Blew trailer a tire yesterday

[klenger]

I blew the left rear tire on my trailer yesterday. I had just checked and filled the tires to correct pressure over the weekend. Blow-out happened on I-10 on the north side of Tucson. Temps were about 95 deg. I was lucky and saw the tread flying off in my rear view mirror. Never did really feel any difference in the trailer. No damage done and the tire was replaced with the spare without incident. I even had my air compressor along to air up the spare.



Guess I'll be looking for Michelin XB Ribs to replace the Goodyear Marthons. Looks like the total cost from Discount Tire will be just over $900, including road hazard warranty ($23 each). Any other suggestions?

 

[GFrance]

I wonder if commercial grade tires from ricksons would work on a trailer? Wish I could get the life & mileage out of trailer tires like I do my tanker trailer. I've got 16 tires on that trailer & still have 4 that I have yet to replace with 450,000 miles on them. They all got over 400,000 before replacing.

Sometimes I think the tire manufactors skimp on quality for non commercial tires just so they can sell more tires.

 

[CCutshaw]

Just wondering how old is your trailer? My fifth wheel is a 26. 5' Jayco a 92 model. I was going on a 120 mile trip 2 weeks ago and blow the right rear. 20 miles later the right front went. I know in my case that the tires were just to old. Should have replaced them a couple years ago. The GoodYear dealer told me to replace any tire older than 6 years. The trailer is keep indoors no signs of any dry rot.



I left last weekend with five new tires with no problems.

Calvin

 

[CLAYTON]

I had a blow out at the end of last year. Upgraded from my little 15 inch wheels to some 16 inch wheels and from a 225/75/15D to a 245/75/16E. Raised my trailer up about an inch which also helped it sit more level. The new wheels and tires look so comfortable under the trailer now compared to the D rated tire which looked like it was maxed out. I also have the road hazard which is nice to have.

 

[lizzyhermit]

been there, done that TWICE. I now replace the TT tires every three years regardless of mileage. Cheaper that the TT repair bill (damage done both times) and removes the hassle and heat stroke...

 

[Blue2002]

I was towing my boat/trailer two weeks ago, when I all of a suden I noticed the truck seemed to be pullling harder and blue smoke out the passenger side. Saw the right trailer tire going down fast and pulled over as soon as I could. Had a 13" Goodyear Marathon. Sidewalls stuck firm on the rim, but tread was completely missing. No more goodyears for me.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

klenger, what size are the tires?

 

[TKingsbury]

I just read an article about filling tires with nitrogen instead of compressed air to make them last longer. Nitrogen does not have any moisture or oil in it, and the molecules are larger and therefore you do not lose pressure from air escaping through the tire carcass. They say the oil and moisture in compressed air can get into the steel belting and cause corrosion leading to tire failure. Alot of truck fleets are appearently going to this to make their carcasses last longer for recaps. Seems to me it would be a good thing to do on a trailer or vehicle that sits alot, like an RV. Something to consider.

Travis. .

 

[DIESELMAN]

Ken -



I bought a Jazz FW and the first thing to be tossed was the Carlisle Tires, same boat (and presses) as the Marathons, at 150 miles I changed to 16" wheels and bought XPS Ribbed tires, Discount even bought my 'New' tires and wheels. At least you are starting with 16" wheels.



I don't think you can get a better tire, I put 30+K (they are no where near worn out) on a set with my Desert Fox without them ever even getting hot to the touch, its a very smart choice.

 

[klenger]

My camper is almost 4 years old and the tires are original.



Tire Size is 235/85R16.



It occured to me that the left side of my camper faces the east desert sun. West side (right side) is somewhat protected by the trailer next to me. I have used the Tire sun block from CW, but have not reapplied it in over a year.

 

[Eric_77]

For 16" tires the Goodyear G614 is the shizznit. very heavy very expensive tire but works awesome highest load capacity in a 16" tire (careful comparing Goodyear to Michelin, GY rates by tire Mich by axle)



This is a commercial tire and Discount Tire does not carry them (at least not around here you need to go to truck tire dealer)

 

[willyslover]

I blew 2 tires on the way home from MM in Vegas last month. .

