Community Forums

Jerrysizemor · 01-12-2017, 02:25 PM

I just noticed this MH that I bought has no spare tire. I have AAA RV plus roadside assistance. How does it work if I have a blowout.

**CLIFFTALL** · 01-12-2017, 02:29 PM

They'll most likely bring a new tire out to you and charge an outrageous price. I had the room and carried an unmounted spare. This way they could mount it for me and I'd be in my way . This gave me time to shop for a replacement at my leisure.

Tha_Rooster · 01-12-2017, 02:38 PM

If you have road side assistance you will pay probably $50-100 more for the tire than normal. If you don't you will also pay around $150 plus the tire for them to come out, if it's a holiday add another $200. So I know first hand a $700 tire can cost you $1,300.

twinboat · 01-12-2017, 02:41 PM

I think carrying, at least, a spare wheel would be wise.

Most places can get you a tire, but in a blowout you may also need a wheel.

I have a spare tire & wheel. The tire is aged out by 7 years but the wheel is good.

BillJinOR · 01-12-2017, 02:48 PM

Yes roadside will come to you "free" and fix or remove the tire from the wheel and replace it with one they bring to you ( not free and normally full price ) . Commercial trucks do this every day and the service that comes will be one that is probably from a commercial truck tire store. If the size is common they will have one in stock.very few commercial rigs carry spares. You've joined the big rig boys

You can purchase your own and carry it mounted or not but the MH isn't set up for it and you'll have to find a space to store it ( they ain't light) and of course it will time out and need to be replaced same as the ones on the coach,, your chance of using it isn't high so you'll have spent the $ for the extra tire and not needed it. That's the downside .. The upside is you'll have the correct tire and won't be delayed if they have to locate a special size.
Mine is a common size and being a commercial driver for years I'll let them bring me the tire. With care and a little luck I'll be money ahead and I'm done messing with 22.5 tires.
I do carry a spare for the car hauler .. But I can Change it myself if need be and its Much more likely to blowout ... And has!

Mr_D · 01-12-2017, 02:52 PM

An often repeated but not substantiated rumor is that a tire is "aged out by 7 years". Even the tire manufacturers don't say that. They do say they should be inspected by a professional starting at the 5th year and absolutely replaced at 10 years.

Quote:

Michelin Technical Bulletin

Service Life for RV/Motorhome Tires

The following recommendation applies to RV/Motorhome tires. Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber compounds, having performance properties essential to the proper functioning of the tire itself. These component properties evolve over time. For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors such as weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, maintenance, etc.) to which the tire is subjected throughout its life. This service-related evolution varies widely so that accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specific tire in advance is not possible.
That is why, in addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance by consumers, it is recommended to have RV/Motorhome tires, including spare tires, inspected regularly by a qualified tire specialist, such as a tire dealer, who will assess the tire’s suitability for continued service. Tires that have been in use for 5 years or more should continue to be inspected by a specialist at least annually.
Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not only of their tires’ visual condition and inflation pressure, but also of any change in dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration, which could be an indication that the tires need to be removed from service to prevent tire failure.
It is impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their calendar age alone. However, the older a tire the greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to the service-related evolution or other conditions found upon inspection or detected during use.
While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years, it is recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a simple precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they have not reached the legal wear limit.
For tires that were on an original equipment vehicle (i.e., acquired by the consumer on a new vehicle), follow the vehicle manufacturer’s tire replacement recommendations, when specified (but not to exceed 10 years).

The date when a tire was manufactured is located on the sidewall of each tire. Consumers should locate the Department of Transportation or DOT code on the tire that begins with DOT and ends with the week and year of manufacture. For example, a DOT code ending with “0304” indicates a tire made in the 3rd week (Jan) of 2004.

