Community Forums

purrin along · 07-22-2015, 04:37 PM

I will sure take a closer look at my tires after
seeing this.Hope for a speedy recovery.

Cat320 · 07-22-2015, 06:21 PM

Having had a real blow out, I disagree with the concept of accelerating. The power steering on these coaches is very strong (as long as you don't lose the hydraulics) and, although there was some vibration, maintaining control was not a problem. I disengaged the cruise control (set on 60) and coasted to the shoulder. If control is an issue, the last thing you need is more speed...that will make matters worse.

Richard and Hazel · 07-22-2015, 06:37 PM

I had a curb side front wheel blow out only 3 months ago. I was doing 62 mph on the I-10, it took about 30 seconds from hearing a noise like the rumble strips to knowing the tyre had gone ! I have a Safe-t-plus and just GENTLY braked and steered the RV ( Allegro Bus 40 ft, 2 axle) off the carriageway. No panic, no drama.
Now for the best bit.
The tyres have done less than 15,000 miles and are just 2 years old.
The TPM system started to beep 12 minutes AFTER we had stopped !
The safe -t - plus worked great. I have driven OTR semi trucks for years and had quite a few tyre failures and never had a crash because of the blowout. I have seen the video on how to accelerate when you have a front tyre failure but it is a braver man than me that can or will do it.
Most of the video's that are posted on the internet show RV's going VERY fast but not necessarily breaking the (car) speed limit.
TPM systems will tell you if you have a slow loss of air but by the time the TPM system has cycled round to the blown out tyre you know about it anyway.
For me the TPM system has just made me lazy ( in visually checking the tyres) but we are all different, just like the RV salesman who will tell you that " yes the tyres are 10 years old, but look at them, the are just like new".
These are my views from personal experience, not something a guy in a bar told me.
Your experiences may differ.
Drive safe and remember, better late than "dead" on time !

Richard.

ShapeShifter · 07-22-2015, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat320

Having had a real blow out, I disagree with the concept of accelerating. The power steering on these coaches is very strong (as long as you don't lose the hydraulics) and, although there was some vibration, maintaining control was not a problem. I disengaged the cruise control (set on 60) and coasted to the shoulder. If control is an issue, the last thing you need is more speed...that will make matters worse.

Yes, it sounds counter-intuitive. But watch the video again, it's not about speed but force vectors. None of our rigs are sports cars: a few seconds hard on the accelerator isn't going to add a significant amount of speed. What it can do, however, is help straighten out the force vector so you can overcome the initial drag of the event and help get it under control, perhaps by steering against the drag. Then you can start slowing down - cautiously. If you slow down before getting the side forces under control, you run the risk of making it worse. That's the point of the video: the first instinct is usually hitting the brakes, and that's often the worst thing you can do at first.

Sounds like you were lucky, and didn't feel significant drag pulling you to the side. Not everyone is that lucky.

Moxy · 07-22-2015, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShapeShifter

Yes, it sounds counter-intuitive. But watch the video again, it's not about speed but force vectors. None of our rigs are sports cars: a few seconds hard on the accelerator isn't going to add a significant amount of speed. What it can do, however, is help straighten out the force vector so you can overcome the initial drag of the event and help get it under control, perhaps by steering against the drag. Then you can start slowing down - cautiously. If you slow down before getting the side forces under control, you run the risk of making it worse. That's the point of the video: the first instinct is usually hitting the brakes, and that's often the worst thing you can do at first.

Sounds like you were lucky, and didn't feel significant drag pulling you to the side. Not everyone is that lucky.

I can go buy my experience and say that the two front tire blowouts I have survived were both easily dealt with by neither applying brake or throttle and steering to a safe area at a constant speed,

Moxy

WeatherTodd · 07-22-2015, 07:22 PM

Actually saw this wreck. We discussed what happened... and panic was the agreed contributor.
Of course I had a camper full of adrenaline junkies coming home from a race.

