Goodyear Tire Blowout!

[chockwald]

We were on our way home from Tempe, AZ after attending our daughter's graduation from ASU. We were about 72 miles east of Blythe, CA when the left front tire exploded, and I mean EXPLODED. I was doing my usual 60mph in the right lane, and went from total serenity ,as I listened to 60's music on XM radio, to controlled panic. At first the coach lurched hard to the left, but I remembered what I had been taught by my father to do in this situation...I took my foot off the gas (no brakes), and began to turn the steering wheel gradually (seemed longer than it was) to the right until I had control again and then was able to steer to the shoulder. I resisted the impulse to over correct and cause a bigger problem. The racket of the blown tire was deafening, and I was expecting to see major damage as I exited the coach to check it out....the Alcoa rim was on the pavement with remnents of the tire still around it, and the tread hung up on the axle. The rim was UNDAMAGED! There was very minor damage to the exterior..some scuffing, and 3 missing rivits, but otherwise everything was intact! Amazing! I've heard so many stories of thousands of dollars in damage occuring. I am so impressed with the quality of construction, and materials. To get away with just rubbing out the scuff marks, and replacing 3 rivits is testimony to how well built this rig is.

I've never had a blowout of any kind on any vehicle I have every owned, and always wondered how it would be like to have a blowout, especially on my motorhome....now I know....once is enough!

We have Good Sam Emergency Road Service so we called them...they located someone in the Phoenix area who brought out a replacement tire and got us on our way. We were about an hour and half out of Phoenix, and it took them 2 hours to get there, but once there they had us on our way in 30 minutes!

[fulltiming]

Clarke, glad you had a minimum amount of damage and distress.

If you don't mind the questions, what brand were the tires, how old were they and what pressure were you running. The speed you were running certainly wasn't a contributing factor and although it is warm (90's), it wasn't hot enough for that to have been a significant factor either. I have seen tires fail for seemingly no good reason at all but I like to keep track of brands, etc to serve as a basis for future tire purchase decisions.

FYI, I am currently running Bridgestones on the rear and Michelins on the front. My pressures are 120 front, 110 drive, 100 tag.

PS: Congratulations to your daughter on her graduation.

[chockwald]

Goodyear...about 5 years old. 105 psi cold...that is the recommended pressure on the tire while cold. Am I running them too low?

[fulltiming]

Without an actual weight on the front axle, preferably by tire, it would be difficult to determine to correct pressure to run. Typically, unless weights by tire position, or at least by axle, are know, following the manufacturer's recommendation on tire pressures is the best bet.

The pressures I run are Newell's recommended pressures for my coach.

You can get tire pressure charts from most tire manufacturers that give the weight that each model and size of tire will carry at various pressures. I prefer to have a tire slightly overinflated than to have them underinflated.

Don't inflate a cold tire to a pressure greater than the pressure marked on the tire as the maximum inflation pressure or to a greater pressure than the rating on the wheel.

I have had a couple of Goodyear tires come apart on Airstream trailers but I have no personal experience with them on Newells.

[chockwald]

I'm going to get the coach weighed so I can be sure I'm using the correct pressure based on the weight. Thanks for the info Mike.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Clarke,

You said about five years old. Is that based on the date codes on the tires or on info passed on by the previous owner? You will need the coach weight to know the correct inflation. Most of us with the 90's era coaches have to run at 120 on the front, but your situation may be different. In addition to knowing the weight, using the inflation tables, and religously checking the pressure, I also use a redneck temperature guage, my hand. At every stop I walk around the coach and touch every tire.

How do the tires look? Do you see any evidence of sidewall cracking?

Like Michael, I am very interested in the details of your situation.

[chockwald]

Based on the information the prior owner gave me. I'm going to have my mechanic determine the exact age of the tires tomorrow, and if needed, replaced the remaining Goodyear tires. Richard, I'm assuming that under normal use, with proper inflation, that tires will feel warm to the touch, correct? So, using your method if they feel HOT then there is a problem brewing?

[Richard and Rhonda]

If you go to the Goodyear site, it shows you how to read their date code.

Yep, I can hold my hand on something for a few seconds up to about 140F. Mine get warm in the summer, but not so warm I can't hold my hand on them. Some people use an infrared gun for the same purpose. My hand is not accurate, but it's pretty easy to see if an individual tire is overheating.

[JohnC]

You did good- Not hitting the brakes was an essential key to maintaining control.

I also recommend adding full throttle for a second or two, to reverse the dynamics of the front of the coach dropping to one side. Use of the Jake brake also improves safe stopping.

I'm also hesitant to move to the shoulder too quickly as soft shoulders can create additional stopping issues for a rim without tire.

Not only should you check the date code of the remaining tires, but the load rating is very important as well. If you have any questions please call Newell Service at 918 542 5582.

John Clark

[chockwald]

Richard.....found out that the rear tires have a manufacture date from 2001...7 years old! Wow....I know they were just installed 3 years ago, but they were obviously sitting on someone's rack for a long time! Anyway, having all four rear tires replaced immediately. At least this way I will know how old the tires are......

[chockwald]

Had the 4 rear tires replaced last week prior to our departure on our 12 day trip through Utah, and across HWY 50 in Nevada. I feel much more relaxed now that I'm not waiting for the "other shoe to drop".

[fulltiming]

Clarke,

Hope you and Elaine have a wonderful trip. I know that the piece of mind of having new tires will make the trip more enjoyable.

[larryweikart]

Blowouts are always a big concern and we have had our share on our trailer. A neighbor just had a steer tire blowout on his (another brand) pusher, while his wife was standing at the kitchen. they were both injured, but are recovering. This has, finally, prompted me to look into tire monitors. A friend, also a Newell owner, has installed the Tire Tracker system and is pleased, so far, with the system. Any other thoughts would be appreciated, before I make this important purchase. This is the link to Tire Tracker, if interested. http://www.lawrencerv.com/default.asp

[encantotom]

hi larry. i have the doran pressure pro and it has worked flawlessly. i have had it over 3 years and the batteries in the transmitters still are fine.

looks similar to what you are talking about. only the price on the one you are looking at is considerably cheaper.

tom

[larryweikart]

Thanks for the input Tom. I'm leaning towards the tire tracker because it appears to have the same features as most tms's but at a lower price.