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tealstar · 09-29-2014, 04:28 AM

I happened to find this discussion, which is exactly why my tires went flat after they did their free safety check. The valve core doesn't seat. Now I need to go look for the red core, which is the high pressure one required, to make certain they didn't mess that up. It's like a mental vacation to find people who truly know what the heck they are doing.

Tire issues with valve stem

tealstar · 09-30-2014, 09:38 PM

Talked to Michelin today, who were really professional on the phone. I'm not used to doing business with guys in the RV industry who act like grown ups. What a pleasure. Anyway....

They've never heard of re-vulcanizing tread for this type of tire or the alleged "cussion" technique to repair the sidewall split. And he thinks it will void the mfg warranty and not guaranteed safe.

However, the underlying problem is:

There are no tires. He basically said demand outstripped mfg supply and there are huge backorders. Also, no equivalent Michelin tire and unknown if it is okay to intermix other brands with the remaining good tires.

Are other mfg brands slightly a different size?

Alan_Hepburn · 09-30-2014, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealstar

However, the underlying problem is:

There are no tires. He basically said demand outstripped mfg supply and there are huge backorders. Also, no equivalent Michelin tire and unknown if it is okay to intermix other brands with the remaining good tires.

Are other mfg brands slightly a different size?

Michelin makes the same size in their XZE model - the XRV model has been on backorder for a year or more. Makes me wonder why they don't produce more - but in any case we went with the XZE and it works fine.

tealstar · 09-30-2014, 09:50 PM

Alan, do you know if the XZE is the same size as the XRV. What are the differences between the 2? Is it more expensive?
Michelin didn't mention that one as being okay to intermix with the XRV for the Allegro Bay.

Alan_Hepburn · 09-30-2014, 10:27 PM

When we replaced our tires almost 2 years ago the XRV was on back-order, and our dealer recommended the XZE - it came in the same size: 235/80R22.5 and I haven't felt any difference in the ride between them and the OEM XRV tire. Our dealer said that the XZE was a truck tire so the sidewall is slightly stiffer than the XRV, but it rides the same as far as I can tell. We replaced all 6 tires but I don't see a problem if you're running XRVs on one end of the RV and XZEs on the other end. I wouldn't mix them on a single axle though. I believe the XZE is slightly more expensive then the XRV - we went through the FMCA Michelin Advantage program and paid $413.58 per tire.

Stevegd007 · 09-30-2014, 10:27 PM

For what it's worth. I just replaced my original equipment Michelin's. Had 36000 miles and 7/8 years of service with fair tread and good side walls. Age and slight cupping of the tread on the front tires were the reason for replacement. Ran 100 psi on front and 95 psi on the rear. The exact pressure listed on the RV door. Replacement tires are 6 new Toyo's at a cost of $2800. This was $800 cheaper that new Michelin's. Warranty is no different and there are plenty of service centers that will work on the Toyo's all over the nation.
Hopefully you can see that your tires have failed. They certainly look bad, looking at your pictures, I would not travel with those on an RV. What ever the reason. An now you really should look for replacements. My RV service center manager was telling me the No. 1 work his body shop gets in constantly is damage from blown out tires shredding the RV sides.
Best of luck on your decision.

tealstar · 10-01-2014, 12:31 AM

Michelin didn't mention the XZE, but if they are compatible with the XRV, maybe they can go on the front and the front XRV can be rotated in with the duals in back. The tires they didn't damage are in great shape & only 10k miles. Since 12/2010--the tires have never lost air.

Michelin is going to try to mediate a solution.

