FLAT TIRE photographs on your Airstream

[Ray Eklund]

Many of us have encountered the FLAT tire on your Airstream. I have had a number of tire punctures and nails... but this one was a 'dousy'. All with the Load Range C, 14 inch Marathon. Yes... a true statement.

Since changing brands on our 2006 23 foot Safari... not an issue. The current 16" Michelin Load Range E's on our 2014 International 25 foot... no issues. But... if the occasion of taking a photograph of a 'special event' occurs, I will waste no time to share the 'good news'.

It gives me great satisfaction to offer the first Flat Tire photograph. Our first Airstream and our first year of ownership.

This pleasant experience is an endangered 14" Goodyear Marathon blowout on a 2006 23 foot Airstream. This is a prime example why not to have 14" Marathons on any trailer. This was taken near Maybell, Colorado, the NW corner of the State.

[Argosy 7728]

OH Man. Not much left of that thing.

[Caffeinated]

Yikes! Not a good day.

Mike

[Ray Eklund]

I had this sent to me concerning Michelin 'tires' to be introduced this year.

YOU can be the first to try these out. I will wait to read your experience...

[HowieE]

Oh for a patch kit

[RLS]

I had Marathons

[Ray Eklund]

This is an 'Equal Opportunity Flat Tire' thread.

- Equal... that any tire brand which has blown out... or just plain disappeared from its aluminum wheel is... permitted. Also 'unknown or known' objects protruding from the tread or sides of the tire are permitted.

-Opportunity... that an opportunity to demonstrate not only your expertise in photography, but also to support others' frustration of dislodging lug nuts from their over torqued seating.

Just searching for the nearest replacement tire(s), that may have arrived at a shop within the hour... maybe even a day of sitting and waiting for that additional tire sale. Then being required to provide a tread sample for wear, while an unhappy customer, showing up at the door with the empty wheel as the... tread wear sample.

- Flat Tires... Only on my bicycle have I endured more flats, leaking air, and other possible life threatening experiences requiring a hand held tire pump.

[JBBeaubeaux]

We too had a terrible blowout and wrote a blog post about it here: https://livinginbeauty.net/2016/08/0...ut-of-destiny/

[Grosspoluter]

Flat, outside dual, 345😖
After this happened. I bought a 10 ton hydraulic jack, a large breaker bar, and a 1 inch drive torque wrench🛠
Luckily there was no damage to the RV or the wheel👍

[Starlight Mike]

damaged our 25 twice with tread separations on 15" St tires. New 16" Michelins arrived today. Can't wait to get them on!!

[Pull Toy]

I'm curious if people think their blowouts were caused by speeding. I've only had one blowout and that was in a car many years ago and it was definitely speeding related. Now that I'm much older but only a little wiser and definitely not in a hurry anymore, do I need to be as concerned about blowouts? My new-to-me 2016 Bambi 19' is locked in the barn awaiting its first adventure this spring so I'm not even sure what brand & size tires they are but in talking with the previous owner, I doubt if they even have 1000 miles on them. Any words of advise? Do Bambi owners just buy 2 new tires every year as a precaution? Are Bambi blowouts always a disaster? I DO have stabilizer bars. Thanks!

[Ray Eklund]

Pull Toy.... you are in luck. Only the 23 foot Airstream had the wonderful, magical, 14" C Rated self destructive Marathon tires.

You should have stock, 15" D Rated Marathons that are a big improvement. The 14" Marathons are not worthy being on an Airstream. The 15" D Rated Marathons are not in the same category and many owners have had few issues with them.

I went to 16" Michelins and 16" wheels Load Range E tires. 'Good Tires' as the 15" Marathon tires may be... I wanted the BEST Tires for peace of mind. So far, so good.

[Murphalex]

Had the same terrible experience.

[banderabob]

Originally Posted by Pull Toy

I'm curious if people think their blowouts were caused by speeding. I've only had one blowout and that was in a car many years ago and it was definitely speeding related. Now that I'm much older but only a little wiser and definitely not in a hurry anymore, do I need to be as concerned about blowouts? My new-to-me 2016 Bambi 19' is locked in the barn awaiting its first adventure this spring so I'm not even sure what brand & size tires they are but in talking with the previous owner, I doubt if they even have 1000 miles on them. Any words of advise? Do Bambi owners just buy 2 new tires every year as a precaution? Are Bambi blowouts always a disaster? I DO have stabilizer bars. Thanks!

I suspect most blowouts result in SOME damage to the belly skin. In our case, it was
the driver side that blew at 65, ruptured both the gray and black discharge valves, and cracked the neck on the black tank, which had to be replaced. Marathons that I should have replaced due to age when we bought the trailer.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by Grosspoluter

Flat, outside dual, 345��
After this happened. I bought a 10 ton hydraulic jack, a large breaker bar, and a 1 inch drive torque wrench��
Luckily there was no damage to the RV or the wheel��

Why 1" drive torque wrench???
At 110 ft. lb. you only need a 1/2" drive wrench, for a lot less money.

[Grosspoluter]

Torque on the large truck chassis that the the RV uses (p30) is 180
Wrench was bought on eBay (used much cheaper) (checked it against my friends newer mac tool torque wrench)


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[airdreamers]

Ouch, I feel your pain. Thanks a lot, Carlisle! Returned the tire to Carlisle via UPS label supplied by Carlisle. They reimbursed me for all 4 tires with a check, after viewing the returned tire.

[Docinabox]

I was wondering what sensory feedback that all of you have experienced when the tire blows out while towing your trailer? Is it dramatic enough that it's immediately obvious or is it possible to drive on further damaging the trailer without even knowing. Fortunately, I never had a blowout in a car or while towing a trailer.

[cando]

It isn't just the Goodyear tires. We bought two new Carlisle E rated tires before we left Michigan for Florida four years ago. The first one looked like the one in your picture. It was 72 degrees out and we were running at slightly less than 55 mph on a very smooth two lane road. After being told by a tire dealer in Florida that there was no warranty on the tire I asked if they had a supervisor--to make a long story short, the new tire cost me $25. On the return trip (about 1,500 miles further) the other tire threw a belt during the drive on I-75 at no faster than 65 mph. Given the same warranty story got a new tire for $30. Back at home i got four new Michelin tires on 16 inch new wheels. Been to California, Florida, South and North Dakota and back to Arizona. The tires have been on for three years, still look new. Up until we put the Michelin on we had a total of 5 blowouts, Goodyear and other brands. We are believers that these tires are better, the only problem is we tend to drive a bit faster with these tires and the gas mileage of the tow vehicle has suffered.

[LittleLucy]

First blowout after over 20 years towing a trailer.....
Now have tire minders to try to avoid in future.,
Thankful it was just a blowout and no real damage to trailer.


Bonnie
WBCCI# 13031