2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2nd time front tire tread separation is this a common problem?

[WaltHess]

I have had 2 sets of front tires separate the tread. First set were General Ameritracs? lost both within 1 month of each other. The second set are Maxxis Bravos, one went and the other looks like it may be starting to go too. Lots of tread left both times, but it is getting worrisome for me since the first time it happened it did some damage to the body work of the truck. With the Generals I replaced all of them when the fronts went in case the rears were going to crap out too. I caught the Maxxis while they were still just blisters. I run the tires at 80 PSI (max pressure on sidewall) as I usually always have a trailer on the back of the truck.

Just wondering if others are having the same problems.

I have a 2001 3500, 4x4.

 

[ILIANBG]

Wow, it's the first time I hear this. I would stay away from those brands.
Ilian

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Walt,

It could be the brand of tires. I have never had good luck with any General tire. Every one I have had either bubbled or lost tread. And, I would never own a Maxxis for that reason either. I'm sure there are individuals that have great service from Maxxis but I have seen way too many disassemble themselves. Another example of Chinese or Far East junk. Just my opinion and experience. I will pay more for a quality tire like Michelin. My life, as well as those sharing the road around me, depends on a safe tire selection. Cheap doesn't cut it.
Nomex on... Bunny hole open and entered.

Bruce

 

[MChildress]

I had a set of Maxxis Buckshots start cracking in the tread at 5000 miles. Went with Cooper STT and have been happy just put a new set on last week.

 

[WestTN]

What tire pressure are you running? Too low pressure can do this.

 

[Grizzly]

I thought Maxxis were ST tires only for trailer service, not that I'd ever have them on my truck or 5er.

 

[WaltHess]

Dang, thought I was set up to receive responses to my email.



Anyway, thanks for the responses. I was hesitant about the Maxxis, but my budget couldn't afford much at the time.



I hear ya on the Chinese quality. I returned a set of rotors because they were Chinese, and went with the more expensive USA made ones. Should have listened to my inner voice on the tires.



I was wondering about Cooper tires. Are they still a US made product?



Seems like a lot of companies are having tires made in China now.



My other thought was stepping up to some 19. 5's if this was going to be an ongoing problem. Seemed weird to me the fronts go, but the rears seem to do fine. Maybe due to the turning the fronts do. I haven't rotated them since they were put on. I run the tires at 80psi for better mileage, and handling. Not too concerned about a stiff ride, since even with lower pressures it is still bouncy.



Grizzly, Maxxis makes trailer , as well as truck tires. The dealer near work said he has never had a problem with a Maxxis trailer tire in the 6 years he has carried them. This was the first Maxxis truck tire he had any dealings with.



One thing that may be part of this is the heat, and UV intensity here outside of Las Vegas. A lot of tires sun rot before they wear out. Again, you would think the rears would show the same problems, but they don't. I am going to shop around for a new set of tires, and relegate these to a triple axle 40" car hauler I have.

 

[rluft]

Is your alignment correct? I am wondering if the tires are creating excessive heat due to scuffing from too much toe-in. Also I would weigh the rig, each axle, and air the tires according to the weight they are carrying. I have never found the need to run 80psi in the front no matter what I am towing, 65psi has been plenty.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I had one of the General Ameritrac ST tire to shed the tread, Wrapped around the axle but the tire never went flat. It had less than 10,000 miles on it, was aired to max for load and never run low. General wouldn't even pro rate it. They are responsible for a lot of people buying Michelin tire, at least me. bg

 

[fest3er]

Look at 'commercial duty' tires. Since I couldn't afford another set of 19. 5's, I bought a set of Uniroyal Laredo HDH tires (245/75/16). Guy who changed my windshield had them on his work van. He said most tires that had been on there before felt really unstable (that van has LOTS of weight on the rear axle). The HDHs are the first tire that've felt stable for him and are wearing nicely.

So far, I'm satisfied with them. They don't yield the 'sports car' ride the 19. 5s did, but they're still fairly solid/firm, for a tire with plastic sidewalls.

 

[JMcCoy]

The front end weight of these trucks are brutal on tires. Heat, alighnment, tire wear, and speed traveled all play a direct roll in destroying tires. I live in south Florida and have lost belts in just about every tire I have run. Fortunately, the belts always go when it's about time for new tires (always in the front). I run mud tires, which don't dissapate heat very well. When a tire wears down, there is less rubber to dissapate the heat. I have heard that if you cross rotate steel belted radial tires, they are more likely to separate. I still do though. That said, I have had the best luck with BFG tires. Good luck.

 

[icman95]

Yes, Walt, Coopers are USA tires. Been running a set of Discoverer ATRs on all three of our vehicles and love them. Never had a problem and they hold up to some extreme use. Pulled my fully loaded 5er across 2/3 of the country twice during summer months. 80-95 degrees out at anywhere up to 75mph. No hint of failure/bubbling. My mechanic recommended them to me years ago and I couldn't be happier. Just make sure you get load range "E" or better.

 

[JMcCoy]

Oh yea load range, like ken stated. E or better should do you well. I knew I was forgetting something.

 

[MVenditti]

Check the age of the tire, there was some news about new tires being sold that were already 6 or more years old and people were killed when they fail.

New Warning: 'Catastrophic Failure' Discovered in Aged Tires - ABC News

 

[jelag]

I have coffee regularly with some retired gents... ones a CPA, another is a Dr. and one of the guys is a retired tire company rep... he was in the tire industry most of his life, the last 20 years in heavy truck tires... and has during strikes worked in the tire factories doing grunt work... his thoughts on tire failure are low inflation... any tire that's over 10 lbs lower than specified inflation will cause excessive heat...

He challenged me to get a infrared temperature tester and check tires at every stop until I understood the relationship to tire temperature and pressure... for 6 months or so I carried one around and checked temperature and later pressure and I'm a believer. . so each of our trucks has one of these as well as other safety equipment and we've spotted a lot of low tires, usually from punctures.

I talked my BIL into watching his. . and he's now a believer... low pressure, leads to overheating and later failure from separation of the cord material ...

Hope this helps...

 

[Missouri Mule]

I had a Good Year Wrangler go bad after 40,000(don't know what was wrong but shook the truck bad) , both sets of Michelin LTX M/S had belt problems the first set shifted a belt to the middle, the second set had a small rise on the edge of the tire all were my front passenger tire, both sets had over 60,000 on them.

On my third set now (replaced in FEB), Truck had vibrations mostly from the front(felt like the wheel was bouncing). Turned out to be the right front tire was out of round big time ( jacked it up and spun the tire with a milk crate in front of the tires) Disount Tire replaced the tire after they couldn't balance it(Had My Mechanic check for a possible problems for vibrations then I checked the tires out with a friend).