Community Forums

Graeagle55 · 06-16-2017, 09:52 PM

We are just starting a trip from California to North Carolina. This is the first day of our trip and as we began set up at our first stop her in Winnemucca, I noticed we have a flat tire.

It is the outside rear dual. I believe what happened is that I must have loosened the valve when I new TPMS sensors and it just went flat. The TPMS was losing sensors and at one point reported high pressure (125 psi) but I thought it was ok since I hadn't set the base pressure correctly. Anyway, final result is that we are stuck here with one flat tire.

I tried airing it up and it does hold air but the sidewalls are all wavy. So I do not think it is safe. I called Coach-Net and they are trying to find a tire but were not able on Friday night before closing.

Here is my question - Is it safe to have the flat tire removed and drive the coach a few hundred miles to a tire shop to get it fixed? I would like to use FMCA Michelin Advantage program but there are no dealers here in Winnemucca. There are in Reno (backtracking) and Salt Lake City.

As it is we are probably going to have to stay here until Monday which is the earliest any dealer here in town can get the tires. I know I need to move the front tires to the rear dual and get two new tires for the front. I don't think they have my XZA2 tires anymore either. So it will cost me much more to wait and have local dealer do it Monday.

I guess I could also try to put some air in the bad tire but it doesn't look good.

Any help or suggestions welcome!

Mr_D · 06-16-2017, 09:56 PM

No, it's NOT safe to drive it at all. The interior tire had all the load that should have been shared. Both tires need to be replaced.

vsheetz · 06-16-2017, 09:57 PM

If one tire in a dual pair has been run flat, the other tire in the pair has been running overloaded. It may well be damaged by this overloaded condition. So you would be riding on two compromised tires. If one should blowout, the resulting damage by flying and flapping chunks of tire to the coach could be substantial. I don't think I would drive a few hundred miles at highway speeds...

bobcovey · 06-17-2017, 02:29 AM

Like you, I've had a valve core stick open when checking pressure and discovered a flat tire the next morning. No big deal, inflated it with the air system and went on our way. Yes, I checked it a couple of times that day, but when it sidn't drop pressure I forgot about it and enjoyed the trip.

Ok, MAYBE the tire is unsafe, MAYBE the mate is compromised, but before I spent a bunch of money replacing them I'd air them up and get to a tire shop to see what is really wrong. If it is just the valve, replace it and hit the road.

Just my experience.

Cheers,

G Schulz · 06-17-2017, 08:10 AM

I'm with Mr. D on this one. If the side walls are wavy those tires are not safe. If they blow you most likely will have more things to replace than just tires.

TonyDi · 06-17-2017, 08:32 AM

It is not safe at all you are putting the load intended for two tires on one. You would be asking for a catastrophic tire failure.]

As MR_D said you may have ruined the inner tire. Have it replaced.

JoeSR · 06-17-2017, 08:42 AM

FWIW, I had a similar experience last year.

The inside dual went flat. No TPMS. I caught the problem in the morning as we were preparing to leave the campground.

There were no punctures in the tire. The tire tech claimed that he could hear the tire popping as he aired it up. The tire sidewall had one major wave in it.

I replaced that tire and its mate on the spot. The tech did not have a strong opinion one way or the other on the second tire.

When I got home, I asked my local tire guy for his opinion. It was similar to the on the road tire tech.

Mudfrog · 06-17-2017, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Here is my question - Is it safe to have the flat tire removed and drive the coach a few hundred miles to a tire shop to get it fixed?

I would not drive it at all with just one tire at the end of the axle. If both tires inflate and hold air, then i might drive it a short distance (50 miles maybe) at a slower speed. I would not attempt to drive it a few hundred miles!

Triker56 · 06-17-2017, 09:51 AM

First you don't have to buy the same make of tires for the front 2. Just get the same size.

Second I would get a different TPMS system. That could tell me of a low PSI in a tire.

flywithcoop · 06-17-2017, 10:20 AM

I had a inside rear tire go flat and I have no idea how far I drove with it flat. Called tire service and tech could not find a reason why it went flat. Both tires looked good and Tech said to use them. Have been using the same tires since. This happened in NC last summer so I Drove home to OH checking tire pressure at every stop. This past winter took a trip to CA and back to OH. Still using the same tires. BTW they are Michelins. As far as driving on one rear tire it all depends on the load on that side on the RV. Your front tires are not doubles but support a lot of weight. This is my experience and I do not offer any opinion on whether your tires are good or bad or whether one rear tire will support the RV weight on that side.

mrt_1111 · 06-18-2017, 03:14 AM

"It is the outside rear dual. I believe what happened is that I must have loosened the valve when I new TPMS sensors and it just went flat. The TPMS was losing sensors and at one point reported high pressure (125 psi) but I thought it was ok since I hadn't set the base pressure correctly. Anyway, final result is that we are stuck here with one flat tire. "

Who is the manufacture of your TPMS?

Graeagle55 · 06-18-2017, 09:28 AM

Update - I have ordered two new tires from the Les Schwab here in Winnemucca and they will be here tomorrow, Monday. $1600 and 2 days stuck here waiting but being safe. I put about 50 lbs of air in the tire and will drive it over to the shop. It's only about 2 miles. Hopefully we will be on our way by noon tomorrow!

As for the TPMS. It is a Doran and I have had it since 2008. No problems and I love it! But a few weeks ago we were getting ready to hit the road I kept losing sensors. Since it had been 5 years since I replaced them, I ordered new ones. On this particular tire the outside dual, and the other side outside dual, I had a hard time screwing the sensor down onto the valve stem. On those two tire the stem was tight. Don't know why. I loosened the core about half a turn to get better contact with the sensor and it must have been too much and caused the leak. That is what I'm thinking. I don't know why the unit is not working now. It is losing sensors for some reason. I will get with Doran after the tires get fixed and figure it out. They have excellent service and I know they will help me figure it out!