Tire Issue

Blucruz · 09-20-2013, 05:49 PM

Hello all,
I just bought a new 2013 8286WS back in July and have 3 trips on it totaling about 2500k miles. Yesterday we were heading home northbound on 680 in San Jose and blew a tire all to shreds. Before leaving the Flying Flags RV park in Buelton that morning I checked the pressure and all tires were between 47-50 PSI. (225-75R-15C 5ply).

After changing the tire I got looking at the writing on the sidewall and comparing to the Spec tag on the side of the trailer. My GVWR is 9480 while my tires rating at a Load range "C" is only 8600. I realize the tongue weight needs to be added in there as well, but as a former Truck Driver I could not believe that the stock tires were not rated to handle the entire weight of the vehicle.

A CHP happened to stop by while we changing the tire and he was even saying that load range "C" tires on this trailer was rediculous. I realize I have no recourse to go after the MFG because technically the tires are rated for the weight of this trailer when tongue weight is included but they are borderline at best. I would hope that in the future Forest River would spend the extra $6.00 per tire and put a load range "D" on there which is a 7 or 8 ply tire rated at 2500# each.

While I can't prove that weight was the issue that caused the tire to fail, it's going to cost me about $550 to replace all of them, small price to pay for safety but worth it.

I'm just curious if anyone else had had similar issues with their tires on a new Rockwood or any other FR trailer for that matter.

G

Windywest · 09-20-2013, 05:57 PM

This forum is full of tire woes, and every manufacturer has their horror stories. It seems FR puts the cheapest tires they can on most units, just the allowable. I had a blowout on my last trip, LR C so replaced them all with LR E tires. I estimate that I didn't have 3000 miles on the tires, but what can you expect from Chinese junk. I replaced them with LR E Chinese junk, hopefully they will last a bit longer.

salvi · 09-22-2013, 04:54 AM

When we bought our 8280W in the spring I noticed the C rated tires.
I had the dealer install E rated tires and have had no issues yet.

Witch Doctor · 09-22-2013, 07:23 AM

We had Trail Express c rated. They were within the weight limit stated at the time it was weighted at the factory, as you load your unit it pushed to the limit. I got 6000 miles before I had a blow out and I know my pressure was at 50 lbs. When I called they said I had to send the blown tire to them for warranty. What a joke. I went and just changed them all to Marathons d rated. Lucky I didn't have any damage. Still fully loaded I'm not even close to what they are rated for weight. Still made in China being they are ST

acadianbob · 09-22-2013, 07:38 AM

I agree with having as much reserve capacity in your tires as you can. It provides a safety margin IMO. Just make sure that your rims are rated for the additional pressure of a higher rated tire. My trailer came with C tires; I changed to Ds, but my rims were only rated for 60 pounds.

I might suggest a tire pressure monitoring system. It provides peace of mind and lets you know of an impending problem before it happens.

It is possible that your blowout(s) were due to heat caused by low pressure from a road hazard. Without a monitoring system, you do not know.

Windywest · 09-22-2013, 09:27 AM

After our blowout a few weeks ago, I bought the Tireminder TPMS, I haven't been too far with it yet, but so far it works great and I don't need to use the booster. They are pricey little units, but safety and peace of mind are worth it. As for the LR E tires I put on our unit, the actual tires (like all LR E) can be inflated to 80 PSI, the tire shop owner said with the amount of weight, I can just run them at 65 PSI, and as others smarter than me have said on this forum, it's the air that carries the load, not the tire. My rims are the HWT series 6, they are stamped on the back (dependant on bolt pattern ) 2150 lbs or 2830 lbs, so I can deduct that the rims will handle LR C, D, or E pressures. I winterized the unit this weekend, so next years first long trip will be the test.

MarcusN · 09-22-2013, 10:41 AM

We have a 2013 Rockwood 8289WS and had one tire this past week drop to 13 lbs, so I inflated to 48 psi and two days later it had dropped to 45.5 lbs. As I had read all the horror stories about exploding tires before buying I had planned on replacing next year (after 5000 miles) but with the pressure drop issue decided to pull the plug early as we have a 1000 mile round trip planned for October. My local tire dealer suggested that D LR would be ok but for $10 more per tire to go with LR E Carlisles. So with new tires and a large safety measure I feel more confident about a safe trip w/o tire issues. Dealer also gave me $10 trade in on each of the tires.

Windywest · 09-22-2013, 11:00 AM

Just curious as to what pressure are you running with your new Carlisles ?

garbonz · 09-22-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acadianbob

I agree with having as much reserve capacity in your tires as you can. It provides a safety margin IMO. Just make sure that your rims are rated for the additional pressure of a higher rated tire. My trailer came with C tires; I changed to Ds, but my rims were only rated for 60 pounds.

I might suggest a tire pressure monitoring system. It provides peace of mind and lets you know of an impending problem before it happens.

It is possible that your blowout(s) were due to heat caused by low pressure from a road hazard. Without a monitoring system, you do not know.