Arch Hoagland · 10-01-2014, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevegd007

For what it's worth. I just replaced my original equipment Michelin's. Had 36000 miles and 7/8 years of service with fair tread and good side walls. Age and slight cupping of the tread on the front tires were the reason for replacement. Ran 100 psi on front and 95 psi on the rear. The exact pressure listed on the RV door. Replacement tires are 6 new Toyo's at a cost of $2800. This was $800 cheaper that new Michelin's. Warranty is no different and there are plenty of service centers that will work on the Toyo's all over the nation.
Hopefully you can see that your tires have failed. They certainly look bad, looking at your pictures, I would not travel with those on an RV. What ever the reason. An now you really should look for replacements. My RV service center manager was telling me the No. 1 work his body shop gets in constantly is damage from blown out tires shredding the RV sides.
Best of luck on your decision.

I had cupping on my fronts and when I had them replaced I also got an alignment. No more cupping.

guardrail53 · 10-01-2014, 01:29 AM

Tealstar, I would do the exact thing you said, the XZE's on the front, and the fronts to the rear, where your bad two are! Good for you to stick to your guns, and resolve this properly! I do not know if I could have kept a cool head, either? The XZE tires are a very good tire, a little stiffer ride, drop the air pressure down a little, and they will ride better!

tealstar · 10-01-2014, 10:53 PM

Cool head? My voice is hoarse from ripping into the Sales Director who is over Customer Service, who said the damages were, "..only cosmetic..safe to drive on.." So, put in writing the tires are safe. "We put in writing it is only cosmetic damage and that means they are safe." Cosmetic and safe are 2 different words, 2 different denotations. Do you think I'm a stupid woman? Do you think I'm an idiot? If you cannot say safe, they are not safe.

I appreciate this forum. And I thank you guys for your feedback. Now that I know what the real problem is, the solution seems attainable.
I'm still waiting for their answer. Hopefully, with their $52 billion per year, they can "..make things right ..." per their tv commercial.

Mr_D · 10-01-2014, 10:59 PM

Tire damage is never "fixable" except for a simple puncture and even that repair requires an interior patch, not a plug job.

Mr_D · 10-01-2014, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

Actually, the manufacturer recommends 110 lbs on order for the tire to safely carry it's maximum load of 4675 lbs in a single configuration or 4410 lbs in a dual configuration. So, if your motorhome tips the scales at 26,990 lbs then you need 110 lbs in the tires. But if your motorhome weighs less you can safely run lower pressures. For your reading pleasure you can peruse the load and inflation table that Michelin publishes here: Michelin North America RV Load & Inflation Tables

The pressure on the sidewall of an RV tire is the MINIMUM required to support the MAXIMUM rating of the tire. This comes from the Michelin, RV brochure. as well as others.

Mr_D · 10-01-2014, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevegd007

For what it's worth. I just replaced my original equipment Michelin's. Had 36000 miles and 7/8 years of service with fair tread and good side walls. Age and slight cupping of the tread on the front tires were the reason for replacement. Ran 100 psi on front and 95 psi on the rear. The exact pressure listed on the RV door. Replacement tires are 6 new Toyo's at a cost of $2800. This was $800 cheaper that new Michelin's. Warranty is no different and there are plenty of service centers that will work on the Toyo's all over the nation.
Hopefully you can see that your tires have failed. They certainly look bad, looking at your pictures, I would not travel with those on an RV. What ever the reason. An now you really should look for replacements. My RV service center manager was telling me the No. 1 work his body shop gets in constantly is damage from blown out tires shredding the RV sides.
Best of luck on your decision.

The pressure on the door (or other sticker) is only good if you've never weighed the rig. The only time it's correct is if the rig is at maximum weight, otherwise it's too high. You need to weigh the rig (four corners is best) then consult the tire manufacturers charts for that brand/model/size tire to get the correct pressures.

Francesca · 10-02-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealstar

Chas: What??? Check pressure daily? What Michelin guide are you quoting that from?

"Chas" may be just a hyper-conscientious observer of the admonition stamped very clearly on the tire(s), a picture of which you posted, here reproduced below.

Dunno if that "check tire pressure regularly with an accurate gauge " actually means daily...but certainly it means more often than only whenever a "free safety check" is available.