amxpress
Clayton, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/14/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
Well I knew it was only a matter of time.
While packing up from our weekend at a local KOA, I noticed a large bulge in one of my Mission tires.
I calculated the tow mileage on my 08 fiver, only 3500! I have been reading about the Chinese tire failures and kept my fingers crossed. It wasn't enough. I got bit. Luckily I caught it before hitting the road.
I've got an email off to FR for new tires. I hope they send me NON Chinese tires. They'll probably send me more Chinese krap tires.
Anyone else get FR to replace their tires?
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab w/6.7 Cummins
2008 Palamino Sabre 31RKTS
Reese 15K Pro Series manual slide
Prodigy
Firestone Air Bags
Save weight when traveling, leave the M-I-L at the nursing home...
|
elbmiNrM
Atlanta
Senior Member
Joined: 08/20/2008
View Profile
|
I was shocked to find out a couple of weeks ago that the safe limit as far as age on a tire is 6 years, used or unused and no matter how they "look", yet some tires are being sold that are older than that off the shelf. When you get your new tire, be sure to check the date on it. Wouldn't help, in fact, to check the remaining 3 on your RV--maybe you can get 4 new properly dated. Sorry about your experience, but glad you were safe.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm tells you how to know how old your tires are. If I remember there are four numbers. The first date are the week, the second is the year., i.e., 2406 would mean they were manufactured the 24th week of 2006.
I still haven't been able to find the date on mine. Can't see with my glasses/can't see without them. Have to find some young eyes. Anyway, it was an eye opener to me, and I'm going to go after them for four new ones if they are not 2008s. The truck is already almost 5 years old so I'll have to bite the bullet on that if they are older than the truck.
2004 4X4 Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel with Wheels
2008 Jayco 218
My Two Dogs Take Me Camping
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”....J.M. Barrie
|
jauguston
Bellingham, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
There is a rectangular outline box on the sidewall and inside there are letters and numbers. The first three are DOT the last THREE or four are the tire build date. The first two numbers are the week of the year (01-52) and if they were built before 01-00 there will be three numbers. 528 would have been made the 52nd week of 1998. If it says 0101 it was made the first week of 2001.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
AIMS 2500w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
|
azjeffh
Chandler, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 09/19/2004
View Profile
|
amxpress wrote: I hope they send me NON Chinese tires.
Just an FYI, I had the same problem with my 2 year old Canadian made Marathons.
Good luck,
Jeff
Wonderful wife Robin, no children, no pets, no money
05 F250 Supercab SB PSD w/Tow Command
05 HR Savoy 29RKS
|
Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 07/11/2004
View Profile
|
elbmiNrM wrote:I was shocked to find out a couple of weeks ago that the safe limit as far as age on a tire is 6 years, used or unused and no matter how they "look", yet some tires are being sold that are older than that off the shelf. - - - SNIP - - -
I still haven't been able to find the date on mine. Can't see with my glasses/can't see without them. Have to find some young eyes. Anyway, it was an eye opener to me, and I'm going to go after them for four new ones if they are not 2008s. The truck is already almost 5 years old so I'll have to bite the bullet on that if they are older than the truck.
The DOT code is only on one side of the tire. If you want to find out the who, what, when & where about your tires, go to this site and follow the directions, you can find out where your tires were made.
The last four numbers in the DOT code (only on one side of the tire) is the week and year the tires were made, (2207 would be the 22nd week of 2007) If you have a three digit code the tires were made before 2000.
1990 6500 Chevy Kodiak, 8.3L Cummins 450 HP
6sp Allison 3060, 3.70 R/A Home Made Air Ride
2006 Newmar Cypress
Picture of '93 Mountain Aire Story of it's death by fire and explosion
|
|
|
Earl E
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/16/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
My tire dealer says that to the best of his knowledge, all ST tires are now made in China. So that's what you will get again. He says he has had good luck with Towmasters.
Northwoods Arctic Fox 32 5S Fifth Wheel
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel
Prodigy brake control
Retired and traveling all we can!
|
ol Bombero-JC
USA
Senior Member
Joined: 06/24/2004
View Profile
|
I didn't ask my (or any) tire guys what they think -
did my own research.
"Tire Guys' aren't doctors or dentists - they're "tire guys"!
One poster on here a while back said his "tire guy" told
him it was *ILLEGAL* to put anything other than an ST tire on a trlr!
Time for some "Ribs"!
~
|
Deen
Vancouver, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/07/2000
View Profile
|
elbmiNrM wrote:I was shocked to find out a couple of weeks ago that the safe limit as far as age on a tire is 6 years, used or unused and no matter how they "look", yet some tires are being sold that are older than that off the shelf. Not totally true. Michelin says tires are usually good to five years, then they should be inspected every year and absolutely replaced at 10 years. Our's are 6 years in service and 7 since manufacturing and they still look very good with just a slight bit of cracking that you have to look close to see.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor and Recruiter
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam,
Newmar DP Owners Group
52nd yr of RV'ing
|
MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
A bulge can come from hitting pot-hole, sharp rock, or curb. It may have nothing to do with a faulty tire.
Mark
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
|
amxpress
Clayton, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 04/14/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
An ST tire is SUPPOSE to have a firmer sidewall to withstand the weight. It is more imperveious to pot holes and curb damage. Being that this was the left rear tire, I'm pretty sure it was a defect; especially at such a low mileage.
Chinese + ST = faulty, junk, inferior, poor quality, etc....
|
|
|
