Community Forums

Wayne M · 08-01-2011, 09:22 PM

My coach is stored under a covered roof. Also, since Aug 2008, I have put over 30,000 miles on those tires, so they get a work out. While on the road I do not put covers on them, but I'm going to purchase something I saw that attaches by suction cups, hangs down from the body, and protects the tire from UV.

Wanabee FTer · 08-01-2011, 09:39 PM

Ties can be covered but not really protected. There are many posts about oils from the tires leaching out into cement storage pads. That's what ruined my last set. I will be much more careful now about what the tires are sitting on when stored.

VanDiemen23 · 08-01-2011, 09:57 PM

I got rid of a 5 yr old set of cracked michelins this weekend. My neighbor got some on his class C from the factory, they cracked, he b*!%hed about it, got new ones, and they cracked.

IIRC the really bad cracking was mostly tires manufactured in a certain time frame, but michelin has had minor cracking problems for years.

My tires never gave me any reason to doubt the sidewall integrity, but the compound had turned to junk and gas mileage had dropped off significantly.

FDchief · 08-01-2011, 09:58 PM

Being in a Fire Department with a huge fleet, I have seen lots of tires on heavy equipment of all types experience different issues from time to time. Many with tandem walker rear axles and super steer axles up front that were hard on tires. In fact the only tires we could get any wear out of at all were Michelins. The Good Years were our second choice. They sit inside on a concrete pad in California and we have never had any cracking in the seven years of service before our routine change out.

On my own motorhome I just changed out my 02 date coded Michelins and never had a problem. Do cover your tires and check your pressures every trip.

Dunner · 08-01-2011, 11:44 PM

I've had two Michelins blow out while towing my 5er. Both times, it took out the right rear of my truck. The first time Janet Stevens of Michelin told me after they inspected the tire, it was determined it was run flat. RUN FLAT my butt. When it goes Kabooom with 80 PSI, IT IS NOT RUN FLAT. I had to eat the cost of a new tire and my $1000 deductible. The second time, I had an independent company inspect the tire and they determined it was a defective tire. Michelin paid my deductible. Both tires were less than 2 years old with very few miles on them. The day after I got home I went to Discount Tire and told them to take every Michelin off of my truck, including the new spare. I had them put on Goodyear Silent Armor and have not had a problem since. Do not trust Michelin. If it has cracks, they should replace them at their cost.

The AZ MH I just bought was stored indoors and has `04 Goodyear's on it with zero cracks.

Mr_D · 08-02-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner

I've had two Michelins blow out while towing my 5er. Both times, it took out the right rear of my truck. The first time Janet Stevens of Michelin told me after they inspected the tire, it was determined it was run flat. RUN FLAT my butt. When it goes Kabooom with 80 PSI, IT IS NOT RUN FLAT. I had to eat the cost of a new tire and my $1000 deductible.

A tire that is 20% low on pressure is considered to have been "run flat". There's no way you can catch that by just looking at or "thumping" a tire. You may have picked up a nail or screw and the tire went down enough to run it at low pressure. It only takes a mile or so and the tire blows.

Dunner · 08-02-2011, 04:13 AM

Forgot to mention. My TPMS never beeped or changed color. I check tire temps about every 5 minutes. Also, a tire is going to look like it was run flat in the 10 seconds it take to stop.

Elkhartjim · 08-02-2011, 04:59 AM

I am certain WayneM started this thread just to suggest we not only check our tires for pressure but to also do a visible check for any damage and now its turned into a thread on why Michelins are better than GY are vice versa, why tires fail, etc.

Thanks Wayne for the reminder; I can always use reminders.