Community Forums

Zapper58 · 05-01-2018, 06:32 PM

Hello all, I have been researching this topic and finally went out and measured and inspected my rear tires. The outer tires on both sides of the Motorhome have cracks , they avarage 2-3/32" deep and not very long. One tire has it at the base of the tread at the sidewall halfway around. The inside of the outer tires are fine no cracks and also the inner duals are ok. Need some advice , maybe put the 2 inner tires on the same side and 2 new tires on the other? Or let it go for a while. Thanks, Jim.

BFlinn181 · 05-01-2018, 06:48 PM

How old are the tires? The date is stamped on the rubber sidewall. I'd take the RV to a Michelin dealer and ask about the cracks and if you have any recourse. You can also do a search of the forum using the box at the top right with the Google logo, this has been discussed before.

stuhly · 05-01-2018, 06:48 PM

My advice would be to go buy some Hankooks and get the stinking Michelins off before you have a blowout and do some real expensive damage to your coach.

MnTom · 05-01-2018, 06:49 PM

The cracks I saw look like the ones I saw after a tire was run low and it heated up.

CJ7365 · 05-01-2018, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

How old are the tires? The date is stamped on the rubber sidewall. I'd take the RV to a Michelin dealer and ask about the cracks and if you have any recourse. You can also do a search of the forum using the box at the top right with the Google logo, this has been discussed before.

I believe the top pic has the date stamp 47/11

**Spdracr39** · 05-02-2018, 05:30 AM

yep 4/11 = april 2011 way past time to retire them. They are doomed to fail.

grindstone01 · 05-02-2018, 06:46 AM

I had Michelins on my Chevy dually last year with simular side wall cracking and also made in 2011. I had planned on getting new tires and was 20 miles away from son's house to include tire replacement when the rear dually blew. So I got 4 new Michelins and put the best 2 on the front. I was thinking of selling the truck and didn't want to buy 6 tires. Well a month ago, one of the front tires blew out, so I ended up buying 2 more Michelins. Sometimes you try to save and it dosen't work out.

jbrv · 05-02-2018, 07:58 AM

So let me see if i read this right.

The inside of the outer tires are fine no cracks and also the inner duals are ok.????

So the two parts not getting sun exposure and not getting whatever chemical you put on them to keep them black and shiny are fine but the sides that get sun or chemicals or both are cracked. Hmmmm

Zapper58 · 05-02-2018, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrv

So let me see if i read this right.

The inside of the outer tires are fine no cracks and also the inner duals are ok.????

So the two parts not getting sun exposure and not getting whatever chemical you put on them to keep them black and shiny are fine but the sides that get sun or chemicals or both are cracked. Hmmmm

yep, the tires were cracked when I bought the MH 1.5 years ago, but not that bad. They were shined up at the time also. I used rubber roof treatment on the tires just yesterday, first time I have applied any tire dressing. I have a 800 mile trip coming up soon is my main consern.

dieselclacker · 05-02-2018, 08:50 AM

At replacement time, remember which tire brand is giving you the cracking problem, then purchase another brand.

Zapper58 · 05-02-2018, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselclacker

At replacement time, remember which tire brand is giving you the cracking problem, then purchase another brand.

For sure, thx.

kerryvan · 05-02-2018, 09:05 AM

Recent posts have indicated Toyo is a less expensive quality replacement. 144 is most popular then 154

Dutch Star Don · 05-02-2018, 02:35 PM

It's up to you.....there is a lot of argument as to how long these tires last and at what point you replace them. Some say five years, most say seven years and a few push them to ten years. A lot has to do with your financial situation. Sometimes you take a chance and balance between buying expensive new tires or pushing them a year or so more and having an expensive blowout and ruining a trip.

Your date stamp indicates that tire was built in the 47th week of 2011. That means in a few more months, it will be seven years old. Personally, I would replace them before they let go and do damage that is twice what a new set costs. Do the rears first, wait awhile and then do the fronts to spread out the costs.

I'm a huge fan of Hankooks and will be replacing my Michelin's with Hankooks if available in my size.

wingnuts · 05-02-2018, 03:23 PM

I would do the fronts first if you can't do all 6 at the same time. ...a front tire blowing on the freeway is Alot more dangerous than the rears...

It's always a good idea to have the freshest tires up front

Check out simple tire.com for some good deals. ..