Tire blows while filling

[Rsteabag]

Hi just a reminder. We were sitting outside enjoying the warm weather when we heard tihs explosin. Got up and went to see what had happened and one road over a fellow in a motor home was inflating his tires. The inside dual blew teraing off the fiberglass skirting in large peices injuring the fellow. They rushed him to the ER for cuts and doon't know what else right now. This AM heard a company changeing all the tires. He wasn't there but assume they were old and should have been changed before this took place. Will try to talk to him when he comes back. But they are right that no matter how good they look change them before they get to 6 years old.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rsteabag Hi just a reminder. We were sitting outside enjoying the warm weather when we heard tihs explosin. Got up and went to see what had happened and one road over a fellow in a motor home was inflating his tires. The inside dual blew teraing off the fiberglass skirting in large peices injuring the fellow. They rushed him to the ER for cuts and doon't know what else right now. This AM heard a company changeing all the tires. He wasn't there but assume they were old and should have been changed before this took place. Will try to talk to him when he comes back. But they are right that no matter how good they look change them before they get to 6 years old.

Yo teabag,

Thanks for reporting this situation and the warning. I am blown away about the 6 year old bit....after all the talk here about the isssues with aging GY 614s. Many folks right here tried to push their luck by going beyond the 4 year limit....trying for the 5 year mark deal and got the big tread seperation or a blow out or two!!! Mine were changed just before their 3rd birthday (30,000+ miles - almost 4 year old date code)....called me anal....just being on the safe side. Can I get a witness???...Rusty, Virg, Gary, etc. etc.

[Tom and Patty]

If I were him I'd but a lotto ticket. Hope he will have a full recovery.

My first question would be was the tire low on air or was he just topping off? If it was low on air it was more likely a "zipper" caused by low air pressure and run low, causing the steel sidewall belts to weaken from the flexing(too much and in the wrong place) and then KABoom. Not all tires have steel sidewall belts, (most trailer tires don't) but run flat damage on a polyester, nylon carcass can have the same results.

I just talked with a tire dealer friend of mine and in the last month they have had 3 zipper explosions. No one was hurt thankfully, the tire assemblies were all in cages. But the explosion did rip shirts and knock the persons backwards more than a few feet.

So...be careful airing up a tire that has run low on air. If 100 psi is proper inflation, 20% low on air pressure is a run flat...80psi. Don't air the tire up until it has been inspected by dismounting the tire.

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockintom Can I get a witness???...Rusty, Virg, Gary, etc. etc.

Amen, brother!! $2,500 worth!! Date code February 04. Tread separations in July and October 2007. Damage shown repaired by Goodyear and all 4 tires replaced as well. Supposedly the new ones are "improved".....we'll see.

Rusty

[herbtrout]

Went down to my tire guy last year to talk new tires, He said I didn't need new tires. No cracks good tread and they were only 8 years old should go to 12 years with no problens. they are G670 goodyears. (2000 Itasca orignal tires )

[MonacoMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by herbtrout Went down to my tire guy last year to talk new tires, He said I didn't need new tires. No cracks good tread and they were only 8 years old should go to 12 years with no problens. they are G670 goodyears. (2000 Itasca orignal tires )

I would get a new tire guy...

[davydee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonacoMama I would get a new tire guy...

Ditto...6 yr old tires put a hole in our TT floor.

[evan0810]

When a tire explodes while filling, is there one place to be that is safer than another? That is, straight on, to the side or does it matter?

[MonacoMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan0810 When a tire explodes while filling, is there one place to be that is safer than another? That is, straight on, to the side or does it matter?

My answer would be "Behind the Tire Guy"

MM

[Tom and Patty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonacoMama My answer would be "Behind the Tire Guy" MM

HEY wait a minute that could be ME

Since the sidewall is the weakest, standing behind or in front of the tire, IMHO would be the best place. That can be hard when most of us have to hold the air chuck on the tires stem....with our face right down there too.

I have to add air twice a year. The experts I sell to always air up my tires. They use a long extension of hose and stand back while adding air.

[RV Wizard]

Don't forget about the weight the tires have been carrying. If overloaded, this too could lead to tire failure when inflating due to the heat that has been generated in the tire when traveling.

[NeilV]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan0810 When a tire explodes while filling, is there one place to be that is safer than another? That is, straight on, to the side or does it matter?

The past two motorhomes I have owned had that covered. "A remote inflation device must be used" when filling motorhome tires. Ford has it specified as putting you clear of the trajectory area while my GM manual had it at 12 or 15 feet from the tire being filled.

Anyone who inflates a tire with an air chuck that has to be hand held directly on a motorhome tire is breaking the rules and puts himself at risk. It is a case of what you don't know can hurt you.

I have mine on a 20 foot coil hose with the gauge and flow valve at the end farthest from the tire.

[mcgillagorilla]

the only real safe way to inflate is to remove from motorhome and put into a tire inflating cage. then inflate tire with right equipment. a lot of people don't use a cage and every year a few people get killed. when tire blows or wheel breaks the pressure is horrific andpeices can travel a ways.

[RedneckExpress]

Ya know, I may be wrong on this in consideration to motorhome tires, but if your tires are losing substantial amounts of air over a month period that you might have a bad fill stem, or a deformed rim, or just a really poor quality tire.

In my size of RV, the tires are 16", and considerably smaller than your given bus-style motorhome. On a given month, I lose maybe 1-2psi. From the way this thread is reading, least to me, it sounds like alot of the Class A tires are losing considerably more PSI over a 30 day period than your average auto tire.