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12-27-2014, 01:08 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2010 22' Sport
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 58
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Do I really need new tires?
We have a 2010 22' Sport. We will be starting our fifth camping season month after next with a trip to Tucson from Boise. We have about 23,000 miles on our tires. Our Airstream Dealer Service Manager advised us to get new tires before we head south in Feb. She does not sell tires so she had no ax to grind from that standpoint. I've always read that we should replace our tires every 7 years, regardless of miles on them. Do I really need new tires? Your thoughts, please and thanks.
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12-27-2014, 01:26 PM
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#2
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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My rule of thumb on trailer tires is six years regardless of use. Being that you have four camping seasons under your belt, you should have two more seasons of use. Assuming that you are still running ST tires on your Airstream, 23,000 miles is quite a bit. My best mileage on ST tires in the past was 28,000.
I think that I would lean toward replacement, especially considering that we are talking about a single axle Airstream. Please keep in mind that I tend to be over cautious about tires due to my past trailer tire experiences.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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12-27-2014, 01:29 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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5 year old tires. About time to get new ones for sure. As to brand, I am not getting involved in that fight to come.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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12-27-2014, 01:42 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Silverton
, Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,102
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A lot of times, tires are already a couple years old, when they put them on. There's a way to tell when tires are manufactured, but I can't remember. Maybe someone will chime in.....
Tracy
__________________
Michael & Tracy
1989 345 Motorhome
CHARTER MEMBERS: FOUR CORNERS UNIT, AND PROUD OF IT!!!
We live for the moment, 'cause when you get there, it's gone...
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12-27-2014, 01:47 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Very cheap insurance I would say.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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12-27-2014, 01:54 PM
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#6
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retired USA/USAF
2001 30' Excella
Somerset
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,418
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There are a bunch of numbers on every tire and there is coded manufacture date among them. With a bit of searching you will find the key to breaking the code. I read it on another thread here just the other day. Seek and thee shall find.
__________________
Roger in NJ
" Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the rest"
Winston Churchill 1948
TAC - NJ 18
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12-27-2014, 01:57 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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12-27-2014, 02:02 PM
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#8
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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Date of production of tires is usually found on the sidewall in an elongated oval with a four number code. The first two numbers are the week and the second two are the year.
For instance, the code 4012 means that the tire was produced in the 40th week of 2012.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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12-27-2014, 02:23 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
As to brand, I am not getting involved in that fight to come.
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Chicken.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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12-27-2014, 03:20 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
Taylors
, South Carolina
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 201
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All DOT certified tires have letter/number identifications on their sidewalls.
In this example B9 identifies the manufacturer and their location. The ending numbers, 5008, provide the date they were manufactured. The 50 means the 50th week of the year and the 08 means year 2008.
2-1-1_reading-your-sidewall_DOT_michelin_image_1_ - iRV2.com RV Photo Gallery
Here is a link to the plant codes.
http://www.harriger.com/tires.htm
BA
__________________
BlackAces
USN - RET - PDRL
DoD & SSA - RET
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12-27-2014, 03:27 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
I'm In
, Kentucky
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,251
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I agree on the 'cheap insurance'. If you blew out a tire or two, how much inconvenience is it worth? Stuck on the side of the road, changing a tire or tires? Maybe stuck waiting on AAA to change it? Maybe damage to your AS?
You won't get the mileage out of trailer tires that you get out of passenger car tires so don't expect it. How well they've been cared for can make a huge difference but at 5 years it's iffy. If you're not sure, replace them and have peace of mind.
__________________
-Rich
Rich & Yvonne
2006 Safari SE -Dora-
2004 4Runner SE 4.7L V8
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12-27-2014, 05:08 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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Between our two Airstreams we have towed abound 200,000 miles. We have had tire failures on both rigs. Every time the tire has been over two years old. One failure caused extensive damage to the side of the Caravel.
Now at about the two year point it's tire time.
