How to handle a front tire blowout

[NewellCrazy]

Just keep the coach straight and in your lane. No accelerator pedal and no
brakes at first. And forget the emergency brake, as it has no
sensitivity/feedback like the air treadle. The added drag of the failed
front tire will provide significant drag and (therefore, braking) to slow
the rv without any driver "help" with the brake pedal. Assuming it is a
right front tire, expect that you will need to use some left-turn wheel
steering to counteract the drag of the failed right front tire.

Below 30mph, very slight brake pedal action can be applied, but forget about
the screaming passengers and noise and just stay focussed on keeping
straight and in the lane. The passengers are not going to help you and
become a distraction that you need to "tune out" until stopped. Expect some
front wheel-well damage and also "tune out" the noise of the tire shredding
itself to pieces and flapping around in the wheel well. Sheet metal to
replace the wheel well panels is cheap, human lives are priceless.

Remember, you are now trying to stop a 40-45 ft motor home with only 3 corners having
correctly functioning brakes. The use of any brake pedal will exert braking
to only the one good front tire, which can easily overcome the front
steering (even with power steering, the forces are tremendous). Assuming
it is a right front tire that has failed, the use of any braking pedal
action will now try to turn the bus left. If you are already pulling the
steering wheel left to resist the drag on the right front corner, the sudden
use of brakes will abruptly make the coach try to turn left, setting you up to
either spin out or roll the rv, depending on load, pavement conditions, and
wind. (and it's usually roll the rv, due to the CG and aerodynamics of a
motor home).

[pairodice]

During the women's driver training classes at Foretravel my wife was told to first stomp the gas pedal hard to the floor to steady the coach. Then do NOT use the brakes at all, just let the coach screech to a halt.
I would imagine that if this really happened that 99% of us would still hit the brakes just because it is ingrained in our brains to do so.

[RussWhite]

Interesting - I hope my right foot can remember all that should it need to. Does your Newell have the Howard Power Steering option? According to all the literature that system will make rapid changes in steering angle very difficult, thus helping with directional stability. I have enjoyed getting used to my Howard steering, especially in windy conditions out west.

[tuga]

I had a front tire blow out on my 1993 Newell 44' on the driver's side. It was a non event! By that I mean, I was on cruise control @ 65 mph on I-25 in Santa Fe, NM. As soon as I heard it blow I instinctively hit the brake with NORMAL pressure and pulled over to the shoulder of the interstate.

I called a truck service, they came out and put a new tire on the front. In 1.5 hours we were on our way. No damage to the coach or the aluminum wheel.

I think the fact that I was on cruise control kept the coach traveling in a straight line during the blow-out.

I watched a video by Goodyear Tire Co. showing the correct way to handle a blow out . They said to accelerate with the throttle to the floor for a few seconds after the blow out noise, then brake gently, and pull over to the shoulder and stop. The reason for accelerating is to offset the lateral motion caused by the blow out. It makes sense when you think about it.

[tuga]

During the women's driver training classes at Foretravel my wife was told to first stomp the gas pedal hard to the floor to steady the coach. Then do NOT use the brakes at all, just let the coach screech to a halt.
I would imagine that if this really happened that 99% of us would still hit the brakes just because it is ingrained in our brains to do so.

Adrian,

I agree with you 100%! It was instinctive for me to just hit the brakes gently and pull over to the shoulder. I agree with what your wife, Karen, was told at Foretravel (except I would brake gently and pull over).

[Ron Skeen]

27672768276927702771
This happen in 08 traveling at about 75 on cruise. Was crossing a bridge when it blew. The blow out kick the cruise off and I coasted to a stop before I got to the entrance ramp for the interstate. When it happen there was a bang and jerk on the steering wheel but the real bouncing was as it got slower. I did have a tire monitoring system and the front tires were showing around 135-140 lbs. I had always run 115 lbs cold but had stop by Newell for service and they were recommending 120 cold so that was in them at the time. Since that I have gone back to 115 lbs. I drive about 20K a year and I put new tire on every 2 years and the tire that blew was less than 2yrs old The pictures show all that was left of the tire and rim when I got stopped. The body damage was only the wheel flare which I pick the pieces up and reused. A State Trooper who had a office at the exist heard the bang and thought there had been a major wreck. He was on the scene within minutes and came to my rescue. There was a Les Schaab Tire store at the exist and the S/T took me to the store and they had a new tire and rim in stock. I was delay only about 1 hr and spent 1K and was back on my journey. I Pray and Thank the Lord for safe travel.

[The Newell]

I had always assumed that the braking force would be applied more to the blown tire, at least for the first few seconds until the tread comes off.

