AZ, the left front tire blew. Actually, the tread separated from the sidewall. By the time we could pull over to the shoulder (we were in the slow lane doing about 64 mph) and stop, the tire had disintegrated. The tread damaged not only the plastic tire skirting, it totally removed the underbelly plastic covering and the insulation all the way down to the wood. We have Good Sam ERS and the tire was removed and the spare put on all within about 1 hour. Awesome! The repairman said that all of our tires appeared to be rounded and NOT in the best shape. We religiously kept track of the tire pressure, etc., every time we stopped for any reason.

When we finally drove into Deming, NM later that day to visit family, we immediately ordered 5 new Bridgestone LT235/85R16 R500 commercial duravis tires (we went back and read Lonnie B's thread on tires). Then we contacted the tire distributor. We have provided them with 3 written estimates on the damage as well as 20 photos, they sent UPS to our campsite to pick up ALL the tires, and we are awaiting a response from them on the repairs.

While we're not saying that everything Made in China is badly made, it's just that their track record lately isn't so good. We won't accept delivery of any type of vehicle with Chinese tires again. To those of you who haven't had any issues with your Mission tires, we are truly glad to hear it. Keep on truckin' and be safe!
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Old 10-22-2007, 11:11 AM   #17
LonnieB
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Chris, sorry to hear of your tire troubles, but it sounds like your getting it all ironed out.

Let me know how the Bridgestones hold up for you, I put 5 of the same on mine Saturday.
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Old 10-22-2007, 01:44 PM   #18
Glenn and Lorraine
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Mission's are OEM tires and obviously these OEM tires are not the top of the line. These Mission's are like any other low end tire. All tires are required by law to be made to certain specs. The low end tires just meet the minimum specs and rarely go beyond the minimum spec. They are made this way to keep cost down and most RV manufacturers are very cost conscious and Keystone is no exception.

I know that Keystone is very well aware of the Mission situation as I spoke to to some depth about not just my Mission problems but other MOCers that also had problems. All 3 of the tires that failed me were from manufacture defect as all 3 had ply separation. I was lucky as all 3 failures were discovered while the trailer was parked. Had I been on the Interstate no telling what damage would have occurred.
A tire that is punctured or cut is road hazard BUT it is nearly impossible to tell the cause of a failure of a tire that has totally disintegrated before the vehicle was stopped and therefore it is very difficult to get any warranty coverage. With this type situation you are usually on your own.
I will never have another Mission tire on the ground of any rig I currently own or purchase in the future and as soon as I get to Penna and my nephews tire shop I will be getting rid of the Mission spare I am still carrying.
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Old 10-23-2007, 05:01 AM   #19
SlickWillie
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Do you suppose the Mission tires have the missing "gum strip" or what ever the other Chinese tires were recalled for? I have no idea what that is in reality, but I know from news reports it is supposed to keep the tread from peeling off; the problem the Missions seem to have. As to "Chinese crap", the only thing I have ever purchased that was made in China (to my knowledge)that lasted is a disc grinder from Sears. Apparently Sears insists on some pretty high specs (or did at the time). Look at the toy recalls. You know darn well the Chinese knew the lead was not acceptable. They just tried to slide it by. They'll do the same with any thing, including tires.
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Old 10-23-2007, 05:26 AM   #20
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Tires, where they are made,see if this works.......( I hope )
http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm Bill
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