New tires are the only insurance you can buy against the most common cause of unnecessary roadside delay and inconvenience.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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12-27-2014, 08:51 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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You are quite fortunate. Replace your tires with your own personal choice. Take note that the Mothership (Airstream) installs a version of Michelin's... and some kind of aluminum wheel(rim)... I run different ones.. but, that's me.
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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12-28-2014, 11:22 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
2009 28' International
Pacific Palisades
, California
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 436
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Change them!
Trailer tires get huge side loads that truck tires do not. This can lead to sidewalk failure, especially if you miscalculated and "kissed" a curb or three as your trailer turns inside your TV. Normally, you'll look fur bubbles in the sidewalls or indication if the tread departing from the tire at the edges, a tire professional looking at your tire sat least once a season or minimally every 5k mikes is smart.
Even if you never use your trailer at all, the rubber will degrade due to ozone's silent attack. 4 years is the recommended minimum replacement time for this issue.
We tie 12-15k per year, and we have yet to go a full four years without a tire issue. We've had two blowouts--one that we caught before going anywhere, and the ktger in which we traveled (tandem axle) unwittingly for 50 miles. We were extremely lucky--we were informed that damaged from a still attached steel belt whipping into the wheel well could go they the flior into appliances and the damage could be $5000-7000.
How expensive do those two tires look now? :-)
We now have ours inspected twice a season by a pro, and look ourselves every time we stop (my wife caught the last one in her side view as she was pulling out if a gas station.)
Cheap insurance!!
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12-28-2014, 11:23 AM
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#15
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Regular Guy
1978 31' Sovereign
Hot Springs
, Arkansas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 603
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Find a mounted tire older than 6-7 years. Look very closely. You will see small cracks in the rubber casing. check around the tread. They may not penetrate through completely, BUT, it is a sure sign that things are breaking down.
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12-28-2014, 01:10 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Maybe one more year-
Are the sidewalls cracked?
On my 1st trailer I got new tires after 4 years because there was obvious uneven tread wear.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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12-28-2014, 05:46 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Were these ST tires?
Perry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Foster
Between our two Airstreams we have towed abound 200,000 miles. We have had tire failures on both rigs. Every time the tire has been over two years old. One failure caused extensive damage to the side of the Caravel.
Now at about the two year point it's tire time.
New tires are the only insurance you can buy against the most common cause of unnecessary roadside delay and inconvenience.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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12-28-2014, 06:24 PM
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#18
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Campin/Fishin Guy
1973 Argosy 22
Aurora
, Illinois
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 11
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I have been researching tires and found lots of information on this site. Only 5 or 6 brands of tires to choose from in an ST special trailer tire. Whatever brand you decide on , I would go with a load range of E for the heaviest load rate available in a 15" tire. If you have put over 20K on this set of tires you have gotten your money's worth out of them. Bill
__________________
Happy Camping and Safe Travels to all. Bill
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12-28-2014, 06:49 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
Were these ST tires?
Perry
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Of course they were.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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12-28-2014, 07:54 PM
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#20
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Campin/Fishin Guy
1973 Argosy 22
Aurora
, Illinois
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 11
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As a newbie, I cannot seem to find how to edit a post. So I will add another, Actually there are at least 12 tires out there designed for Travel trailers. Maxxis, Kenda Carlisle Tow Master Goodyear Marathons, and Tow Max, Just to name a few. Having read several posts on this form, seems that everyone has had tire failures of one sort or another. While looking at another Travel Forum I found this place called Trailer Tires and Wheels - Steel & Aluminum Trailer Wheels, Bias & Radial Trailer Tires I have not done business with them but they seem to have a large selection and reasonable prices. I am waiting till the spring to buy to try and get the newest rubber available. To me ST special trailer tires are engineered for that purpose so I plan to go with them at load range E vs Lt Light truck Rated at just over #2800 lbs per tire at 80 psi. Best of luck with your tire search. Bill
__________________
Happy Camping and Safe Travels to all. Bill
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