I have also heard that you should actually accelerate at first to help maintain control, then slow to a stop with minimal braking (assuming it's safe to do so.)

Sean, Thanks for sharing the information.

Joseph

[Neweller]

Thank God nothing worse happened Ron. Thanks for sharing this. Your pictures help one better understand more of the expected when such an occurrence happens. I have had this happen on big trucks before but been pretty lucky with the coach (only rears a couple of times). As you stated its a quick way to spend a "G Spot". Just like independent truckers should be doing, have that rainy day fund. I know this doesn't matter much for the deep pocket boys, but just a thought.

Ron, do you have an idea at that speed how many feet it might have taken you to get the beautiful beast stopped? Did you really have to hang on or was it fairly easy to control?

Thanks so much for sharing the pictures.


Ken

[Ron Skeen]

It was just at the end of an overpass and I got stop before the entrance ramp coming back on the the Hwy. I was in the right lane and I never move out of that lane until I pull to the shoulder at slow speed. I probably never touch the brake until I slow to 30-35. I The most violent time of the experience was at the very end. I don't know how far I travel to get stopped but I walk back to pick up the pieces of the wheel flare and I estimate 1/4 mile or less. The rim was flat spotted where it quit rolling at the end. All that was left of the tire is what you see in the pictures. I also had a blow out on a 34' G/S scenic cruiser on the inside drive axle. This really did damage to the fiberglass body and actually came up through the floor. After this experience is when we starting looking for a metal coach instead of fiberglass. We first look at Prevost and Bluebird but after going through the Newell Factory we change our mind. We actually bought our 89 from Marathon in Dallas and have never look back.
27762777
This is the 34 G/S

[chockwald]

This was my experience with a driver's side front tire blow out....happened in May of 2008 about 90 miles west of Mesa, AZ on I-10. I heard the explosion....did not hit the brakes, but just got control and slowly steered to the shoulder. The coach did move to the left into the #1 lane about 5 feet before I regained control. No one near me at the time. No rim damage at all! Good Sam ERS sent a guy out from Mesa, AZ with a replacement tire. I only paid for the tire. He changed the tire without removing the rim. Took less than 30 minutes after he arrived, and we were on our way. I was going 60 mph at the time of the blow out.

http://www.newellclassic.com/forum/attachments/chassis-suspension/78d1234289587-blowout-051008_14211-1-.jpg

[tuga]

From the pictures of Ron Skeen's coach and the pictures above of Clarke's coach; it looks like we can see that the slower you drive the less damage will occur if you have a blow out!

Do the majority of you agree that most blow outs occur during hot summer driving?

If so, maybe it might make sense to slow down in the hot summer months.

Just my .02

[Ron Skeen]

I think you are right on the target about the hot summer and the different in 10 MPH which is big. I am going to try to slow down!

[lbrachfe]

Always think to hit the gas first prior to slow breaking. The forward momemtum will neutralize the latteral motion caused by the blowout and will actually allow you to slow starighter and often with much less damage. hope none of you ever have to do it, but hit the gas for a few seconds if you have the "stones" for it and you will be quickly relieved by the result

[Newell Attack]

This topic would make a great seminar at one or more rallies. But what about engine/transmission braking (jakes, retarder or just downshifting) since that would only apply drag to the rears ?

[The Newell]

Michelin North America rv tire blowout video entitled RV The Critical Factor

Michelin North America RV Videos and Demos Page (http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/toolbox/videos-demos.jsp#The_Critial_Factor)

[Randy J]

The thought of a blow out. In the big rig is scary! It was good to read others posts on this. Joseph thanks for posting that Michelin video.

[chockwald]

"I am going to try to slow down!"

Ron, I've been talking to Matt Russo....do you think that is possible? :D

[Gary&Terry]

"I am going to try to slow down!"

Ron, I've been talking to Matt Russo....do you think that is possible? :D

Hello Clarke,

I don't know Matt but would like to meet him sometime, Heck he can deliver our coach to Florida for a wash and wax job ;), Anyways I figured I would extend an invitation since you full time as well. If our paths ever cross I'll show you our bad boy coach, Terry & I can take you for a spin :hungry:, so you can feel the power :beer: on a more serious note I hear that about slowing down. I actually can't believe how fast our newell coach can go and it still seems slow I have to watch it and keep my foot out of the fuel pedal. Almost feels as if were driving our 750LI its that smooth. Now the mileage is horrible at the higher speeds but then again as the saying goes if you can't afford a few g's in fuel a month then you shouldn't own a newell.

Gary & Terry.