Tire Separation

[Retired and Happy]

Since we couldn't make the 2009 Rally/Reunion, we took a more local trip to Mobile, Disney World, Mobile, Gatlinburg, Mobile, and Home. At Gatlinburg I noticed the driver front tire was wearing on the inside. I had been warned by my tire man that it would wear even with proper alignment after a wear pattern was established. I monitored the wear on this trip to be sure I was still safe.

At the last Mobile stop I got down and under to check the wear and as I was getting up, noticed the sidewall at the rim looked like shark's teeth (if you've ever seen a set of shark's teeth) all around the rim, and steel threads could be seen at several points. This was on a DOT 1204 tire, as are all my tires on the ground. I checked the others I could see (inside rear were inaccessible where I was parked) and no other tires had this problem.

I took my MH to a tire dealer who agreed my spare was road worthy, although it was DOT 1300. I had it installed and the next day we made it home to Stone Mountain safely. My plan is to replace both front tires and make the other front tire my spare.

My concern is whether I can expect the same kind of separation on other tires or is this a result of the tread wear problem? Oh, these are Michelin XPS RIB tires, and as I said DOT 1204. I had hoped to get another year or two out of them. The other front and all rear tires look good as far as tread wear goes and should have several thousand miles left in them if the calendar doesn't get them first.

Thoughts?

[RV Wizard]

Replace the tires, get front end aligned, weigh the coach and set the tire pressures to tire manufacturer's pressure chart. From then on, check pressures each travel day.

[Gary RVRoamer]

What you described (steel belt showing) sounds like excessive wear on one edge, not tread separation. That is usually an alignment problem and should definitely be fixed so that you don't do the same thing to the new tires. A good alignment shop should beable to set the front end up that the wear is even across the tire.

[Retired and Happy]

The steel threads showing are at the rim, not at the edge of the tread. The "break" in the rubber goes all the way around the rim on the outside. I don't know if the inside is similarly separating because they hung the "spare" under motorhome before I got a chance to look at it. I've seen threads show along the edge of the tread before due to tire wear, but never at the rim.

[tom wilson]

if the tire was not run flat then it sounds like manufacturing defect, which should get you a good tradein allowance.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Steel belts showing at the rim is definitely a bad sign and certainly not due to wear and tear. I agree with Tom - contact the manufacturer.

[Retired and Happy]

Thanks guys. I'll find a Michelin rep.