Plumbing damage from blowout

[4seasons]

Originally Posted by Vlamgat

Those Duro Tires were Walmart Chinese pos. Little wonder they blew.

My trust in tires was definitely short sighted. Since I replaced them no issues. I check pressure every 2-3 fill ups.

[kendrick.l.j]

Please, please, invest in a TPMS as soon as possible. IMO, it’s not an option to run without them. Too many bad events have happened because of tires blowing but lots of “close calls” saved Airstream and quite possibly more than a few lives because this systems were in place. TPMS does not replace checking tire pressure frequently or temperature at every fuel stop but it’s those moments in between that they are critical.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by Vlamgat

Those Duro Tires were Walmart Chinese pos. Little wonder they blew.

So your claim is that any product made in China and sold by Walmart is by definition defective and will fail?


I would suggest that there are other possible contributors to why a tire fails. I can provide dozens of alternatives if you think only the country or origin and retailer are the reason.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by 4seasons

The tires were Duro something as I recall and I am unsure on age. As I had bought the trailer just a few months before and towed it home over 800 miles and they looked good I put too much faith in them. At 1st opportunity after blowout I replaced both plus spare.

Have any pictures of the failed tire? We might be able to help learn the real reason (other than the name on the sidewall) for the failure to ensure appropriate corrective action is taken to avoid a repeat.

[4seasons]

I did not take pictures as I was in a dangerous situation with the trailer and just need to get out.

[Vlamgat]

Who said anything about all or any product. The Chinese trailer Tires have no consoled, tested or mandated spec. The numbers on the sides of the tires are proximate to fact. Even the sizes vary from their spec. Walmart buying criteria are firstly price and secondly value. Neither are proof against heat and stress in a trailer tow situation. In addition the UV resistance properties are neither know, tested or required by Walmart. So I stand by my point, do not ever buy a Chinese made tire from Walmart except for a lawn mower and wheel barrow.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by Vlamgat

Who said anything about all or any product. The Chinese trailer Tires have no consoled, tested or mandated spec. The numbers on the sides of the tires are proximate to fact. Even the sizes vary from their spec. Walmart buying criteria are firstly price and secondly value. Neither are proof against heat and stress in a trailer tow situation. In addition the UV resistance properties are neither know, tested or required by Walmart. So I stand by my point, do not ever buy a Chinese made tire from Walmart except for a lawn mower and wheel barrow.

Since all tires sold for highway use in the US are required by Federal Law to be certified by the MFG to be capable of passing the appropriate FMVSS section of DOT regulations I wonder what proof you have that the subject tires or all Chinese made tires sold by Walmart do not meet the appropriate regulations. FMVSS (regulatory agency) would certainly be interested in receiving any test data you have that supports your claim. Once confirmed they would order a 100% recall and everyone would get free replacement tires. You would be a hero to thousands.

[Vlamgat]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Since all tires sold for highway use in the US are required by Federal Law to be certified by the MFG to be capable of passing the appropriate FMVSS section of DOT regulations I wonder what proof you have that the subject tires or all Chinese made tires sold by Walmart do not meet the appropriate regulations. FMVSS (regulatory agency) would certainly be interested in receiving any test data you have that supports your claim. Once confirmed they would order a 100% recall and everyone would get free replacement tires. You would be a hero to thousands.

Read the regs, tires made exclusively for trailers under certain gross weights (they vary by purpose and axles) are not regulated at all and are also not tested. In fact the DOT does not test tires at all and has no equipment or expertise to do so. The manufacturers do the tests and they all vary as to how they do them as they are also no proscribed; and provide the cert. Try going after a tire cooperative in Shenzhen to produce such a cert. I got all this from the transcripts of the DOT reviews during the Michelin recall through the FOIA and my counsel. Strictly speaking the whole thing is still wrapped in an NDA but enough is out there in the various Truck, Trailer and Lexus Nexis publications that I am not telling you anything you cannot research yourself.

Just like FDA matters, do not be be trusting of Uncle Sam, they do what the law proscribes and without reading the law verbatim, proceed with caution and change your tires often. Even 5/6 years is way too long for trailer tires that are carrying loads as opposed to bulk.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by Vlamgat

Read the regs, tires made exclusively for trailers under certain gross weights (they vary by purpose and axles) are not regulated at all and are also not tested. In fact the DOT does not test tires at all and has no equipment or expertise to do so. The manufacturers do the tests and they all vary as to how they do them as they are also no proscribed; and provide the cert. Try going after a tire cooperative in Shenzhen to produce such a cert. I got all this from the transcripts of the DOT reviews during the Michelin recall through the FOIA and my counsel. Strictly speaking the whole thing is still wrapped in an NDA but enough is out there in the various Truck, Trailer and Lexus Nexis publications that I am not telling you anything you cannot research yourself.

