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04-07-2017, 07:17 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 512
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Tire blowout
2004 35 foot diesel pusher with 3 year old Firestones with thick tread. Eastbound I 10 at Cabazon/Morongo Casino, pointed to the windmill farm at Palm Springs.
Yesterday, my left front tire hit something at 60 mph. I never saw the object but it probaby was 3 to 4 inches tall. I thought I hit a deep pot hole. 30 seconds later hell broke loose. Rumbling, steering, rubber shapnal, smell of burnt rubber, smoke and noise. I worked the steering and applied the brakes which began losing stopping ability because the tire came apart and spun on the wheel.
Luckily, I was at the exit for a closed scale house so it gave me a wide place to stop and remain for repairs. This is on a very busy traffic artery. As I went to see the damage, I expected to see major trouble but I was lucky there was no collateral damage and having a wide place to stop and stay.
The side walls and plys of steel wire stayed loosly on the wheel bot the tred lay on the ground nearby. No body or wheel well damage and I expected to see a big expensive mess. The Alcoa wheel was cushiond by the tire carcus so no damage.
I googled "tire service near me" and found 2 within 2 miles Because of the high volume of truck traffic entering the LA area from the east).
I called and arranged the purchase of a new tire (275 70 22.5) for $275 and $100 for roadside tire change. A truck arrived in 45 minutes and got me rolling. I chose a Chineese built tire (good looking tire). Michellen was $525.
All because my tire hit an object on the road surface. I was on the freeway for 2.5 hours and no police or other service check came by. Not that I needed or wanted them.
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04-07-2017, 07:20 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Foley, AL
Posts: 1,093
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Glad everybody/everything turned out ok! Safe travels!
__________________
Les & Pam Warden
(Tiffin) 2017 Phaeton 40QBH; 2023 Wayfarer 25RW (coming soon)
2016 Jeep JKUS with Ready Brute Elite towbar
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04-07-2017, 08:00 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ca
Posts: 1,076
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Good job. Proves once again the value of skilled driving. There is no need to crash due to a front tire failure.
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04-07-2017, 08:22 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,510
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Wow, that's significant damage. Michelin? I've had 4 blowouts over the 28 years I've been driving an RV; never had one that looked like that. I can't see an "object" causing that. I wonder if the first "hit" you felt was actually a section of tread separating, followed by the complete failure?
__________________
You don't stop playing because you grow old...You grow old because you stop playing!
2004 Itasca M30W
'20 Can Am X3 X RS Turbo RR, '85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310
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04-07-2017, 08:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Steve, you were one lucky guy!
I'm sure you know that applying the brakes is a big no-no, but I know we just instinctively do that!
Do you have any kind of steering stabilizers on the rig?
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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04-07-2017, 08:58 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 776
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A great ending to a potentially disastrous story. Congratulations on handling it properly and delighted it was resolved with a minimum of cost and inconvenience.
__________________
Joseph and Sandy
Arizona Sunbirds
(Snowbirds in Reverse)
Winnebago Chieftain / Ford Hybrid Toad
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04-07-2017, 09:01 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4x4van
Wow, that's significant damage. Michelin? I've had 4 blowouts over the 28 years I've been driving an RV; never had one that looked like that. I can't see an "object" causing that. I wonder if the first "hit" you felt was actually a section of tread separating, followed by the complete failure?
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It was an object for sure. It felt and abruply sounded like the tire hit a 2 inch curb head on at 60mph. The tread ring was still intact in circunference so it came loose off the carcuss. Luckily it went off and away from flapping the boday and air hose apart.
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04-07-2017, 09:13 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers
Steve, you were one lucky guy!
I'm sure you know that applying the brakes is a big no-no, but I know we just instinctively do that!
Do you have any kind of steering stabilizers on the rig?
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If i hadnt applied the brakes, I think the rim would have been detroyed. I needed to stop asap. Also there was a smell of burning rubber. In my case I got it stopped and got eyes on it quickly with my son right behind me holding a fure extinguisher.
It was the right procedure in this scenario. You can choose your own reactions but i dont see how someone can armchair a "always" do it my way. Many variables at work.
No added stabilizers but I do try to pay attention when Im steering.
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04-07-2017, 09:17 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 512
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Heres the tread ring.
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04-07-2017, 09:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,145
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Application of the brakes is always necessary to get stopped. You just don't hit the brakes immediately. When you have the steering under control, then you can apply the brakes judiciously while maintaining control to bring the coach to a safe stop. It appears that is what Steve did, and did a great job of doing it. I have had a front blowout and handled it the same way. Way to go Steve. Glad everyone is safe and no coach damage.
__________________
Zeb and Teena (In my heart)
2005 Mandalay, 2013 Ford Edge
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04-07-2017, 12:03 PM
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#11
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
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Wow, looks like you really lucked out on that one. Sorry for your problem, but it got resolved cheaply.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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04-07-2017, 02:45 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: B.C.
Posts: 4,638
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I'll say great job as well. You are very lucky that there was no body damage. It is amazing how a tire can come apart that fast even though you got stopped very quickly.
That says nothing bad about Firestone because I have seen many different brands do the same thing.
I know that stretch of road and it is very busy all the time. At least you got a good safe place to get off the road.
__________________
Dennis & Marcie & Captain Hook The Jack Russell,aka PUP, 2006 Itasca 29R 2017 Equinox toad. RVM59
We came, we went, nothing broken, nothing bent!
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04-07-2017, 03:58 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,510
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Yup, I actually live right there, in Banning. One of the busiest stretches of freeway in the nation.
__________________
You don't stop playing because you grow old...You grow old because you stop playing!
2004 Itasca M30W
'20 Can Am X3 X RS Turbo RR, '85 ATC250R, '12 Husky TE310
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04-07-2017, 04:11 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,387
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Thanks for posting your experience.
Cool head, good outcome... Like you said, many variables.
__________________
Larry and Prissy Sharp
2006 Allegro Bay 37DB
2012 Toyota Yaris
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