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Like death and taxes...one of the OEM Trailer King tires on my Keystone Cougar 327RES had a tread separation while doing about 60mph on I-10, in San Antonio, on a Sunday morning. Three years old and about 10K miles so I was due I guess. I was lucky in that 1) I was able to get off the interstate safely and 2) was only about a mile from a small tire shop that was open and could swap on the spare. Four new Sailun 235/85r16's going on next week.
To those of you considering buying a new travel trailer or 5th wheel...make sure the dealer gives you quality, reputable tires.
does not hurt to save the tire, get the DOT numbers off of it and see if you can get any money from tireco. It did not last and may have some warranty.
does not hurt to save the tire, get the DOT numbers off of it and see if you can get any money from tireco. It did not last and may have some warranty.
How did you know it happened? Hear or see it? I've seen campers scooting along with a blown tire but had no way of letting the driver know (we were heading opposite directions).
How did you know it happened? Hear or see it? I've seen campers scooting along with a blown tire but had no way of letting the driver know (we were heading opposite directions).
It was the front tire on the driver side of the RV, I just happened to look in my mirror and saw all types of stuff flying off my rig. I briefly thought I ran over something but stuff kept flying...the tarp material in the wheel well, insulation, and tire. Then my tire pressure monitor went off. I didn't hear anything. I immediately put my hazards on and all the cars behind me knew exactly what was happening and slowed down and flashed their lights to let me know it was OK to move to the shoulder. I was right at a major interchange so I had to merge across 3 or 4 lanes. The trailer swayed a little but not much really. When I got out to take a look I could hear air hissing out but the tire maintained about 40lbs of pressure as we limped to the tire shop. Big hats off to the good folks at the Villasenor Tire Shop. They swapped out the spare, checked all the pressures on the other tires and even bent back part of the outer shell metal material and screwed it back into place (the part hanging down in the photo). They could have really stuck it to me as I didn't have a jack capable of doing the swap myself. They charged me $3 (I gave them alot more than that). In this contentious election season it restored my faith humanity.
Good advice from senix but you know they will tell you that you ran it under inflated or over inflated or you hit a curb bla, bla. I took an "almost" new GY Marathon tire to the dealer with a grapefruit size bubble on the side.......still on the wheel. First thing he said, "oh you hit the curb huh?" I said the bubble is on the inside of the wheel, how do you hit a curb that way?
Still wouldn't replace it until I called GY corporate with pics. Finally got it replaced at which time I sold all of them to a guy with a small utility trailer. I replaced all of the GY Marathons on my new 5th wheel when I got it home with Sailun S637's ....best thing you can do for any big trailer.
Good advice from senix but you know they will tell you that you ran it under inflated or over inflated or you hit a curb bla, bla.
Yeah, I figured as much. I'll make an attempt to get something back but won't waste too much of my time. There's a used tire shop nearby, I'll see if they're interested in the remaining 3. One is actually a GY Marathon as a nail got one of the Trailer Kings last year. Although, I'm not really sure I want to pass along an unsafe tire to someone else...kharma and all.
Just read the RV forums about Trailer Kngs and Marathons, and you'll have a hard time leaving them on your rig. Seems like you either have or will have a blowout on those no matter how careful you are. Hope you're happy with your Sailuns. I have them and no problems with a lot of confidence.
Michelin XPS Rib man myself had them on the old 5th for 30K+ 4years, towed east coast to west in all weather extremes and they still looked great when I sold the rig.
First thing I did when I bought the new 2010 5th was had the tire shop go to the dealer and take the Marathons off and put the XPS's on with a spare tire also.
Michelin XPS Rib man myself had them on the old 5th for 30K+ 4years, towed east coast to west in all weather extremes and they still looked great when I sold the rig.
First thing I did when I bought the new 2010 5th was had the tire shop go to the dealer and take the Marathons off and put the XPS's on with a spare tire also.
Me too. I run the Michelins pretty hard and they don't let me down. Just got back from a 3000 mile trip and the last 13 hours of that trip were pulling from New Mexico to Houston in 100 degree heat down I10. The rest of the trailer is being rattled apart, but the tires are fine.
I fell your pain.... July 4th week 2014. Goodyear Marathons.... 16 month old, about 5000 miles on them. On the way from Houston to Denver. Two blowouts and one belt separation that was almost a blowout. About $3500 in damage to both sides of the RV.
Discount tire gave me four new Marathons since I bought their warranty. I told them just put them in the bed of the truck. Don't even mount them up. Instead had four Goodyear (made in USA) Unisteel G614 RST 235/85R16 tires installed instead. No more China bombs!
Sold the new Marathons later on Craigslist to recoup some of the cost of the G614's.
So far I'm loving the G614s. I swear the trailer pulls easier and straighter. lol
Wow. I'm surprised NHTSA isn't all over these manufacturers. For that matter I'm surprised every junior lawyer isn't all over the RV forums looking for a quick litigious buck. I've got an appointment to get the Sailuns installed tomorrow. I'm actually nervous about making the 2 mile trip to NTB.
