Tread Separation on Michelin LTX225/75R16(E) M+S2

[blkmagikca]

Two weeks ago while about 60 miles from Chicago on I-44. Tire did not lose pressure.













Repair was done at JC a week later and the claim process has been started -
with Michelin. Damage to the AS is about $1,200; repair was done at JC.

Will post updates as they occur.

[dznf0g]

That's a bit alarming. Could you give us the stats:

1) age (date code)
2) mileage accrued
3) pressures run
4) actual trailer axle weights
5) any previous event...pothole, etc.

I busted one last summer, but it was an obvious pothole hit and shoulder belt bust. Held air and didn't chuck it's tread in the 150 miles or so till I got to the campground and noticed bulging area.

[Wingeezer]

Interesting - first one I have seen. Hope Michelin don't give you a hard time account use on a trailer as opposed to a truck.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Hope Michelin don't give you a hard time account use on a trailer as opposed to a truck.

I'd say you can count on it.
What is the OP asking for? A new tire or to pay damages?
Tandem axle trailers drag one tire sideways while turning.
My former job used 53' semis with large spacing between axles. While parking, I swore the lug nuts would fly off!
One tire would leave sideways skid marks.
I think Michelin would be justified in saying, "You used our tire in a manner we didn't design it for."
They also don't know how many curbs were run over, potentially causing the separation.
Michelin is a great company, I hope they address the issue, but don't expect it.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by blkmagikca

. . .
Will post updates as they occur.

Thanks for the heads up. Could you please post the date of manufacture if available for this tire, or for one of its companions?

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret....jsp?techid=11

If they all have the same date, are you considering replacing them all? Wondering if Michelin had a problem at one of its plants.

Thanks,

Peter

PS -- Looks like this is the right front tire, guessing from the hitch visible in one photo? The RF tire is often a candidate for curb strikes IMO, as suggested earlier. Wondering if you recall any? Thanks

PS2 -- You could also check out where the tire was made, from this Sticky Topic by idroba:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...de-119134.html

If you have the time to post the serial numbers of each tire, that would be helpful information for others who may have tires from the same batch or plant.

RIP idroba . . .

[cabinetmaker]

All the Michelin users out there are going to love this...never had a tire issue on 5 Airstream's with Goodyear Marathons. Seems there is no silver bullet.

Hope all turns out well for the OP. $1,200 in damage is lots of $ but could have been much worse.

Check your tires regularly...your travels depend on it!

[unifreck]

I had rubber cracking around rim of my Michelins about 1 year after purchase and about
10 to 12,000 miles on the Interstate. Americas Tire replaced them all under warranty.
Don't know if they or Michelin took the financial hit, but talk about being FAIR ; I'll continue to do business with both companies. AEW

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Interesting - first one I have seen. Hope Michelin don't give you a hard time account use on a trailer as opposed to a truck.

You can hope if you don't mind being disappointed.

Michelin specifically states NOT to use those tires on a trailer. I doubt they will stand behind their product when used against their recommendation.

They might. You never know. Companies have done weirder things.

[Countryboy59]

Problem with tire failures is you can never determine if they were run low for a few hundred miles.

[ATownTX]

A camping neighbor a few weeks back told me he had a failure with Michelins. His TPMS warned him and he was able to pull over before there was any damage to his AS.

[NWGetaways]

Anecdotal evidence is so... anecdotal.

I have 3500 miles on my new Goodyear Endurance tires. 0% failure so far!

[xrvr]

I run max pressure, you? one failure is not good, but not enough tocondemn all mich. isn't that a passenger car tire?

[ATownTX]

I'm sticking with my GYM's. Take good care of them, don't let them sit for months and all should be fine... or so I hope.

[blkmagikca]

Some of the info:

DOT B3JH 009X 0213
Tread depth 12/32
Estimated mileage 30,000 mi.

Tires were purchased 7-22-2014 at JC along with complete new axles (rated at 4,500 lbs ea), new T03 rims - all installed and aligned at JC. Centramatics were also installed.

Tires were inflated to 80 psi, and inflation was checked on all tires that morning before driving. There is a Dill TPMS system installed on both the TV & AS.

In 2015 I had the Escapees SmartWeigh done and *ALL* weights are within limits. I had posted the results of the SmartWeigh about 2 years ago, but I'll post it again once I locate the file.

ST tires are out of the question - I have had 2 tread separations plus a blowout on ST tires, which is why I am using Michelin tires.

More info when I have it.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by blkmagikca

Two weeks ago while about 60 miles from Chicago on I-44. Tire did not lose pressure.






Repair was done at JC a week later and the claim process has been started -
with Michelin. Damage to the AS is about $1,200; repair was done at JC.

Will post updates as they occur.

Be sure to file a complaint with NHTSA. This failure needs to be in their database.

[blkmagikca]

Here is the Smart Weigh report:

http://vsquare.com/howard/photos/air...smartweigh.pdf

[Moflash]

Could have got a rare defective tire.I have not seen one do this.
Michelin has a great customer service normally.Call them direct .

[xrvr]

Maybe 30000 miles is the limit for nonST tires on a trailer. I would think there were outside forces involved, though. Road debris, a curb, either if these could be a cause, sometimes there are things on the road we don't see. The other tires look okay?

[SpletKay06]

Tires fail, it happens to them all; Michelin, Goodyear, etc. The best thing one can do is regularly balance them on a roadforce machine which helps find belt failures and other imbalances.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by blkmagikca

. . .
Repair was done at JC a week later and the claim process has been started with Michelin. Damage to the AS is about $1,200; repair was done at JC.

Will post updates as they occur.

Thank you for the additional details yesterday. Is someone at JC monitoring the claim with Michelin? It will be very interesting, needless to say, if Michelin balks at the use of this tire on a trailer.

Someone just posted that the new Airstreams coming off the production line have the new Goodyear Endurance tires. Has AS stopped using Michelins?

From another thread [click on arrow to go there]:

Originally Posted by Roadroamin

Just came off a tour of the plant, all of them now are equipped with Goodyear Endurance. [typo corrected]

Hmmm . . .