Goodyear G159's load range G all aired to the 110 lbs rated weight... I check pressure frequently , in fact about 1/2 hr before the blow out I had checked them. . blew one close to the Boron plant on Hwy 58 and the other by Delano

the tires are about 4 years old and looked very new condition as the rig had very low miles and tires have been covered. . NO Checks on them. . spare never on the ground before the blow out.

replaced them with XPS ribs last week as I do not trust them now

had some damage on the driver side slide flatened the trim panel about 3' and on the passenger side about 1. 5' of damage

 

[OTRPU]

Ken, from my experience, I never have felt any difference in the trailer having blown a tire. If you're lucky enough that it doesn't take out the wheel well or tear the skirting off, second issue is dragging the thing into oblivion till nothings left but the badly dinged rim. I've seen some come back to Bennett, you wouldn't believe would still roll. And the penalty for the engineers that design most trailer spare mounts should be that they have to use them everyday.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[Kirwin]

Klenger consider the Good Year G614 RST

Its a LR G (3750 Lbs) 235-85R-16 trailer only tire. All steel like the XPS Rib, but with a less aggressive tread with solid edges to minimize damage from scuffing. They are not cheap, around $225 ea. But they are what comes on the 8000 Lb axles on the new trailers. I recently put them on my HR and they are a very heavy, solid tire. So solid that my Smartire system transmitters couldn't get their signal through the sidewall to the antenna. I was all set to put the XPS rib on when Gary Wheeler from Mor-Ryde suggested these tires as that is what they are using on their heaviest axles. Its only available in a 235-85R-16 LR G size though. You can find them on the good Year web site. Ken Irwin

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

klenger, I have to go with Ken on the G614 RST's. Like he said, they are spendy, but we did a research on them and found nothing but good results. I have them on my Travel Supreme(14000# dry) and haven't seen a hint of a problem. Pick up a set of the wheel covers from CW, no sun exposure at all. Good luck with which ever you choose. Mike

 

[f.boyle]

I also recomend the nitrogen in what ever tire you run. I holds a steady pressure through out the range in temps. it also doesnt leak out of the tires "pores" like air does. I have 30k miles on my bfg a/t's anfd they havent lost a pound in the last year same with my trailer. and in a pinch if you are leaking you just fill them with air and your good to go.

Chainsaw

 

[rweis]

Is there any process to go from air to nitrogen other than let all the air out and fill with nitrogen? I would assume you get the nitrogen from a welding supply. What kind of regulator do you use on the nitrogen tank? I need 110 psi.



Thanks,



Bob Weis

 

[CCutshaw]

Any two stage regulator with a CGA 580 fitting.

Calvin

 

[willyslover]

or if your a Costco member. . do a rotation re-balance and have them exchange it out for you





OOPS forgot Trailers . . *most Costco's do not do trailers... but they will do tires/rims off the rig. .



* some of the lower volume ones will do trailers, best to call/ask

 

[gbraden]

Ken,

I too have experienced the thrill of having a trailer tire blow out. It has happened to me 4 times and I never felt a thing. Three times I was alerted by passing drivers frantically pointing at my trailer. The 4th time I happened to pull off the road for a stretch break and saw smoke coming from near the rear of the trailer. Lucky for me that none of the blow outs caused major damage to the trailer.

The first 3 times happened with my 20' travel trailer. The 4th time was with our new 27ft 5th wheel.

To try to prevent that from happening again, I just switched from ST225-75R15E tires to LT235-85R16E ones. This was done at the suggestion of a local frame and axle shop. The clearance between tires is now only 1. 5", but the frame and axle guy said that would be OK. These new tires look, and are, so much more beefy.

I also have added a tire pressure monitor system to monitor the trailer tires. I went with the Doran PressurePro unit. Each tire has a small transmitter screwed onto the valve stem. The transmitters are about the size of a quarter and about 1/2" thick. They each weigh about 2/3 oz. The monitor is approx. 7" x 4" x 1/3" and I mounted it on the dash with velcro. It plugs into a cigarette lighter outlet. In case of a sudden tire failure or whenever the pressure drops about 15% from a set-point, a red indicator will flash and the unit beep. My hearing is such that I probably would not hear the beep, but my wife in the passenger seat most likely would.

I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the system. One cool morning, before the sun came out, I used a good quality pressure gage to set each tire to 80psi. I then installed (screwed on) the transmitters and lo, and behold, the system indicated 80psi for each tire.

I feel much, much safer now that the trailer is riding on the Lt235-85R16E tires and I have a monitor to let me know if there is a blowout.

Also, I can read the individual tire pressures as I drive down the road.

Glenn