Toyo RV Safety

Tire Damage and Aging (Non-Commercial Use)
Vehicle operating conditions and tire maintenance practices vary widely. Tires should be routinely checked for damage or signs of fatigue or aging. This should be done at scheduled vehicle maintenance intervals and preferably on a lift so that the tires can be thoroughly inspected by a tire professional.
Tire longevity is extremely dependent on factors such as air pressure maintenance. It is recommended that tires be thoroughly examined by a tire professional after reaching five years of service. Even tires with serviceable tread remaining may require replacement prior to wearing out. Tires which have reached a remaining tread depth of 4/32nd should be replaced.
The age of your tire can be determined by reading the sidewall. Every tire has a 10 or 11 digit DOT (Department of Transportation) identifying number on one sidewall.
The last 3 or 4 digits are the most important to you. Older tires have 3 digits, the first two identifying the week of manufacture and the third digit the year when the tire was made. Tires made between 1990 and 1999 may have a triangle alongside the numbers. As from January 2000 4 digits are used, the first two give the week of manufacture and the last two digits tell the year the tire was made.

I just replaced the tires on my rig, they were dated '07. They had no interior or exterior cracking or checking but they were close to 10 years and I didn't want to push it. Four of the tires are 365/70's and hard to get at times, the other four were 315/80's and were in stock. Took them over two months to get the tires in as even Michelin was out of them.

twinboat · 01-12-2017, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

An often repeated but not substantiated rumor is that a tire is "aged out by 7 years". Even the tire manufacturers don't say that. They do say they should be inspected by a professional starting at the 5th year and absolutely replaced at 10 years.
I just replaced the tires on my rig, they were dated '07. They had no interior or exterior cracking or checking but they were close to 10 years and I didn't want to push it. Four of the tires are 365/70's and hard to get at times, the other four were 315/80's and were in stock. Took them over two months to get the tires in as even Michelin was out of them.

When I said " aged out by 7 years ", I meant the tire was manufactured in 1999.

TonyMac · 01-12-2017, 03:10 PM

My parents carried a mounted spare for a decade on a tire carrier attached to an extension in their trailer hitch. They only pulled a toad, no other tongue weight, but it got in the way of checking oil. After a decade of dragging this tire all over the country many times and never needing it, the removed the tire and carrier. They owned this mh for 25 years and sold it, still never needing the spare. I don't have a spare either.

Selah · 01-12-2017, 03:12 PM

Tens of thousands of MH travel millions and millions of miles with out a flat or blowout. Does it happen? Of course. Is it real common? Compared to the number of MH on the road and miles traveled, not really.
It is somewhat of a gamble but the odds are definitely on your side. For myself I do not carry a spare.
You can help prevent tire problems by weighing the coach, maintain proper tire pressure, and always using a TPMS.

jacwjames · 01-12-2017, 04:32 PM

I got lucky and was laid off in 2009. We had just bought the 2002 Windsor so I told my wife "let's go to Alaska". After doing the research and the stories of having flats on the Alcan I decided to invest in a mounted spare. I had just changed the front tires so I had one I could use in a pinch. I bought a rim similar to what I had (mine were discontinued), and made a carrier that fit into the hitch.

Still have the spare, made a different carrier. When I change tires I'll have one put on the rim and get rid of the older one.

Jerrysizemor · 01-12-2017, 04:39 PM

Thank you

Scooter · 01-12-2017, 04:54 PM

You might be able to carry a mounted tire in a compartment. Do you have a pass-thru shelf? Or.....tire and wheel separately....so roadside service can put them together.

wa8yxm · 01-12-2017, 05:32 PM

I have never used any of the road side assistance companies for a flat but.. I have assisted many RVers with flat tires back in the days when I got paid to tell cops where to go (Great job don't you think, and I still get paid too!!!)

We had a list of 24hr x 7 day tire companies who could do truck tires.

We had the RVer (or Semi Driver) read the size and stuff off the side of the tire and we called a provider... They bussed out a tire and installed it, right there on the side of the road.

Sometimes I needed to call 2 or 3 suppliers to find one in stock. but.. That's how we did it.

jmcannonball · 01-13-2017, 08:20 PM

My '05 Excursion has an "indentation" for a spare tire in one of the rear passenger side compartments. When I re'tired all six tires last year, I kept one casing. Haven't had to use it yet, but the price was cheap enough to keep it and the few cents it costs to haul it around are worth it for me.