Just like FDA matters, do not be be trusting of Uncle Sam, they do what the law proscribes and without reading the law verbatim, proceed with caution and change your tires often. Even 5/6 years is way too long for trailer tires that are carrying loads as opposed to bulk.

Interesting information. So you are claiming that FMVSS 571,109 & 119 do not apply to ST type tires. You are also claiming that companies like Smithers, Standards Testing Labs, CALSPAN, KOKUSAI and Akron Rubber Development are all incompetent and/or incapable in running various DOT regulatory tests under the contracts they have with DOT. When did you audit these labs? How many years of experience in tire testing and development do you have when you worked as a tire engineer.
Can you tell me why I was asked to visit one of the above to inspect tires that DOT thought might have failed to pass the required belt durability testing? Are you claiming I was "set-up" and that just like the Moon landing the test machines I saw were just cardboard props?



Please provide links that support your claims that there are no regulations on ST type tires which are the subject of this thread. IMO you sound more like an ambulance chaser than an actual Scientist.

[Vlamgat]

None of the organizations that you cite are standards issuing authorities or accountable for enforcement. They do testing by contract which is why you have a reference. Ask any of the Chinese manufacturers for copies of their DOT or other government approval or standards testing.
My data is based on a Plaintiff defense arising from an aircraft tire failure that is subject to an NDA. Evidence was given at trial and the results are not public for reasons that are obvious but are not in the public interest. However non-profit commercial light trailer Tires are so economically immaterial to the industry that no amount of Web site research material is provided.
You check out the authority you mention. Nothing there. Which in part is why I am not offering Web site evidence because there is none. Total silence on the subject, by agreement. No one claims, tests, or offers specification compliance for these tires. Use at your peril or change annually at least in high ambient, high load conditions.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by Vlamgat

None of the organizations that you cite are standards issuing authorities or accountable for enforcement. They do testing by contract which is why you have a reference. Ask any of the Chinese manufacturers for copies of their DOT or other government approval or standards testing.
My data is based on a Plaintiff defense arising from an aircraft tire failure that is subject to an NDA. Evidence was given at trial and the results are not public for reasons that are obvious but are not in the public interest. However non-profit commercial light trailer Tires are so economically immaterial to the industry that no amount of Web site research material is provided.
You check out the authority you mention. Nothing there. Which in part is why I am not offering Web site evidence because there is none. Total silence on the subject, by agreement. No one claims, tests, or offers specification compliance for these tires. Use at your peril or change annually at least in high ambient, high load conditions.

Sorry but aircraft tires are not covered by DOT FMVSS regulations and you should know that.

What is a "non-profit commercial light trailer tire"? Please get your terminology straight.

You can search NHTSA web site for complaints filed on the tires we are talking about in this thread i.e. ST type tires.

Since you brought it up. Can you provide or obtain copies of regulatory test results from Goodyear, Michelin etc?

As an actual tire engineer, I have inspected tires run on regulatory test from more than one test lab so I am not relying on web search for much of my first hand knowledge.

But I do not chase ambulances so don't follow your logic.

[GCinSC2]

Popcorn just finished popping.

I’m taking tireman9 on this one.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by 4seasons

I just took my 1st trip in my 2001 Bambi 19 that I having been full timing in for last 3 months. I am in Rawlins Wyoming (from Austin, Tx.). 5 hours in I had a blowout that ripped my grey and black water plumbing from underneath. I need to find a source for parts OR repair. Any sources would be very much appreciated! Thanks all. Db

The thread got HIGHJACKED, by people arguing about tires!
The OP asked for help with plumbing.

4seasons,
It's been three weeks since your first post.
Did you get your plumbing repaired?
When I repaired mine, I cut the pipe off behind the valves and installed rubber/clamp couplings (the Fernco type suggested earlier) to make the transition from old pipe to new.
The only way to access the black waste tank is by removing the bath fixtures. Or, if you do not need to access the tank, you possibly could cut or remove a portion of the belly pan until you find undamaged pipe. If the black tank is damaged, you are in for a bathroom removal.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

The thread got HIGHJACKED, by people arguing about tires!
The OP asked for help with plumbing.

snip

Sorry, you are correct. I only jumped in to offer a suggestion that with TPMS on your tires and maybe the correct load & inflation and tire load capacity people might completely avoid having catistrophic tire failures and also avoid needing to replace the plumbing in their RV.


My bad.