Damage from Tire Blowouts

[washley1]

And not to forget, 5 years max, no matter what they look like! We took off last week with inspected, fully inflated G614's and lost one an hour out from home. About a grand worth of body work. And all because I let them get old! 6 plus years led to a would be disaster. New tires, more 614's, and a good insurance policy will pick up the body work. We were lucky!

[fauch]

The E rated ST tires from the factory get compromised by delivery drivers towing at high speeds. The reason there are so many blowouts on these tires is that they are rated for max load at 65mph.The reason there are so many boat trailers, utility trailers, and RVs, on the side of the road with blowouts, is because they have tires rated at 65MPH. This seems to be a concept that most people have a hard time fathoming. Speed (past the rating) is as destructive as under inflation.

It's been an issue for truckers, lawmakers and the truck tire industry also:
http://www.standard.net/Business/201...blowout-danger

[vipermanden]

We are getting ready to buy a Montana 5th wheel, and I have had blow outs on rented 30' trailers, that the rental companies did not take care of the tires. So I always wondered why the heavy 5th wheel trailers did not come with three axles like some of the toy haulers do? That way, when one tire blows out, it is not so catastrophic, because there are still two tires on that side holding the trailer up? What is the reason for having only two, tiny tires holding up 14-15k pounds?

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by vipermanden

We are getting ready to buy a Montana 5th wheel, and I have had blow outs on rented 30' trailers, that the rental companies did not take care of the tires. So I always wondered why the heavy 5th wheel trailers did not come with three axles like some of the toy haulers do? That way, when one tire blows out, it is not so catastrophic, because there are still two tires on that side holding the trailer up? What is the reason for having only two, tiny tires holding up 14-15k pounds?

Follow the money. If two axles and four tires meet the letter of the law, that's all you're going to get.

[mlh]

When you have a tire come apart that is turning 600 to 700 hundred RPMs that the part beating against your camper weighs 30'pounds or so there isn't much you can do to prevent it from destroying what ever gets in the way. The only way to prevent damage is to prevent a blowout in the first place and the only way to do that is to use tires with as much margin built in them as possible. In other words any thing but ST tires.
Lynwood

[Dam Worker]

On the way home from work tonight I saw three separate spots where people had blowouts. I did see at least five or six RV's on the road and the temps were down from the upper eighties to the upper seventies. No rigs stranded so they happened earlier in the day.

Tom Marty

[Sundogette]

In addition to the proper equipment, maintenance practices, and regular inspection, another factor is driving at reasonable speeds. We run Michelin 15.5, Mor-Ryde, etc., etc. Can't express how many times we have had rigs blow by us on the freeway, only to see them parked by the side of the road with a blow out later in the day. We typically run 62 mph on the highway. Need to get a bumper sticker that reads, I'm retired..go around!

[richfaa]

We have pulled 600 miles on interstates yesteday and today. We run 62/65 and we have been passed by scores TT's and RV's doing 70/80 MPH.

[mlh]

Rich that sounds like me but I swear I haven't been out.
Lynwood

[richfaa]

Many of then are running on OEM tires rated at 65 MPH.

[mlh]

Yes and there lies the problem. Why would any manufacturer put 65 MPH tires on a camper and send it out on 75 MPH roads. They know very well a lot read most people will be running at or over the speed limit. Most people don't even know their tires are ST tires or what that means. Why do they put ST tires on campers, they are cheap both the tires and the manufacturer.
Lynwood

[fauch]

quote:Originally posted by mlh

Yes and there lies the problem. Why would any manufacturer put 65 MPH tires on a camper and send it out on 75 MPH roads. They know very well a lot read most people will be running at or over the speed limit. Most people don't even know their tires are ST tires or what that means. Why do they put ST tires on campers, they are cheap both the tires and the manufacturer.
Lynwood

Because they can! Delivery driver signs a liability waiver, cheap-a&% tires mean bigger margin, labeling (GVWR) on trailer vs labeling on tire shifts liability to 'person towing the towable'. In court; the person in the position of "person in charge" (driver) usually ends up LIABLE.
.

[richfaa]

NOt knowing is no excuse.

[mlh]

If you Google ST tires you would think they are the perfect tire for a camper and that is all most people have to go by. If you try to tell them they done believe you. I saw a guy last year with a blown tire, tried to help him but he was already mad. I told him about the ST tires. It would have been better to have slapped his mother. I thought oh well you will learn its not my camper with the side tore off.
Lynwood

[Beau2010]

Our Montana came with GY Marathons. After two years and about 25,000 miles, two were failing due to separations. Never had a blowout or even loss of pressure, however. I check air before I start out each day and carry a compressor; sure beats looking for a truck stop or tire shop where you can get to the air hose. Put on Sailuns last summer and run at 110 psi. Side wall says "for trailer use only". Just because my truck can pull it at 80 mph or better doesn't mean I should. Keep it under 65.

Anyone who thinks light truck tires are the answer for their trailer tire problems has likely never turned sharply with a double or triple axle trailer with truck tires on it. They are not made to be scruffed sideways like happens in a sharp turn. In my former life, I hauled livestock to stock yards and sale barns around the Midwest. I have seen many gooseneck stock trailers on the side of the road with one or more blown tires after being turned too short with a load of big steers. Most of the drivers had put truck tires on the trailer thinking they would stand the extra weight better. They are fine so long as you don't have to turn so short that one or more tires slide sideways. Truck tires cannot take that kind of abuse.

Trailer tire like the Sailuns or equivalent if kept inflated and driven at reasonable speeds will outlast any truck tire in a multi axle trailer application.

[fauch]

I disagree that LT tires cannot handle drift-slide-roll load. Truck tires will always be my choice for any trailer that I own. Load rating-proper air pressure and SPEED traveled vs speed rating are the limiting factors. Think about the roll force on steer tires on a tractor trailer, or even a 3/4 or one ton pickup truck. nowhere on any truck tire that i have ever seen, is stated 'not suitable for steer axle or dual axle trailers.

[mhs4771]

OK, put you "Way Back Hat" on and go back a few years before ST and Chinese tires became the norm. My folks hauled their TT all over the place and never had any tire problems, and probably many of the tires we bias ply before radials became popular and affordable.
Seems like most of all the recent tire issue come from two factors: ST Tires and Chinese Tires!

[mlh]

You need to add one more 12000 pound campers and trucks that can pull them.
Lynwood

[djgodden]

Don't over look speed limits some states have on towing. In California any tow is limited to 60 mph. Ya, nearly no one pays any attention. Except for me, I'm religious about never exceeding 60 mph. If I wanted to get there sooner, I'd have left earlier.

[waynemoore]

CA is a 55MPH state while towing, but I also drive 60 to 63MPH driving 55 in CA will get you run over. I will go to 70 if passing but only for the pass then back to about 60 to 63. Also I picked up my rig on Thursday spent till Saturday doing the pre delivery then took it to the tire store and had the china bombs replaced.