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Ripperfarms · 06-26-2013, 08:50 PM

I have a 99 Winnebago Chieftain I bought last Sept from a dealer.

Just the other day I noticed a flat on a inside dual so I took it to a tire place where they said it needed a new tire. So I put one on. $531

I asked them to check the rest and they told me they all had cracks and needed replaced.

I had looked at the side walls several times and not noticed any cracks but when I got it back from the tire place I looked closer (very close) and noticed very small 2 inch long cracks near the rim. The cracks are tiny but still there.

I talked to a couple of people, one of them a truck owner friend of mine, and they said not to worry for a while especially if the cracks are very small.

What do you think?

charliej · 06-26-2013, 08:54 PM

What's the date code on the tire?

Ripperfarms · 06-26-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliej

What's the date code on the tire?

I don't know the date code and right now the motor home is in storage.

But the tire place said the tires were 2005.

Gorlininc · 06-26-2013, 09:51 PM

In my opinion if they are 2005. I'd replace them all. The one tire says its tired. Why take the risk?

docj · 06-26-2013, 09:58 PM

This has been discussed many times. Eight year old tires might be usable if they didn't have any cracks and if they were de-mounted and inspected on the inside. Since there are cracks visible, IMHO there's no way the tires can be considered safe to use.

Mr_D · 06-26-2013, 09:59 PM

The above is not necessarily true!
Per Michelin:

Quote:

"If the cracks are less than 1/32" deep the tire is fine to run. Between 1/32" and 2/32" the tire is suspect and should be examined by your Michelin dealer. If the cracks are any deeper than 2/32" (1/16") the tire should be replaced immediately"

charliej · 06-27-2013, 06:40 AM

I have 1999 coach also, just replaced tires. I figure the new tires may out last the coach or at least as long as I own the coach. Buy yourself some peace of mind.

Good luck.

Bruce C · 06-27-2013, 07:07 AM

I'd replace any tire that old, and with cracks, no question. What's your life or some one else's worth. Why worry. Good luck with your choice. Safe travels.

corvettec3 · 06-27-2013, 07:14 AM

Dave, I too have a '99 Chieftain and like yourself I discovered a blown inside dual last summer and that scared me. I replaced all six tires and then installed a tire monitoring system as well. Life is too short as it is without shortening it any farther.

akeyzoo · 06-27-2013, 09:28 AM

I would replace those tires.

If it makes you feel any better, your tires are "cheap" in comparison. My Michelin 295/80/22.5's are crazy spendy. I just replaced them as I did not feel comfortable with ANY issues, especially on steer tires. It is disconcerting to replace tires with tons of usable tread left, i know, but that is the life of most RV tires.

Chris

JFXG · 06-27-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

The above is not necessarily true!
Per Michelin: "If the cracks are less than 1/32" deep the tire is fine to run. Between 1/32" and 2/32" the tire is suspect and should be examined by your Michelin dealer. If the cracks are any deeper than 2/32" (1/16") the tire should be replaced immediately"

Bear in mind, carefully worded statements like this are inserted at the insistence of the manufacturer's legal department in order to sidestep liability without establishing an absolute life limit. A thirtysecond of an inch? A sixteenth of an inch? Please!!

Separate and apart from that issue, you've bought a set of used tires and you cannot possibly know anything at all about how they were used or abused for the last eight years. Of all the ways that tires can be treated over the course of years, most of them seriously detract from reliability and life expectancy. Overloaded, underinflated, unused for long periods, heavy UV exposure, etc.; all these things damage tires in ways invisible, and would be items of concern even without the cracking. But you have cracks, too. If you can see the cracks in eight year-old tires with the naked eye, then those tires have crossed the line, and should, imho, be replaced.