Michelin tires weather checking or something else? UPDATE !

Paul and Sue · 06-17-2007, 05:11 PM

I have Michelin XRV 235/80R/22.5 on my W-22 which is 3 1/2 years old. All 6 tires has very small 1/4 inch long dash like cracks not very deep. They are in a 1 inch band around the side of each tires just above the rim where the load number are. I checked the back side of the tires and could not see any on the back. Are these weather checking or could it be something else and has anyone see this before? I started talking to Michelin and 100 miles from a Michelin tire shop for them to look at them at this time. That tire shop does not have any of these tires with a long order time.

Paul and Sue · 06-17-2007, 05:11 PM

I have Michelin XRV 235/80R/22.5 on my W-22 which is 3 1/2 years old. All 6 tires has very small 1/4 inch long dash like cracks not very deep. They are in a 1 inch band around the side of each tires just above the rim where the load number are. I checked the back side of the tires and could not see any on the back. Are these weather checking or could it be something else and has anyone see this before? I started talking to Michelin and 100 miles from a Michelin tire shop for them to look at them at this time. That tire shop does not have any of these tires with a long order time.

Bob (WA0MQE) · 06-18-2007, 02:30 AM

Paul... I too had small cracks in this 1 inch band area close to the edge of the rim. I also had cracking around the lettering that appears in this band. Check this lettering closely to see if you have a similar problem. By the way my tires were just under 4 years old.

I contacted Michelin at their hotline 800-847-3435, and they had me take the moho to a Michelin Dealer and get the tires inspected. The Dealer looked at them and said, Michelin will Warranty them. He stated he'd seen a few tires come in with this same problem.

Michelin gave me $312 per tire toward purchasing new tires due to their "Limited Warranty." This is based on the amount of tread left. The new price for this tire is $365 at this particular dealer, so my payout will be $53 per tire plus I have to pay for the mounting and balancing.

It ended up costing me $650 to replace all six tires including the tax and labor. Which under the circumstances was well worth it. I now have six brand new tires with a date code of 1807, which is May 2007 manufacture date.

DriVer · 06-18-2007, 10:09 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Paul and Sue:
All 6 tires has very small 1/4 inch long dash like cracks not very deep. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>If you call the Michelin number in South Carolina ask them for a sidewall overlay card. It has a number of open windows with different percentages of cracking on either side of the window so you can easily match up what your condition is to what's on the card.

roy goble · 06-18-2007, 10:41 AM

I have a 2004 Monaco La Palma, and the tires are starting to do the same thing. I believe that it is just age. The size and depth of mine doesn't bother me but I believe they will only get worse. Tires should be changed every 5 to 6 years no matter what the mileage is.

DriVer · 06-18-2007, 03:46 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by roy goble:
Tires should be changed every 5 to 6 years no matter what the mileage is. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Roy, Exactly! Thanks for your post.

Paul and Sue · 07-20-2007, 03:14 PM

UPDATE !!!
Like Bob stated, this was not normal weather cracking and Michelin warranty them. Got all 6 new Michelin tire for $67 each.
Again, thanks Bob.

Bob (WA0MQE) · 07-21-2007, 05:22 AM

Paul, which tires did Michelin put on your moho? They put 235/80R 22.5 XZE's on mine. Similar RV tire but has a bit tougher sidewall with a rib around the tire.

Paul and Sue · 07-21-2007, 04:19 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bob (WA0MQE):
Paul, which tires did Michelin put on your moho? They put 235/80R 22.5 XZE's on mine. Similar RV tire but has a bit tougher sidewall with a rib around the tire. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Bob and again thanks for the info, it saved me a lot of money. Michelin put the XRV on with a June 2007 tire date. They didn't even talk to me, the tire shop checked my tires, called Michelin and told me that all I need to pay was $67 a tire and Michelin will take care of the balance owed.

This tire shop was great to me and several motorhomes that came in with tire problems. If you are ever in the Flagstaff, Arizona area and need tires go to Golightly Tire Company 928-526-2266. They have laser wheel balancing and Beeline laser front and rear wheel alignment rack for large motorhomes. They found my front wheel bearing where loose, they adjusted the bearings added oil that was lost and did't charge a dime.

Tom N · 07-29-2007, 08:02 PM

I posted this photo some time ago but got no response. I have one Michelin with cracking. Should I contact Michelin???

-Tom

Paul and Sue · 07-30-2007, 04:25 AM

Tom
I would call Michelin, then go to a tire center that they tell you to go and have the tire center check the tire. The tire center will contact Michelin with their findings. The worst that can happen is the tire is bad and you pay the complete price to replace it for your safety. The best that can happen is the tire is bad and Michelin will pay part of the cost to replace the tire for your safety.

Let us know what happens.
Paul

DriVer · 07-30-2007, 04:49 AM

Tom,

I just went out to my motorhome and retrieved what's called an Michelin MRT Ozone Scale, MYT41792 (09/06). The scale has 5 windows going down the center with embedded graphics on either side of the window which is to be used as follows.

Laying the scale on the tire one attempts to match the graphic on the card to the condition on the tire.

The scale is numbered 1 through 5, 5 being the most severe condition. If I were to use the gauge on the picture you provided, your tire might present a 2 however in the graphic the tire is entirely populated with similar fissures that you are showing in your picture and not limited to small localized spots.

On this basis I would say that your tire falls well below the #2 criteria. The #3 criteria which is more severe than shown on the gauge is considered "Acceptable".

"Suspect" cracks are at minimum greater than 2 mm deep and are shown in the #4 window.

The #5 window shows an example of tires that need to be "Rejected". This graphic shows deep and long cracks that would make the more conservative observer cringe!

Evaluating the evidence you provided, and from my view point, your tires appear to be serviceable and display characteristics that are consistent with Michelin's "Acceptable" rating.