Heads up on some bad tires.....

[Sarge]

Another RV'er gave me the heads up on some problem tires, and I want to pass it on. I have an Americana fiver, which is a hybred version of a Forest River Cardinal. The rig is an 03', built at the end of 02'. About two months ago I was coming back from Arizona on I/S 8 on a hot summer day. A tire on my rig exploded causing a significant amount of damage to the RV, not to mention my mental state :{ . I got a replacement in a little tire shop in "Dateland, Arizona" and came on home. I later learned that the tire brand on my rig, "Kenda" has had a recent history of problems with some tires. I pulled their information off the net, and called a customer rep. She reinbursed me for the tire, and for the material I used to repair the damaged skirting (I replaced the damaged skirt with diamond plate. )



Fast forward about 4 months later, and I have pulled out at 0630 to leave on a month long RV trip. 30 minutes out of the house and a tire on the opposite side of the RV explodes. Same result, just less damage due to the much stronger diamond plate. This time I pulled into a tire dealer and had them all replaced. I contacted the company, and again spoke to the rep. They are buying the other tires as well as the blown one, and the material to replace the damaged diamond plate. The Tires were 16", 235/85R 16. The DOT # were all 7Y9J series. The tires had about 5K on them, and still looked brand new.



The company has been very responsive, so there is no bad feelings there, just be careful. If I had lost a tire on some of the mountian switch backs I pulled on this trip, it could have been a lot more serious. Be careful out there..... Sarge

 

[rblomquist]

Just curious, what's your 5ver weigh with your typical load (have you drove it up on a scale)?

 

[MMeier]

In addition to your weight, what is the date code on those tires? As in , when were they manufactured?

 

[Sarge]

I am about 11400# normally loaded, and I figure about 12K when we were ready for the long trip. I am well within specs of the tires, truck, and RV. I was running 80 PSI in the trailer tires which is their max weight. The tires are E rated for weight. The Kelly's I put on were the same rated tire and size.



The manufacture date on the tires all ranged in mid 2002. I took delivery of the rig in late Dec 02.

 

[rblomquist]

Curious now. What was each tire rated for in lbs, and what was your axle weights on the scale ticket?



Also, this is getting into kinda the "what oil is best" type arena but a lot of folks say to back the pressure off from max when you're going to be running is hot weather and/or driving at freeway speeds. I know I run mine about 5lbs below max as a precaution.

 

[Sarge]

Each tire is rated at #3240. Times four, that would be #12,960. I was on a pad scale, so I could'nt get a weight on each axle. The combined trailer wt was 11,150 with #2400 being on the pin. That leaves #8750 on the axles. I was no where close to the max rating of the tires.



As far as inflation goes, a fully inflated tire rolls easier, and thus generates less heat. The pressure stamped on the side wall of the tire takes into account the additional pressure created by heat. That is why manufactures tell you NOT to check or deflate a tire that is hot, or has not sat for 3 hours as a cool down period. All tires will check above the rated pressure if checked when hot.