The TPMS is a great idea, but will not warn in advance for all situations, and may not warn in time to prevent damage. However, they still are a good idea IMO. They are primarily designed to provide warning of a puncture from a road hazard like a nail, where the pressure reduces gradually.

The way some of these tires are coming apart spontaneously, there have been reports here and elsewhere, that they shred apart and flap the side of the trailer BEFORE they lose pressure (or overheat) enough to alarm. They are no substitute for good tires running well within their load, pressure and temperature specs. If you are running China Bombs, then be extra vigilant and WELL below the max load.

I am running LR E tires on a trailer that came with them on 16in wheels right from the factory, although the trailer is Easily within LR D specs. BUT I have a TPMS and inspect them closely all the time. I will still change them out next year, when I can afford to.

MarcusN · 09-22-2013, 12:30 PM

They are currently at 78 lbs from the tire mounting. I was planning on leaving them at that level for now.

Witch Doctor · 09-22-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acadianbob

I agree with having as much reserve capacity in your tires as you can. It provides a safety margin IMO. Just make sure that your rims are rated for the additional pressure of a higher rated tire. My trailer came with C tires; I changed to Ds, but my rims were only rated for 60 pounds.

I might suggest a tire pressure monitoring system. It provides peace of mind and lets you know of an impending problem before it happens.

It is possible that your blowout(s) were due to heat caused by low pressure from a road hazard. Without a monitoring system, you do not know.

I agree, you really will never know. My rims are rated at 65lbs. I have been looking into the monitoring system but there are just so many out their, That's on my list with the 4 stage convertor by progressive. This WFCO has got to go....What are you using or what would you recommend?.....

Windywest · 09-22-2013, 01:02 PM

Hi MarcusN, for your info, here are tire pressure / inflation guides for Maxxis tires, but I expect all trailer tires to be about the same. The way I see it, my GVWR is about 9200 lbs, of which about 1500 is in the box, so that leaves about 1925 lbs per tire on the trailer loaded to max. (that's why they put load range Cs or 2150 lbs rating from the factory, just the basic minimum ) Load Range E with 65 psi could carry 2500 lbs with ease (but I will never have more than 2000 due to my axle rating) and not stress the tire (in my opinion). My truck has load range E on them, and the recommended inflation is 65 psi, but can be aired up to 80 for heavy loads. I run my truck at 65 all the time, even when I pulling the trailer, but they are LT tires.

http://www.maxxis.com/Repository/Files/m8008load.pdf

sail2liv · 09-22-2013, 02:33 PM

Along with checking the weight rating did you check the speed rating for the inflation of the tires? I run between 56-58 mph with tire inflated to max allowable.....and so far no problems....but I see many go by me in a blur when I am pulling at that speed on interstate.....the sidewalls of st tires rapidly break down when speed rating is exceeded....good luck with your next set of tires....

Windywest · 09-22-2013, 03:10 PM

The maximum speed rating for most trailer tires is 65 mph, or about 105 kmh. I try to keep up with traffic at 100 kph or 60 mph, but it's usually a bit less than this.

Ford Idaho · 09-22-2013, 03:14 PM

Wait, 5 ply tires on an 8000+ lb trailer.

MarcusN · 09-23-2013, 09:02 AM

Salvi, what pressure are you running your LR E tires at?

darkcloud · 09-23-2013, 01:47 PM

My two cents, I just replaced the tires on my 2012, 8281ws with Maxxis 225/75R15 (D), went from 50 psi to 65 psi, mpg went from average 8/8.5 to 9.2 & 9.7, to fill ups.
TV 2007 Chevy 2500HD 6.0. One more thing, ordered tires form Amazon.com.

5er_tom · 09-23-2013, 03:44 PM

I just upped the tire pressure on my LR E tires to 70 PSI from 65 PSI. Am I over the limit for the rims? How does one determine the max pressure rating for rims?

I got about 7,000 miles on the cheapie OEM tires. The tire pressure monitor saved my ***** as a tire was separating while I was running 70 mph near the Bonneville Salt Flats on I-80.

Windywest · 09-23-2013, 04:15 PM

What kind of rims do you have ? My Flagstaff 5er came with HWT Series 6, 15" X 6, usually the manufacturer will have the rating stamped on the back side of the rim. http://www.hispecwheel.com/products/768/Series-06

70 mph is over the limit for most trailer tires, but I know it's hard to keep those Ford 6.7L diesels at 60 mph, power to spare.

elkabong · 09-25-2013, 12:31 AM

When I picked up my 5er at the factory the Rep came out and we talked about the unit. I mentioned the load range C tires were minimal for the trailer and wondered why an optional higher range wasn't offered. He said that they felt if higher range tires were used than the owners might be inclined to load the trailer beyond its recommended gross weight. Didn't think that answer was adequate, but.....
When I got my trailer home, I wasted no time in replacing the tires with load range D.
I now have 4 almost new tires tires stacked in the garage. Know anybody who might want to buy them?

Ken

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