catastrophic Wrangler GS-A failure

[JHardwick]

this is not your "found cracks in my sidewall" story ... ... ...



So, I'm pulling into the post office the other day and with my window down hear what sounds like an axle joint or axle bearing going south on the LF. I wasn't surprised, but not happy either considering all of the driveline problems I've had. When I get out to head into the post office, I make a casual glance down at the LF and see the road grime rubbed off of the outter rim of the wheel cover Upon further inspection, it appears that the sidewall is ready to vacate the tire like a recap seen along the highway



To make a long story short, I limped it home and got on the horn the following morning to find some tires ... ... ... ... ... $149 was the best I could find for the MasterCraft C/T. A little more aggressive than I really need, but we'll see how the mileage goes.



63,000 miles a tire should be nearing the end of it's life cycle, but this is rediculous!!

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I think you will like the Mastercrafts. We have a couple of trucks here with them and they have done well. Apparently, they are made by Cooper, which I have on my rig and am quite happy with them.



PS: I have my original set of GS-A to put on for the summer :--)

 

[JHardwick]

The MasterCraft is made by Cooper, and I did put a set of Coopers on my '99 2 wheel drive dually back several years ago. No complaints.



I think it'll be a good tire, but maybe a bit more aggressive than I need. I need something more than a highway tire, but not quite a mudder. The GS-A was all around a decent tire, but for one to blow apart at the bead like that is just plain junk!

 

[ropinfool2]

Come on, you guys are kidding me, right?? 63K miles and you're calling those tires "junk"???? I'd be happy if I saw 45K out of my Michelins, but only got 30K before I noticed I was getting loose on damp roads. I think you got your money's worth. I also think 149/tire is an extremely good deal if they are load range "E". Just my opinion. John

 

[JHardwick]

Come on, you guys are kidding me, right?? 63K miles and you're calling those tires "junk"????

what I said was ... ... ..... "The GS-A was all around a decent tire, but for one to blow apart at the bead like that is just plain junk!"



I would expect it to be bald at 63,000 miles, but not to blow apart. Proper inflation and regular rotations and yes, you can get your moneys worth ... ... ..... I just didn't expect the sidewall to be blown out like that.



At $149/tire, the MasterCraft is a direct replacement and load range "E".

 

[BIG BOB]

The MasterCraft is made by Cooper, and I did put a set of Coopers on my '99 2 wheel drive dually back several years ago. No complaints.



I think it'll be a good tire, but maybe a bit more aggressive than I need. I need something more than a highway tire, but not quite a mudder. The GS-A was all around a decent tire, but for one to blow apart at the bead like that is just plain junk!

JHardwick,



You might want to consider the Cooper H/T:



#ad




This tire has a 60K treadlife warranty. I'm going to try it on the Ghost Rider this spring.

 

[FATCAT]

You couldn't give me a set of "Goodyear" tires. The ones I have owned a long time ago were such junk they didn't last more than 30K.

I run Cooper's now. I have the new Cooper ATR. They are great and quieter than the original AT.

 

[NLamke]

I think it'll be a good tire, but maybe a bit more aggressive than I need. I need something more than a highway tire, but not quite a mudder. The GS-A was all around a decent tire, but for one to blow apart at the bead like that is just plain junk!

I just got a set of Cooper Discoverer S/T (which all but identical to the Mastercraft Courser C/T) and love them. We run a lot of the Courser C/T's and the Discoverer S/T's on our work trucks and the guy's that have them say they love them. I would think that "more than a highway tire, but not quite a mudder" would be these tires exactly.

 

[n9oig]

I put 112,000 on 2 of the orig Goodyears and 124,000 on the other 4.

Mostly hauling Travel Trailers and Fith Wheels



Kevin

 

[Alan Reagan]

When I traded my 01 in December, it still had the OEM Michelin's with 118,000 on them. Tread had just reached the wear bars. I had never been a Michelin fan until then.

 

[Buzzer]

what I said was ... ... ..... "The GS-A was all around a decent tire, but for one to blow apart at the bead like that is just plain junk!"



I would expect it to be bald at 63,000 miles, but not to blow apart. Proper inflation and regular rotations and yes, you can get your moneys worth ... ... ..... I just didn't expect the sidewall to be blown out like that.



At $149/tire, the MasterCraft is a direct replacement and load range "E".

This a perfect example of why tires need to be inspected regularly not only for tread wear and proper inflation but also for dry rot which it apprears from the pictures is what occured. You were very lucky that did not show itself as a blow out at high speed. Good luck with the new tires.

 

[JHardwick]

Okay, I gotta tell ya ... ... ..... these tires rock!!



When you got a load on, and your in 1st or 2nd thinkin yer stuck ... ... ... ..... hit 3rd, clean 'em out and let 'er eat!

 

[gsbrockman]

Okay, I gotta tell ya ... ... ..... these tires rock!!

I, too, have been quite happy with my Courser C/T's.



http://www.kydtr.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=43&pos=34



Greg

 

[Big_H316]

I got 75k out of my OEM GSA's and could have gotten 80k but decided it was cheaper to replace them than to get a ticket and shut down at a weigh station. I constantly pull around 25K# a day and make sure to rotate my tires every weekend. At 170K I still have not bought 2 complete sets of tires for my dually although that will soon come to a head. As far as dry rot, my factory tires did have cracks along the sidewalls but never failed. I got my other tires from tirerack.com at $168/tire and have yet to see any cracks whatsoever. While I'm on my soapbox I better log on to them and order another set before I get too busy and forget.

 

[GregTaylor]

ok what the max load on these tires? the stock tire is rated for 3100# ish. if there was a tire that fit on my rim with a max load of 3300 i think i would concider them over the rickerson 19. 5 rims and tires i just like the look of my original rim over what rickerson has. sides there paid for...

by the way the original offroad ta tires are still looking good at 59k

greg

 

[RJester]

I had a set of goodyears that looked just like yours, (dry rot). Took them to sears and got a heathly credit from goodyear for replacements.

 

[JHardwick]

The guy who sold me the MasterCrafts said the same thing, but at 60,000+ miles, it wouldn't have been worth the effort. I'm pretty sure it's pro-rated, and a 50,000 mile tire, that would have left me in the red.