We have suffered 2 blow outs thanks to the stupendous Michelin XRV product. 1 front & 1 rear inner. About 6 months apart at 8 years of age.
Always religiously pressure checked before every trip and stored covered in a warehouse garage.

The tires just let go with a loud bang. The front was interesting on I85 during peak traffic hours. Took me a week to get over the "rocking" the rig did on the shoulder from all the big rigs flying by waiting by roadside.

It took me alot of training to remove that "survival reaction" instinct we are born with. I would suggest anyone behind the wheel of a heavy rig get some kind of training. Really suprised States dont have this as mandatory education for ALL drivers. A $200,000 simulator could save insurance companies millions plus who know how many lives. You test peoples reactions to various stimuli. Identify any weakness and then train or condition as needed.

Dutch Star David · 07-22-2015, 07:27 PM

About 6 months apart at 8 years of age.

Aged out maybe?

Papa_Jim · 07-22-2015, 08:25 PM

What bothers me the most when I look at these pictures is the front cap, one entire sidewall and the entire roof totally gone!

What kind of body construction is that?

Jim

DMTTRANSPORT · 07-22-2015, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil57

Always accelerate. Remember 70%of braking is in the front axle. You don't want to transfer more weight to the front. Floor it and slow down gradually.

Really, 70% of the braking on the front and only 30% to the rear, so the front locks up and you can't steer, right??

jfran304 · 07-22-2015, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa_Jim

What bothers me the most when I look at these pictures is the front cap, one entire sidewall and the entire roof totally gone!

What kind of body construction is that?

Jim

I heard a lot of the damage was done during the recovery pulling the coach out.

Jon

slickest1 · 07-22-2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

Really, 70% of the braking on the front and only 30% to the rear, so the front locks up and you can't steer, right??

Exactly!! All these newer coaches have ABS. If you have ever had to make a panic stop with ABS you will know that isn't so.

I have had it happen with my coach and was amazed how fast and even it stopped. Also with a super B loaded at 63000 kg and wow it does work.

As for that accident they are very lucky to have survived. It is a shame they lost there dog.
We can armchair predict what may have happened and what could have saved it but there are so many contributing factors to an accident like this that no two are ever the same.
In my years of Commercial driving I have had several front tire blowouts. Only one time I had a hard time controlling it and it was due to the fact that I was in a banked corner going down hill. That tire was a one week old Michelin. Not to diss Michelin I have ran many since.

One thing I will add is if you are on cruise and a tire blows the most natural reaction will be to hit the brakes to disengage the cruise or fumble with the switch and by that time you may have caught the edge of the pavement and who knows from that point.
It is always the unexpected that will get you. Tmps might be all right for some things but can give you a false sense of security when it comes to the unexpected. Me I will still thump my tires and visually inspect for damage or heat as well as wheel nuts, oil leaks etc.

PushedAround · 07-22-2015, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

Really, 70% of the braking on the front and only 30% to the rear, so the front locks up and you can't steer, right??

Yes, that's right. As you brake, weight transfers to the front tires, increasing their grip and reducing the grip at the rear. That will make your front brakes way more effective. Take a look at your car and you will see that the front brakes are MUCH larger than the rears.

phil57 · 07-22-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMTTRANSPORT

Really, 70% of the braking on the front and only 30% to the rear, so the front locks up and you can't steer, right??

Well I believe I'm pretty close but could be off a percent or two. Sorry but that's my experience. If you braked more on the rear or equally it would take a much larger system.

Cat320 · 07-23-2015, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeatherTodd

... Took me a week to get over the "rocking" the rig did on the shoulder from all the big rigs flying by waiting by roadside...

That was the worst part of our blow out as well. We were on I 55 south of Chicago. Due to a severe drop off, I could only get the street side of the coach about 18" off the interstate. Sat there five and a half hours.

I have looked at that video several times, still makes no sense. Sounds good in theory, but maintaining control is the key issue...and you don't need more speed to do that.