Community Forums

baraff · 06-02-2016, 06:47 AM

When we bought our Aspect, all six tires (Michelins) had significant sidewall cracking. The coach was five years old at the time and had 50,000 miles on the clock, so these tires were not sitting around dry rotting in some RV storage lot. The previous owners used this coach regularly.
I bought six new BF Goodrich Commercial T/As shortly after we bought the coach, since then four have failed, all rears, all broken belts, no blowouts, thank God. They all failed at about the 27,000 mile mark and were replaced under warranty.
Needless to say, I don't think these tires are robust enough for RV use and am considering going back to Michelins, which have three steel belts rather than Goodrich's two belts.
But I don't want to deal with the sidewall cracking issue either. It annoyed me to no end that Michelin's response was that sidewall cracking was "normal" and nothing to worry about unless the cracks were .X" deep. Sorry, but that's just BS in my book. Tires should not crack after five years of regular use.
Is this still a problem with Michelins?

twinboat · 06-02-2016, 07:14 AM

Kind of funny that your trashing Michelin tires as your Goodrich tires are comming apart under you.

Maybe try another brand ?

dieselclacker · 06-02-2016, 07:35 AM

I switched from Michelins due to cracking sidewalls also. I now run Toyo tires front and rear. After six years on rear, no cracking at all, just replaced the fronts this year. My motorhome uses size 245/70 R 19.5 tires, The Toyos I chose are the M-143 load range H.
Make sure you get a tire with enough load rating to handle the weight of your coach, regardless of the brand you choose.

baraff · 06-02-2016, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Kind of funny that your trashing Michelin tires as your Goodrich tires are comming apart under you.

Maybe try another brand ?

I'm trashing Michelins as they were back when I bought the motorhome. Hopefully they and their corporate policy have improved, which is what I'm asking.
Your reply was less than helpful.

baraff · 06-02-2016, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselclacker

I switched from Michelins due to cracking sidewalls also. I now run Toyo tires front and rear. After six years on rear, no cracking at all, just replaced the fronts this year. My motorhome uses size 245/70 R 19.5 tires, The Toyos I chose are the M-143 load range H.
Make sure you get a tire with enough load rating to handle the weight of your coach, regardless of the brand you choose.

The Goodrich tires were load range E, which is well within specs for my motorhome. I think they were just defective, as they all failed within a thousand miles of each other.
I will look into the Toyo's, but not sure they make the size I need. Thanks.

HD4Mark · 06-02-2016, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baraff

I'm trashing Michelins as they were back when I bought the motorhome. Hopefully they and their corporate policy have improved, which is what I'm asking.
Your reply was less than helpful.

We had one blow out and one bubble on a sidewall on our first set of Michelins. After checking the date codes I found they were way overdue for replacement. No sidewall cracking though. We put six new Michelins on and so far no problems. Haven't had them long enough or enough miles on them to tell. We always put covers on them if parked for more than a few days. Cheap insurance and looks nice.

I try to buy American and some Michelin are made here or Canada. My one experience with Chinese tires on our boat trailer was not good.

Triker56 · 06-02-2016, 08:34 AM

Years ago I had 2 Michelin zipper blow outs within 6 years. Michelin still has the same O warranty for sidewall cracks now as they did then.

I switched to Good Year G670's with a 7 year warranty on sidewall cracks.
Now on my second set of H 275/70/22.5. Replaced 1st set at 10 years 3 months with not the first crack in them.

Now until July 31 get a $40 a tire rebate on G670's

MSHappyCampers · 06-02-2016, 02:57 PM

Wasn't it a particular kind of Michelins, something like "XRV's maybe, that was giving all the problems?

twogypsies · 06-02-2016, 04:19 PM

We ran with Michilins for 8 years without issue.

dieselclacker · 06-03-2016, 07:51 AM

I just replaced the Michelin XZE tires I put on the front of our motorhome six years ago. They had some pretty serious sidewall cracking. The original XRV Michelins were about the same age when they were replaced, also due to sidewall cracking. I replaced the original rear tires with Toyo M-143 tires, and the front original tires with Michelin XZE tires. The Toyos still look like new. Last month, I replaced the badly cracked XZE front tires with Toyo M-143's. No more Michelin tires for the motorhome. They are a comfortable tire, ride and drive very well, I just can't handle the cracking issues I have experienced with them.
,

Smitty77 · 06-06-2016, 09:48 AM

About 6 1/2 years on Michelin XZE* 12R 22.5 tires.

-Lost two of them to a pot hole impact. One broken cord, and one slipped cord. But IMO, the robust overbuilt construction of the XZE* allowed them to survive the impact. A lesser tire could have easily resulted in a blowout.

-I had the tires inspected by a gent I trust at TCI Tire Center in Lakeside, California - just East of San Diego. He did a thorough inspection. Asked me if I had installed the tires, or were the on the rig when I bought it. I asked why? And he said that he knew from my previous coach that I took care of tires, kept PSI's at proper level. Where as if I had bought the coach with the tires on it, no way of knowing how they were treated before I bought it. It was his opinion, the we could have gone another season on the remaining 6 tires (Out of 8.). He said he saw no evidence of problems, and would not recommend dismounting the tires to inspect them. (He said if I had not had total control of the tires, he would have insisted on dismounting them before giving advise.)

-These tires were washed at least every 3 months, and Aerospace 303 installed at that time. I ran them at the above the recommended weight chart PSI, for added contingency while traveling.

So for this set of Michelin XZE*, after 6 1/2 years - no problems.

I did elect to replace them before heading out on this years trip, but more so because I'd had problems locating fresh stock when I needed to replace the two damaged ones last year. And sure enough, this year their was another shortage in my size tires again. The dealer, remember - Dude that said I was good to go for another year - did have an alternate size tire that were 5 weeks old. So, I went ahead and had them installed. The XZA2, they ride nicer with their less stiff sidewalls. And are more energy efficient then the XZE*'s too. They weight about 18 lbs less, so not as robust in construction to handle the delivery and bus curb scrubbing that the XZE* were designed for. But I feel they are very good tires, and so far with about 4K miles on them - very pleased with them.

Has Michelin, and other manufactures, solved the problems of sidewall cracking? Well no. Only two tires are designed with UV protection in them, and they're tires I would not want on my coach.

Take care of your tires, and they'll take care of you. Don't save on budget when it comes to tires, as they're the only thing that moves you forward, turns, and stops - buy the best quality tire you can for your coaches, and cars. ($.02)

Best to all,
Smitty