Community Forums

Tireman9 · 06-11-2017, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I tried that with our '02 DSDP. Took it to a Les Schwab and asked for them to inspect the tires. Kid came out, looked at a couple of the tires and said "Yep, they're cracked" and walked away!

Good example of why I suggest people go to a company owned store for brand of tires they have. They might have been exposed to some minimal level of training and do have contacts with company engineers. "Dealers" jsut worry about unit sales.

CampDaven · 06-11-2017, 12:36 PM

Tireman9, many thanks for the experience, knowledge and expertise you have shared on iRV2!
Understanding the science of tires has taught many RVers on the importance of proper tire maintenance.
And tires may seem expensive, but amortized over 7 years makes them more tolerable.
If a set of 6 costs $4000, over the useful/safe lifetime they are $47/month. So, putting off one dinner for 2 each month pays for tires. Nifty, eh?
Oh, this means if you go 10 years....it's about $33/month; you're only "saving" 14 bucks a month vs the 7 year plan. [emoji11]

RayChez1 · 06-12-2017, 10:40 AM

To me it is a no brainer to take a chance on a tires blowing up and the damage that can occur to the wheel wells, plus if the coach rolls over, it could be your life you are playing with.

I have seen the damage of blow outs and it is not pretty.

Why do you think tire companies only insure most tires up to five years. They know that after five years they would be losing money on warranties.

awol50 · 06-12-2017, 01:11 PM

And any tire in good physical condition that comes off an RV because of age alone ends up on an over the road truck and goes for years and tens of thousands of miles more.
I guess those dumb as a doorknob professional drivers just all end up in the ditch as all those RV tires blow. Right?

Cacique · 06-12-2017, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awol50

And any tire in good physical condition that comes off an RV because of age alone ends up on an over the road truck and goes for years and tens of thousands of miles more.
I guess those dumb as a doorknob professional drivers just all end up in the ditch as all those RV tires blow. Right?

I am with you on this !!!
maybe these truck drivers just don't know anything about driving or maintainning a roadworthy vehicle. Being on tha road everyday and driving hours and hundreds of miles every single day, does not qualify them as proffecionals.

CampDaven · 06-12-2017, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awol50

And any tire in good physical condition that comes off an RV because of age alone ends up on an over the road truck and goes for years and tens of thousands of miles more.

FYI, OTR drivers average 10 to 13K miles per month, 120 to over 150K per year. They change out steer tires at 100 to 150K. Maybe a bit more on the drive tires.
So, about once per year, the truck tires are gone to the trailer or hay wagons.
And they USUALLY drive with good trailer tires, not recaps, so a year on any old RV take-offs would be about right. But their risk on a trailer tire is only time in expensive delays, not damage to the trailer.
Everyone RVer chooses their own level of risk, but sometimes doesn't consider the possible costs in collateral damage to an RV that can far exceed the value of a tire by MANY times!
Best wishes, and good luck

Murf2u · 06-12-2017, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayChez1

But I still read some posts here claiming they go ten years. LOL! That is insane!

Oh man, you drank the Kool-Aid didn't you?

The tire shop that looks after my fleet does a LOT of roadside service on heavy trucks, OTR and off-road both, in our local region. The owner LOVES motorhome owners because every time he sees one he gets a new-to-him set of 'death trap' 5 year old tires.

He tells me he's never yet had one fail before it was below minimum tread depth for commercial service and had to be replaced anyways.

Because of what I do and where I go, I go back and forth between Toronto and Florida probably 5 or 6 times a year by road and have done so for 20+ years. I've yet to see a motorhome in the ditch, or even on the side of the road, with an "exploded tire".

Trailers yes, motorhomes no.

BTW, mine have a DOT code of "1608", no dry rot, not cracking, no worries.

awol50 · 06-12-2017, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murf2u

Oh man, you drank the Kool-Aid didn't you?

The tire shop that looks after my fleet does a LOT of roadside service on heavy trucks, OTR and off-road both, in our local region. The owner LOVES motorhome owners because every time he sees one he gets a new-to-him set of 'death trap' 5 year old tires.

He tells me he's never yet had one fail before it was below minimum tread depth for commercial service and had to be replaced anyways.

Because of what I do and where I go, I go back and forth between Toronto and Florida probably 5 or 6 times a year by road and have done so for 20+ years. I've yet to see a motorhome in the ditch, or even on the side of the road, with an "exploded tire".

Trailers yes, motorhomes no.

BTW, mine have a DOT code of "1608", no dry rot, not cracking, no worries.

People will believe what they want to believe. The first RV that I had I bought brand new in 2000. Sold it in 2016 with around 23k miles. Absent a little tread the tires looked brand new.
Yet some on this forum either think I am a liar or dillusional.
I think it is more likely either other people whose sun baked, stored outside or abused tires gave them much shorter service time or they just drank the coolaid and can't/dont want to believe they got duped into throwing away perfectly good tires.

navycamp · 06-19-2017, 01:15 PM

I had 11 years on my Goodyear G670s from when the RV was new. Replaced with Michelins for ride concerns this Spring. There was nothing wrong with the Goodyears except that I couldn't get a good balance from day one. Apparently a known issue in the 22.5 inch tires. Like everything else on the coach, maintenance is key. I expect to get 10+ years out of the new tires before I replace the fronts. BTW, tires that get put on farm equipment will generally sit for 3-5 months out of the year except for planting and harvesting time. Never seen a blowout in almost 40 years of farming and RVing experience where a road hazard wasn't the cause. Premature cracking is usually from over exposure to the sun. Replace as often as you want, but please do the required inspections and maintenance, and keep your tires covered from the sun. Use only recommended tire dressings (no petroleum based products).

Cacique · 06-19-2017, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by navycamp

I had 11 years on my Goodyear G670s from when the RV was new. Replaced with Michelins for ride concerns this Spring. There was nothing wrong with the Goodyears except that I couldn't get a good balance from day one. Apparently a known issue in the 22.5 inch tires. Like everything else on the coach, maintenance is key. I expect to get 10+ years out of the new tires before I replace the fronts. BTW, tires that get put on farm equipment will generally sit for 3-5 months out of the year except for planting and harvesting time. Never seen a blowout in almost 40 years of farming and RVing experience where a road hazard wasn't the cause. Premature cracking is usually from over exposure to the sun. Replace as often as you want, but please do the required inspections and maintenance, and keep your tires covered from the sun. Use only recommended tire dressings (no petroleum based products).

i agree with you on everything