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Mr_D · 03-17-2013, 12:02 AM

Without inspecting the carcass Michelin (nor anyone else) can tell what caused the blowout. Every tire manufacturer that I know of requires it. You should have contacted Michelin or even read the Michelin warranty requirements before discarding the tire.

From the Michelin Tire Warranty:

Quote:

WHAT YOU MUST DO WHEN MAKING A CLAIM
When making a claim under the terms of this limited warranty you must present your tire/casing to a participating Michelin® truck tire retailer. You pay any service charges for normal vehicle and tire maintenance.
CONDITIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Unless this limitation is prohibited by state law, this warranty does not provide compensation for loss of time, loss of use of vehicle, inconvenience or incidental or consequential damages.
Tires/casings presented for claim remain the property of the owner/consumer and Michelin® brand accepts no responsibility for loss of, or damage to, tires/casings, which are in the custody or control of a Michelin® truck tire retailer for the purpose of inspection for warranty adjustment.
Tires accepted for claim become the property of Michelin® North America, Inc. (“MNA”).
In the event of a disputed claim, the owner/consumer must make the tire available for further inspection.
No Michelin representative, employee or retailer has the authority to make or imply any representation, promise or agreement, which in any way varies the terms of this limited warranty.
This limited warranty applies only in the United States

Emphasis is theirs.

BirdDoggin · 03-17-2013, 07:28 AM

Even worse is when you keep the shredded carcass, take it back to the shop where it was purchased and the "name the tire company" expert tells you there is no warranty claim because the blow out was caused by excessive heat which is a result of running the tire low on air. You try to plead your case that there was no way, but the tire expert will just say "you ran over an object, it punctured the tire and the resulting air lose caused the tire to heat up till it went boom, sorry about your luck".
Then, to add insult to injury, the expert will say they are permitted to give you a small amount off your next tire purchase ($25-$50.00) for being such a good customer. Not even worth the hassle of toting the tire carcass on your trip.

So don't beat yourself up, the odds where never in your favor, or even slightly in your favor.

Keep the tire as a spare, heat cycles are the number one killer of tires, which only happen when on a vehicle. Don't worry if the air pressure hasn't been maintained, again, low air over heats the tire only when mounted and run, so no harm when just sitting some where on your RV. If you want a little piece of mind, get a second opinion, ask your tire guy or mechanic to take a look when in the shop.

Pete & Linda · 03-17-2013, 08:11 AM

A friend of mine had a travel trailer that was 33 years old and had been parked in the mountains with the wheels off and stored under the trailer for a number of years. He went to get the trailer to bring it home. He inflated the tires and mounted the tires and wheels on the trailer. He then pulled the trailer home at speeds up to 70 MPH, 3 to 4 hour trip! He had no problems at all with the tires!

Tony Lee · 03-17-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The pressure on the sidewall of some light truck and heavier vehicles is not the maximum the tire should ever have.
Here's what Michelin and others say:
ON TRUCK size tires the cold pressure on the sidewall is the MINIMUM required to support the maximum weight rating of the tires. Same with the tire charts, it's the MINIMUM cold pressure to support the weight. So YES you can exceed the pressure on the sidewall by a few psi

...

Now Toyo ad Continental do say the molded in pressure is the max COLD pressure.

You keep confusing this issue with a total phurphy that seems to indicate that major tyre manufacturers tell us there is no such thing as a maximum pressure for tyres.
All pressures relating to maintenance of tyres are COLD pressures and of course pressures rise when in use. Why would anyone look at a stamp that says maximum pressure and think it means anything other than when cold.
My Michelins have "COLD" stamped in large letters on the same line immediately after the load and pressure figure. Not once, but twice - for dual and single.

If Michelin go to all that trouble using words like "Maximum" and "COLD" surely it isn't too difficult to get their meaning.

CampDaven · 03-17-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete & Linda

A friend of mine had a travel trailer that was 33 years old and had been parked in the mountains with the wheels off and stored under the trailer for a number of years. He went to get the trailer to bring it home. He inflated the tires and mounted the tires and wheels on the trailer. He then pulled the trailer home at speeds up to 70 MPH, 3 to 4 hour trip! He had no problems at all with the tires!

Extremely good luck.

Pete & Linda · 03-17-2013, 09:02 AM

Yes and stupid

CampDaven · 03-17-2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete & Linda

Yes and stupid

Possibly ignorant. Maybe cheap. Certainly not wise

Coaster1 · 03-17-2013, 11:42 AM

I just don't know what has happened to Michelin of late. I recently replaced the steer tires and even after many attempts by the shop, they would not balance. Ended up replacing those two and the replacements balanced perfectly. Back on topic: Being a former fleet operator I have seen good casings go thru three recapping cycles putting the the original casing at about 8 to 10 years old. Spider cracks around the bead should be of no concern so long as they not over 1/32nd in depth. BTW, they are not caused by age or UV rays. It is the area that bears the most weight of the vehicle and is subject to flex (when turning, steering or drive) heat, the transfer of braking components to the wheel. Peace of mind plays a critical role in tire replacement but when you have over 1200 tires on the ground at any one time, safety and economics dictate the useful life of any components. JMO.