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Old 08-18-2021, 08:53 PM   #1
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Multiple failures 2014 16" Michelins

Michelin LT225/75-16 (not sure about the size will check tomorrow. Trailer has been in use or outside storage since mid-December with no tire covers (my bad). Before that it was in inside storage when not in use.Tires were made in the 14th week of 2014 which makes them about 7-1/2 years old. I knew I was close to needing new tires but I wasn't expecting this.

Today I was preparing for a trip and inflated all tires to 75 psi. One (not one of the failures) was quite low, but the trailer hasn't moved more than a half mile since February 1. All passed a cursory visible inspection - no noticeable cracks, bulges or other defects. They were always run with a tire pressure monitor, first a Dill and then a TST 507, and never at a cold pressure less than 70 pounds, but today, the batteries were bad in two of the sensors. When I went to change the batteries the sensors had corroded to the valve stems and I had to destroy them to get them off so I was running with only two sensors on four tires.

We left from Jacksonville, headed for St. Augustine. After about 30 minutes at an average of 45 mph and a maximum of 55, we heard a loud pop. I slowed immediately and pulled over at the first opportunity. The tire had failed. The tread was completely gone and there was a ply failure which cut the tire open across the tread area (pictures tomorrow). We put on the spare and after inspecting the tires, we turned around and headed home.

I went to check the date codes on all the tires (1414) and discovered another tire on the brink of failure. It was still holding pressure, but it had been inflated to 75 psi in the afternoon and was now reading 70. Like the first failure, the tread was completely gone over most of the tread area and the belts were just beginning to show. The tire looked like it had been wrapped with fiberglass. I don't know whether what I saw was fiberglass or the beginning of the steel bands, but the entire face of the tread was gone. I had to be just miles from another failure and it clearly wasn't due to pressure loss.

Could standing in water have caused this problem? There was no indication of rust on any of the exposed plies. Was this just dry rot due to sun from outside storage?

I'll be thanking my lucky stars tomorrow (no apparent wheel well damage as the tires pretty much held together) as I look for new tires. I'll probably go back to my Dill system as I think it gives a better indication of tire temperature.

I'll post pictures tomorrow.
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Old 08-18-2021, 10:11 PM   #2
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My opinion which may not count for much .. they were old
Standing in water did not cause that tire problem

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Old 08-18-2021, 10:12 PM   #3
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You say the tread was gone. How worn were the tires?
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Old 08-18-2021, 10:56 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by kscherzi View Post
You say the tread was gone. How worn were the tires?

Perhaps I should have said the tread ply was gone. They weren't slick, there was radial ply material visible across the whole width and circumference of the tire, and they had almost full tread 20 or 30 miles earlier in my driveway.
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Old 08-19-2021, 06:49 AM   #5
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Seems like the rule of thumb I have always heard is that a tire's safe useable lifespan is about 5 years. Anything over that, and the safe bet is to replace them. I had some Michelins on my SUV that we don't drive very much, and I started to see little cracks in the sidewall. Replaced them when I realized their age (about 7 years), and obvious impending failure. Nothing against Michelins, they were just old.
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Old 08-19-2021, 07:06 AM   #6
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I run Michelins on my trailer. I change them every 4 years. It is "worth it" to me to know I have done what I can. I am running the 15" XL tires so they probably do not have the load margins your 16" do. Hence the conservative age limit.

I think you were a little lucky that they failed the way they did and that you caught it. And that you were close to home.

Next spring is tire time for me if these make it that long. I always hate making a decision as to what to get. Your post encourages me to "stick with the plan". I guess for me the GYE are the other choice.
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Old 08-19-2021, 07:25 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
Perhaps I should have said the tread ply was gone. They weren't slick, there was radial ply material visible across the whole width and circumference of the tire, and they had almost full tread 20 or 30 miles earlier in my driveway.

This morning as I was waking up from a late night looking for tires I realized I probably felt the second tire go. On the way home I felt a shudder that almost seemed like an engine hesitation. I stopped and checked the spare tire I had put on as I was still thinking there was a possibility of a bad bearing or a stuck brake. I didn't think to look at the other tires. I also realized I assumed, thinking this was some kind of a friction wearing problem, that the tread on the blowout was worn uniformly over time and I didn't think to look at the wheel wells closely in the dark. I'll do a better inspection this morning.


