Another Tire Story

[Tireman9]

Tread separation and sidewall "blowout" are two completely different failures with completely different causes.

Checking the air in your tires every couple of hours is about as useful as removing the gauges from your instrument panel on the TV and checking the dip stick oil level every few hours. We have not had the technology available to monitor tire inflation until about 15 years ago. If you don't think TPMS is a good thing then I would challenge you to tell me how you would feel if we were to remove all your engine instruments.

Almost all sidewall "blowouts" are actually run low flex failures.
HERE is a detailed analysis with lots of pictures. I find it interesting that even after doing the analysis and telling the owner to get a TPMS he did not follow my suggestion. Guess what, he has had another similar failure.

Tread Separations can many times be detected before the tire comes apart if a thorough inspection is done.
Here is a video showing the out of round tire.
Fifthwheel Tire Wobble.mov - YouTube
Here is a post on the analysis of the tire seen in the video with links with more info and details than most want to know.

The facts and science are out there and available on many RV forums on how to avoid or at least minimize the costs and inconvenience of tire failures.
There are at least two tire engineers who are following a number of forums. Tire Engineering and tire failure analysis is a VERY specialized aspect of Engineering with only a handful of fully competent tire forensic engineers in the world. It takes decades and thousands of tire autopsies to become proficient in determining the real cause of a tire failure.

Simply changing brand or size or load range or country of manufacture is of no value if those features are not the real cause of the failure.

This would be like changing the brand gasoline used if the TV really was supposed to use diesel fuel.

[Tiggerdad]

GY Marathon's ST 225/75R15 that came with my previous rig were Chinese junk. Tried Denman's made in Mexico. More junk. BFG Commercial T/A's-They were my solution. When I considered my PT I refused to use the tires that came on it and dealer put my BFG's from my old rig onto the new.

[PrimeTime]

BFGoodrich is voluntarily recalling two sizes of its BFGoodrich Commercial T/A A/S tires.
- The tires were produced between April 2010 and the end of July 2012.
- Sizes are: LT 235/85 R16 120 Q LRE and LT 245/75 R16 120 Q LRE.

Voluntary Safety Recall : Commercial T/A A/S LRE | BFGoodrich Tires

[Fire Instructor]

As Rebel said, "Glad you had no camper damage.". VERY happy, so far with my Kumho's ......

[Tiggerdad]

Originally Posted by PrimeTime

BFGoodrich is voluntarily recalling two sizes of its BFGoodrich Commercial T/A A/S tires.
- The tires were produced between April 2010 and the end of July 2012.
- Sizes are: LT 235/85 R16 120 Q LRE and LT 245/75 R16 120 Q LRE.

Voluntary Safety Recall : Commercial T/A A/S LRE | BFGoodrich Tires

This is good info. for those who are not aware of it. This recall is a year old recall and should be complete IF the selling dealer or consumer had their tires registered with them. I had 2 one my truck that were replaced.

BFG replaced many of those tires with Michelin XPS Ribs and other brands because of the tight inventory of replacement tires. I believe that most of those who were affected were pleased with the way it was handled.

[bspickler]

Tireman9,
Okay, I'm convinced. With all the tire failure stories on the forum I need a TPMS. There must be 30 or 40 of them listed on Amazon. Is there one brand that is better, more reliable, etc. than the others? What is your preference?
I apologize if this has already been discussed but there are too many threads to search to find it.

Bill

[BarryD0706]

Most people on this forum seem to recommend the TST 507 System. (TST=Truck System Technologies)

[J_KHawthorne]

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

Most people on this forum seem to recommend the TST 507 System. (TST=Truck System Technologies)

I have been really happy with our TST 507 system.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by bspickler

Tireman9,
Okay, I'm convinced. With all the tire failure stories on the forum I need a TPMS. There must be 30 or 40 of them listed on Amazon. Is there one brand that is better, more reliable, etc. than the others? What is your preference?
I apologize if this has already been discussed but there are too many threads to search to find it.

Bill

I like the TireTracker brand and I use their system but let me state up-front that they are also the sponsor of my blog. I was not given the system but bought it at a show after reviewing the features.

Personally I prefer TPMS with replaceable batteries at a buck or so, rather than having to replace sensors at $30 to $70.
I like units with at least 3 year warranty. You know three times the warranty most of us got on our RV.
I like units that have more than one warning pressure that can warn if you get either a slow leak or fast leak.

Try to GOOGLE "TPMS warranty" to cut through the advertisements from those with big advertising budgets.

I have only evaluated 4 systems. Two internal and two external. While I have a personal preference, as an engineer I prefer to shop based on DATA and features rather than fancy advertising and comments made around the campfire that are not backed by any direct comparison evaluation.

BUT Any TPMS is better than No TPMS so all the suggestions are good.

[Crusaderguy]

I've been happy with the TST 507 system. Have about 5,000 miles on the trailer while using them and have had no problems. They seem to be accurate within 1 or 2 lbs. After deciding that is the one I wanted, I found a really good price online and then called TST directly and they matched the price. Their customer service seems really good too.

[sheriff1]

I just bought the Tire Tracker and upgraded to 8 sensors so I can moniter my TV as well. 3 year warrenty sold me as they all appear about the same otherwise. FAST shipping.

[camper1999]

Originally Posted by Crusaderguy

I've been happy with the TST 507 system. Have about 5,000 miles on the trailer while using them and have had no problems. They seem to be accurate within 1 or 2 lbs. After deciding that is the one I wanted, I found a really good price online and then called TST directly and they matched the price. Their customer service seems really good too.

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