Goodyear 235/80R/17 Tires

[Dean Upson]

If this subject has been beaten to death, I apologize, but I feel that it could be a safety issue. I have a 2003 DRW (see sig) and I have less than 40K on it. A couple of months ago, I put on new shocks and discovered a very bad sidewall separation about an inch away from the bead. I showed it to my tire guy and he sent it to Goodyear and I got credit towards a new tire. A very good friend of mine with a nearly identical truck (his is 2wd) sent me some pictures of four of his tires (2 front and 2 back) that had the same, if not worse, sidewall separation in the same area of the tire. I am not saying that the tires are junk, but if any of you have them on your truck, please pull them off and take a real close look at them.



I still have quite a bit of tread left on the Goodyears, but I am putting Rickson wheels and 225/70R/19. 5 Michelins on my truck this week.



Dean

 

[JHardwick]

Hey Dean!



Yup, this is an old subject, but one worth revisiting for sure!



My tires had 60,000 on them before I noticed the sidewall separation, so I never went for any kind of credit, even though the tire shop said I should. I was more concerned about safety issues. My left front was better than 50% separated if I remember correctly.

 

[JRMora]

I had the same problems with mine - had to replace before 40,000 miles. They had plenty of tread, but the sidewall on all seven (even my spare!) cracked badly.



I replaced them with the Generals (wouldn't do that again!) - they lasted 30,000 miles. Put a set of Firestone Transforce AT's on just before Christmas - they are doing well.



Wouldn't put GY's on after the last fiasco.



Juan

 

[Bill Stockard]

Guess I'm lucky...



After 33+K miles and nearly four years, 95% hauling a heavy slide-in camper, I have no sidewall cracks in my Goodyear tires, yet. They still have lots of tread left. I'm aware of the problem and have seen photos of the sidewall cracks on other trucks. I keep a close watch on my OEM Goodyears since I expect to see the cracks starting to appear at each tire rotation.



I keep 80 PSI in them when the camper is loaded and reduce the rear tire pressure to 50 PSI when I unload the camper. I use a tread depth gauge to monitor the tread wear and the tires are wearing evenly from the center to the sides. I also rotate the tires regularly using the diagram in the Owner's Manual.



Bill

 

[JLitton]

I just replaced my left front tire today due to this. I had about a 2 inch crack all the way down to the cords about 1 inch from the bead. They gave a little bit of the run around trying to say it was weather related or I cut it on a rock. :-{} Finally, they agreed to pro-rate it after I had the Goodyear Rep on the phone and she called them while I was on hold with her. I was standing in their lobby still on hold while she was talking to the moron salesman on her other line. I finally got out of there with a new tire for $135 and change. BTW, I only have 24000 miles on them.



PS - he didn't like the fact I went over his head and took away his ability to jack me around. I took away his sense of power to make the decision. :{ He was probably the kid everyone made fun of in school and now he's getting us back in the only way he can.

 

[Soupy]

Gentlemen: How are you guys deciding that you have tire separation by looking at your tires? I have had this spider web cracking on several types of tires over the years but the tires were not separating. I am not saying I was correct in my observations but I am most certainly interested in finding out if my current Good Year 235/80R17's are in fact separating. My driver's side front tire has extensive "weather cracking" around the rim/bead area but the other tires show nothing. This truck has less than 40,000 km (25,000 miles). Appreciate any clarification.



Brian

 

[Slow Six]

My no Good Years cracked quite badly and I just kept running them to wear them out and so far they are holding air and have not failed. The tire shop said he would adjust them and prorate but I didn't want to throw more money into junk. I kept them for running gravel roads when working during the summer and keep the good Michelins for winter and trips. No more Good Years for me. Also any of you with the Wrangler HTs on trailers inspect them often for signs of separating and than grenading

 

[MMeier]

Gentlemen: How are you guys deciding that you have tire separation by looking at your tires? I have had this spider web cracking on several types of tires over the years but the tires were not separating. I am not saying I was correct in my observations but I am most certainly interested in finding out if my current Good Year 235/80R17's are in fact separating. My driver's side front tire has extensive "weather cracking" around the rim/bead area but the other tires show nothing. This truck has less than 40,000 km (25,000 miles). Appreciate any clarification.



Brian

This is more then just a seperation issue. What most are talking about here is a tire developing cracks/ tears about an inch out from the bead. My originals did this after just 20k miles, then GY, being the nice people they are were more then happy to prorate them out for me ... so a new set only cost me about a g. Second time this occurred I ran them for a bit till I decided to run the truck commercially, so I went rounds with GY and wound up putting Michelin LTX's on instead... 72k and 14 months later, Michelins look like new! JUST SAY NO TO GOODYEAR!!!!#@$%!

 

[JLitton]

MMeier is correct. My entire side wall was cracked, or what I was taught to be known as dryrotted. Then in one spot, about an inch from the bead, developed a 2 inch long crack parallel to the rim. The crack was wide enough to put a quarter in down to the cords or belts of the tire. I also was not losing air and had no ill driving effects other than the slow churn in my stomach as I waited for it to blow out while I was driving to the tire store. I wouldn't drive it until I had time to take it in. I know I probably made a poor decision in driving it taking a chance on wrecking, but I felt that if I rolled the tire out of the bed they would give me even more of a hard time.

 

[Soupy]

Gentlemen: Thanks for the clarification. I will be inspecting these tires daily and if they start "checking" anymore I will be replacing with the Michelin LTX M/S. It is a shame to be throwing out tires at 25,000 miles but I don't want GY pro rating and then installing the same thing. Might as well forget about that,get decent tires and a piece of mind. Thanks.



Brian

 

[Signal73]

Sounds like another firestone/Ford Explorer disaster waiting to happen.

Time for a recall...

 

[Okie-Go]

I saw the Firestone tire in load range E the other day. Sure looks like a good tire. I like the tread design on it.

 

[JRMora]

I saw the Firestone tire in load range E the other day. Sure looks like a good tire. I like the tread design on it.

I've got a set. So far, so good. They balanced well (minimal weight) and have a quiet tread (no squirm) for an A/T tire.



Michelin didn't have a true A/T tire. I run in snow and mud quite a bit. I'm happy with them.



2 "no" votes for the Goodyear GSA's and the General Ameritrac TR's (see above).

 

[Dean Upson]

Solution to Factory Tires

Here is my solution to the factory tires. I have a Bigfoot 30C1002 camper and I put these tires and rims on: http://www.ricksontruck.com/customers/dodge_drw/034/index.html. The tires are Michelin XRV 225/70/19. 5 LRF. They handle and ride like a dream and for all practical purposes they are the same size as the factory tires, the speedometer is corredt and the spare goes right where it should. Certainly not a cheap solution, but I feel safe now.



Heather at Rickson is one of the nicest people that I have had the pleasure to deal with. The customer service is top notch. I am not associated with Rickson in any way. Oo. Oo. Oo.