I was remembering 5-7 years for replacement. I'll take this as a learning experience.
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Old 08-19-2021, 07:33 AM   #8
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Old 08-19-2021, 07:42 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
Michelin LT225/75-16 (not sure about the size will check tomorrow. Trailer has been in use or outside storage since mid-December with no tire covers (my bad). Before that it was in inside storage when not in use.Tires were made in the 14th week of 2014 which makes them about 7-1/2 years old. I knew I was close to needing new tires but I wasn't expecting this.

Today I was preparing for a trip and inflated all tires to 75 psi. One (not one of the failures) was quite low, but the trailer hasn't moved more than a half mile since February 1. All passed a cursory visible inspection - no noticeable cracks, bulges or other defects. They were always run with a tire pressure monitor, first a Dill and then a TST 507, and never at a cold pressure less than 70 pounds, but today, the batteries were bad in two of the sensors. When I went to change the batteries the sensors had corroded to the valve stems and I had to destroy them to get them off so I was running with only two sensors on four tires.

We left from Jacksonville, headed for St. Augustine. After about 30 minutes at an average of 45 mph and a maximum of 55, we heard a loud pop. I slowed immediately and pulled over at the first opportunity. The tire had failed. The tread was completely gone and there was a ply failure which cut the tire open across the tread area (pictures tomorrow). We put on the spare and after inspecting the tires, we turned around and headed home.

I went to check the date codes on all the tires (1414) and discovered another tire on the brink of failure. It was still holding pressure, but it had been inflated to 75 psi in the afternoon and was now reading 70. Like the first failure, the tread was completely gone over most of the tread area and the belts were just beginning to show. The tire looked like it had been wrapped with fiberglass. I don't know whether what I saw was fiberglass or the beginning of the steel bands, but the entire face of the tread was gone. I had to be just miles from another failure and it clearly wasn't due to pressure loss.

Could standing in water have caused this problem? There was no indication of rust on any of the exposed plies. Was this just dry rot due to sun from outside storage?

I'll be thanking my lucky stars tomorrow (no apparent wheel well damage as the tires pretty much held together) as I look for new tires. I'll probably go back to my Dill system as I think it gives a better indication of tire temperature.

I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Disclaimer...not a fan of LT's over ST's.

That being said...yes, standing in water and UV is not good.

Bob
🇺🇸

My solution.........Off Winter storage.
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Old 08-19-2021, 09:29 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
This morning as I was waking up from a late night looking for tires I realized I probably felt the second tire go. On the way home I felt a shudder that almost seemed like an engine hesitation. I stopped and checked the spare tire I had put on as I was still thinking there was a possibility of a bad bearing or a stuck brake. I didn't think to look at the other tires. I also realized I assumed, thinking this was some kind of a friction wearing problem, that the tread on the blowout was worn uniformly over time and I didn't think to look at the wheel wells closely in the dark. I'll do a better inspection this morning.


I was remembering 5-7 years for replacement. I'll take this as a learning experience.
You have a lot of experience here with your AS; we all have had the "experts" tell us to replace tires 4 years old, change the tires, right? Similar time frame for the the "wetcell" or AGM batteries. Sure, there are some folks who get more use past a time frame, but we all know the recommended time frames...I change my tires every 3-4 years no matter the tread for my AS and my TV. Safety is my concern while on a trip. Same with my batteries....my 2 batteries in my 2017 6.7L went bad in May. Fortunately I was at home when it would not start. I jumped it and drove to Sams on a Sunday, and replaced myself. Hate if that would have happened on a trip while boondocking. Same with tires...more important with tires, IMHO. Glad your ok and not in a serious situation.
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Old 08-19-2021, 09:39 AM   #11
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Sidewall checking?

Sorry to hear that. Age seems the likely culprit.

My 2014 EB came with 16” Michelin LTX MS2 tires. After three years, the sidewalls were badly cracked. There were 1-2” long cracks opening perpendicular to the tread and perhaps 20 or 30 cracks per tire. The Michelin tech department ordered an inspection. My local Michelin dealer performed it, declared this “ozone checking” and Michelin gave me half the value of the LTX MS2’s as a credit toward a new of a new set of whatever Michelins I wanted. I went with their XPS Rib tires (a full steel belted radial for commercial use and the specific tire Michelin recommended for this application). No issues since.

