replace tires every 4 years?

[Franka548]

Last weekend driving north on 71 north of Columbus blew a tire on the trailer. Goodyear G614 LR G. Heard a loud bang and saw the debris in my mirror, I was in the middle lane at between 62 and 65mph. Got slowed down and pulled off no problem, looked back and the tread was in the middle lane. I am not overloaded, 7000# axles 16,400# gvw, only 12,500# on the trailer axles per the CAT scales. Tire temp was around 135degrees checked about an hour earlier. It was around 95 ambient temp.

Here is the kicker, took the tire in to see if Goodyear would stand behind it, YEAH RIGHT, the dealer told me that the tire companies now recommend changing the tires every 4 years, no warranty after 4 years, naturally mine were 6 yrs. how can anybody afford $1500 and up every 4 years, I can see the 7 years, and I follow that pretty close, but 4 years?

And the tires were already 1 year old when they were put on the rv new, so now we are down to 3 years.

Comments?

[TXiceman]

First I have heard of 4 years. Michelin is saying all the way out to 10 years which I do not believe. I still use the 5 years to plan on a replacement.

Good year has had problems with that tire series and had been replacing tires and paying for trailer repairs. I'd bypass the dealer and contact Goodyear directly.

Ken

[Franka548]

Thanks for the info Ken. The dealer said that Michelin was on the 4 year replacement also. I never had an issue with tires before these junk Goodyears, as I always check air pressure and watch for road hazards. Had two Marathons peel the thread on my previous trailer, and they were only 3 years old. Anyways I hate to have to go to the expense of 17.5" wheels and Commercial trailer tires to get around Goodyear not putting out a safe product. anyways, thanks again for your insite.

Frank

[mustang652]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franka548 ....Here is the kicker, took the tire in to see if Goodyear would stand behind it, YEAH RIGHT, the dealer told me that the tire companies now recommend changing the tires every 4 years, no warranty after 4 years, naturally mine were 6 yrs. how can anybody afford $1500 and up every 4 years, I can see the 7 years, and I follow that pretty close, but 4 years? And the tires were already 1 year old when they were put on the rv new, so now we are down to 3 years.

First and foremost I have never met a Goodyear dealership that I trusted as far as I could throw one left handed. Got took to the cleaners twice on automotive tires. On the one occation since that I have bought GY tires, I got them at Discount Tires and never had a warranty problem with them. Wish they did 22.5's

Don't know much about the heat & road factors in your end of the country, but here in southern Nevada and also while stationed twice in Arizona over the years it has been recommended by any dealer I have used to change out tires at the four to five years point at max. Same on any RV or trailer. My first RV, a Toyota Dolphin went through tires a set of Bridgestones ever 3 to 4 years. I too don't want to put out a large sum at one time so at the suggestion of the mechanic who did the walkthrough on the Tiffin, I'm going to start the replacement early and in stages so that I only have to buy two tires at a time every other year. Unlike on my cars or truck, I will replace the front two first, followed by the inner rear duals then the outers. He also reccommended always but the new tires on the front and rotate as I mentioned above.

[RustyJC]

The OEM G614s on our unit failed at the 3 year mark - one in July 2007, the 2nd in October 2007. Goodyear paid $2500 for the damage to the 5th wheel for the 2nd failure and replaced the tires.

When the replacements were coming up on the 3 year mark in 2010 and we were looking at a July drive from the Houston area to Williams, Arizona for the iRV2 2010 National Rally, I chickened out and replaced the G614s (including the 6-year old spare) with 17.5" Michelin XTAs rated 4805 lbs @ 120 PSIG (the G614s were rated 3750 lbs @ 110 PSIG). As expected, the Michelins have been absolutely trouble-free.

Rusty

[tims52ford]

first mistake goodyear tires. They are junk.

[Franka548]

Rusty, how often do you replace the 17.5". The dealer that I went to is an independant, not just a Goodyear dealer. Also discount tire was $40 a tire more.
thanks to all for the input.

Frank

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franka548 Rusty, how often do you replace the 17.5".

Dunno yet - I just put them on last summer. I'll see how they look in another 3-4 years.

Rusty

[Franka548]

Mustang 652, the only problem with replacing just the inner tire on a dual tire set up is the chance of mismatching the height. I have always been taught by the tire experts to change both tires on the duals at the same time. always putting the new ones on the front is a smart thing, but if it was me, I would then put the old front ones on the same side duals, just food for thought,
thanks for your response,
Frank

[Franka548]

Rusty, I saw in a previous post where you got the wheels, but now I can't find it, go figure.
thanks in advance.
Frank

[RustyJC]

Trailer Tires and Wheels.com. Ask for Scott.

Rusty

[Gary RVRoamer]

I can understand the no warranty after 4 years - that is not unusual. And I certainly would not expect any manufacturer to stand behind a six year old tire.

But should you replace tires just because they ran out of warranty? I don't think so...

Trailer tires seem to be short lived. I think its because most of them are running right at their max limits, i.e. carrying 100% of the load they are rated for. That kind of stress is tough on any component. ANything that has to give 100% every time it is used is not going to last an "average" amount if time.

[Franka548]

thanks Rusty I will check on that, I might have to get 1 or 2 at a time. and put on in pairs
Gary, I am nowhere near the max on these tires, they are rated abover 3600# each @ 110# and I am at 12,500# on the trailer axles and I run the 110#.

Thanks for the response,
Frank

[mustang652]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franka548 Mustang 652, the only problem with replacing just the inner tire on a dual tire set up is the chance of mismatching the height. I have always been taught by the tire experts to change both tires on the duals at the same time. always putting the new ones on the front is a smart thing, but if it was me, I would then put the old front ones on the same side duals, just food for thought, thanks for your response, Frank

Thanks, that's a darn good point that the walk through mechanic did not consider or mention. This is exactly why I like using forums on my favorite hobby areas. Your idea of putting the both of the old fronts on one side sounds like a much better answer and still allows for the idea spreading out expenses by only having to replace two tires every two years.