I know you said there were no obvious issues with your tires, but I imagine eventually those sidewall checks on mine could lead to slow air leaks then total failure.

The “tire guys” who hang out here (you know who you are! So do we!) might offer actual knowledge to replace my anecdote.
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Old 08-19-2021, 09:56 AM   #12
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5 years on tires no matter what is my rule.


This
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Old 08-19-2021, 10:14 AM   #13
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Our Michelin’s are 6 yo. New ones are at the tire shop awaiting our return. I hope we make it��
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Old 08-19-2021, 10:36 AM   #14
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Hi

Yikes !!!!

Glad nobody was hurt in the process. Multiple tire failure can be a major bummer .....

Bob

( ..... heading outside to check the date codes on my Michelins .... )
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Old 08-19-2021, 10:41 AM   #15
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Good News and Bad News

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy View Post
This morning as I was waking up from a late night looking for tires I realized I probably felt the second tire go. On the way home I felt a shudder that almost seemed like an engine hesitation. I stopped and checked the spare tire I had put on as I was still thinking there was a possibility of a bad bearing or a stuck brake. I didn't think to look at the other tires. I also realized I assumed, thinking this was some kind of a friction wearing problem, that the tread on the blowout was worn uniformly over time and I didn't think to look at the wheel wells closely in the dark. I'll do a better inspection this morning.


I was remembering 5-7 years for replacement. I'll take this as a learning experience.

So in the light of day I checked the wheel well areas of both failed tires. The good news - no wheel well damage on either side.
The bad news - the shudder I felt was most the entire tread ply of the roadside rear tire coming of and whacking the banana wrap area behind the tire, probably more than once. The banana wrap is crushed in, the wheel well trim molding end at the rear is bent but can be straightened, the mount for the gray tank drain rod, the drain rod handle and the drain area light are gone. The water cabinet door is crushed and the area of the latch is pushed in.


The apparent failure mechanisms of the two tires are different.


The "blowout" appears to be just that, but probably caused by a curb hit. There is a line like the tire was cut straight across the tread. Starting at one end of that there is a diagonal flap that is only partially loose.
My best guess is a failure due to tire damage compounded by old age. I do recall hitting a deep pothole once but I don't remember whether it was with the truck or the trailer. This tire failed 30 miles from home after being properly inflated prior to departure.


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The tire that held pressure has edge wear all around and most of the tread ply is gone down to the belts. Over about 30 degrees or so of the circumference, the tread area is still in place but bulging in the center. Cracks are visible over the entire remaining tread area.
My best guess here is interply stress compounded by old age (or vice-versa) caused a delamination of the plies and ultimate failure. This tire failed on the way home but held pressure, again after being properly inflated prior to departure.

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I now have to decide whether to go with Goodyear Endurance 15" ST tires or Michelin Agilis 16" LT tires with a 10% higher load rating.


A learning experience, indeed.
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Old 08-19-2021, 11:00 AM   #16
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Not the tires fault. 7 1/2 years, uncovered, in Florida, sorry to say but you got what you deserved. Glad no accident and not much damage.
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Old 08-19-2021, 11:10 AM   #17
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Hi

Yikes .... that's going to be "fun" to fix ....

Ok, there's 4 tires on the Classic. Two failed, and one was low pressure. Where were they each located on the trailer? ( I'm wondering if some of this might be related to the other issues .....).

Bob
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Old 08-19-2021, 11:41 AM   #18
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What is your final choose on the tire brand, I just put on the new Michelin LT Agilis
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Old 08-19-2021, 11:59 AM   #19
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Hi

Given the way pretty much everything is in short supply these days .... what are your choices when you go shopping for 5 new (appropriate) 16" tires?

If it stops raining I *will* eventually get out there and check my date codes ....

Bob
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Old 08-19-2021, 01:44 PM   #20
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After two blowouts with trailer tires I switched to 16” Michelin LT’s three years ago and I have made three long hard trips at 70 mph and I’m a firm believer in the LT Michelin’s. Now four years old and this thread has convinced me it is time to replace. Anything you can do to help prevent a blowout is worth it including good tire monitors.
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